Within the wake of Hurricane Helene’s destruction within the southeastern U.S., the top of the Federal Emergency Administration Company (FEMA) mentioned it was “simply plain false” that the company was quick on catastrophe aid funds as a result of the cash was spent on unlawful immigrants.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell was interviewed by ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on “This Week.”
“Let’s let’s discuss among the misinformation that’s on the market, together with these claims from former President Trump that FEMA is about $1 billion quick as a result of cash has been going to undocumented immigrants,” Stephanopoulos mentioned.
“You understand, it’s frankly ridiculous and simply plain false,” Criswell mentioned. “This type of rhetoric is just not useful to folks. You understand, it’s actually a disgrace that we’re placing politics forward of serving to folks, and that’s what we’re right here to do. We now have had the entire assist of the state.”
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FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell speaks throughout a information convention on the White Home on Sept. 26, 2024. (Al Drago)
She continued by saying FEMA has had native officers assist push again on the “harmful” narrative that has created concern amongst these whose lives have been devastated by the injury achieved by Helene in locations like western North Carolina and Georgia.
“You understand, folks want sources, and we’d like them to get into the system, and it’s only a disgrace that individuals are sitting house on their snug couches whereas now we have hundreds of individuals right here on the bottom which have left their very own households to have the ability to assist these in want,” Criswell mentioned.
Stephanopoulos then requested Criswell in regards to the misinformation spreading on-line and going viral, with one social media consumer suggesting a militia ought to go towards FEMA.
“It has an incredible impression on the consolation degree of our personal workers to have the ability to go on the market. Nevertheless it’s additionally demoralizing to all the first responders which have been on the market of their communities serving to folks, FEMA workers, volunteers, the personal sector which can be working aspect by aspect with native officers to exit and assist folks,” she mentioned. “I would like to ensure I can get the sources to the place they’re wanted. And when you may have this harmful rhetoric such as you’re listening to, it creates concern in our personal workers. We’d like to ensure we’re getting assist to the individuals who want it.”
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Brian McCormack pauses after utilizing a wheelbarrow to scrub up particles left within the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Oct. 1, 2024, in Marshall, N.C. (AP Picture/Jeff Roberson)
Fox Information Digital reached out to FEMA to get clarification on what misinformation was being unfold, and a spokesperson mentioned catastrophe aid funds and immigration come from “two totally different pots of cash.”
The spokesperson defined that the catastrophe cash for the Catastrophe Reduction Fund comes from Congress, including that no cash has been used for the rest aside from catastrophe aid operations.
Criswell, the spokesperson mentioned, was speaking about misinformation and the way a lot that misinformation hurts the operation. Those that want help, the spokesperson defined, consider the rumors.
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A drone view exhibits injury attributable to Hurricane Helene in Asheville, N.C., on Sept. 29, 2024. (Reuters/Marco Bello)
FEMA mentioned the company is just not quick on cash for catastrophe aid regardless of what has been mentioned.
Together with funding, the Biden administration can also be pouring sources into hard-hit areas.
On Sunday, President Biden ordered 500 further active-duty troops to assist on-the-ground efforts. There at the moment are 1,500 troops mobilized to help Nationwide Guard and federal personnel.
The Division of Homeland Safety mentioned Thursday that FEMA had the funds wanted for “speedy response and restoration” regardless of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warning in regards to the potential lack of cash.
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Workers Linda Bandy, left, and Carissa Sheehan clear up the Worldwide Moulding body store that was broken by floodwater from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 30, 2024, in Morganton, N.C. (AP Picture/Kathy Kmonicek)
“FEMA has what it wants for speedy response and restoration efforts,” spokesperson Jaclyn Rothenberg mentioned on X. “As [Administrator Deanne Criswell] mentioned, she has the total authority to spend towards the President’s funds, however we’re not out of hurricane season but so we have to hold an in depth eye on it.”
The company had lately lifted speedy wants funding, which permits the company to give attention to pressing efforts and pause nonurgent tasks, however Rothenberg mentioned the company should want to return to that “and we will likely be watching it carefully.”
Mayorkas grabbed headlines on Wednesday when he mentioned FEMA doesn’t have sufficient funding to make it by means of hurricane season, which lasts till November.
“We’re assembly the speedy wants with the cash that now we have. We predict one other hurricane hitting,” he mentioned. “FEMA doesn’t have the funds to make it by means of the season.”
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The Rocky Broad River flows into Lake Lure and overflows the city with particles from Chimney Rock, N.C., after heavy rains from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28, 2024. Roughly six toes of particles piled on the bridge from Lake Lure to Chimney Rock, blocking entry. (Melissa Sue Gerrits/Getty Photographs)
Congress lately made $20 billion in speedy funding accessible for FEMA’s Catastrophe Reduction Fund as a part of a bipartisan deal to keep away from a authorities shutdown on the finish of final month. However Congress is presently out till mid-November, after Election Day (Nov. 5).
Mayorkas’ remarks a couple of potential lack of funding sparked criticism from Republicans and conservatives, who pointed to funding utilized by FEMA for grants to deal with and take care of unlawful immigrants who crossed the southern border.
Critics referenced the Shelter and Providers Program, which spent $650 million in fiscal 2023 on grants to nonprofits and native organizations to help migrants. However the Biden administration pushed again, noting that the funding is appropriated by Congress and utterly separate from catastrophe aid funding.
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The White Home referred to as the declare that cash had been spent on providers for unlawful immigrants “false.”
Fox Information Digital’s Adam Shaw and Elizabeth Elkind, in addition to the Related Press contributed to this report.
