Staff Reports
Hurricane Helene swept through the southern states like a freight train on a caffeine bender, wreaking havoc and leaving thousands without power and even more unnerved. The aftermath is being compared to a bad sequel of a disaster movie that no one wanted to see. With over 30 confirmed dead and more than 1,000 people missing in Buncombe County, North Carolina, communities are mourning while trying to salvage what little they can from this historic calamity. As local news crews knock on doors and drone footage showcases the flood damage, the sentiment on the ground is one of shock and desperation.
What’s particularly galling about this disaster is the faint whispers – or perhaps it’s more like shouting – surrounding FEMA’s priorities under the current administration. Instead of immediately focusing on swift disaster recovery efforts, FEMA has been fluttering its wings promoting “equity.” That’s right; in what seems like misplaced priorities, FEMA’s playbook has been all about institutional equity as if that’ll rescue people from a hurricane. While some people are without home and hope, the Biden administration’s focus has been to ensure that the “historically underserved” are addressed first in any disaster response, as though there’s time to pull an equity card in a flood zone.
Oh, That's What FEMA Has Been Focused on https://t.co/rPfWYuCDy4 pic.twitter.com/DLBOiYTTDQ
— Patriot Pointman 🇺🇸 (@PatriotPointman) September 30, 2024
When pressed for action, President Biden appeared about as helpful as chocolate teapot. His answers to reporters seeking a solid recovery plan for impacted states were nothing short of perplexing. One might assume a disaster of this magnitude would at least prompt a presidential tour of the wreckage or a fiery speech about pulling together as a nation. Instead, when asked about additional support for the battered communities, one could almost hear the tumbleweeds rolling through the White House press room when Biden simply stated that they had already done all they could. This raises a serious question: what does “everything” mean to a leader who seems disconnected?
Communities in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and North Carolina are looking for aid, yet words seem hollow and resources appear scarce. The Biden administration’s response feels akin to starting a campfire with wet matches. With natural disasters plaguing their homes, residents might feel that they’re getting the proverbial runaround while they wait for something—anything—besides rhetoric. It’s almost as if they’re being told that getting help is a game in which they must patiently await the oft-mentioned “equitable” approach while their homes are submerged.
As the rescue efforts unfold, the question on everyone’s mind is whether FEMA’s focus on equity is genuinely serving the victims of this overwhelming disaster or simply prolonging the recovery efforts for political optics. A public already weary of government inefficiency and unclear priorities is left wondering if there’s a difference between actions and words. Instead of focusing on ensuring that everyone affected has access to resources for recovery, it seems some are only receiving a slice of the pie based on bureaucratic ideals rather than genuine needs. While lives continue to hang in the balance, one can only hope that real solutions, not just words, will follow.
