10/05/2024
Let's really try to be helpful and not hurtful right now.
I am seeing so many posts with the only goal of enraging and dividing our communities. This is a horrific time for so many, and just getting angry on FB is not helping anyone trying to get a foot of mud out of their home, search for loved ones or lost pets, or rebuild their houses, businesses, or roads. If you are not in a position to physically or financially help or you are not willing to do so, then do not criticize those actually helping as best they can. Emotions are already running high, so if you do not have helpful information to share, then maybe you shouldn't be sharing.
Because I am seeing so much misleading information in our area, I want to share what my research and conversations with those involved has revealed because I honestly didn't know how FEMA operates before now.
FEMA falls under the DHS, but it's budget is separate from border/immigration operations. The money that goes to immigrants is not from the FEMA budget. It does serve as a distributor of funds and record keeper of sorts, but it's disaster/emergency funds are not allocated or spent on these other areas of Homeland Security.
FEMA is not out of money - it's full year budget was not approved before the congressional break, so they have about 6 months worth of funding (keep in mind the government fiscal year begins Oct 1, so we are in the first week of it's financial year).
Many of the same very experienced FEMA contractors who spent years cleaning up Katrina under a Republican administration are already onsite and operating in western NC and other locations and will be there for as long as it takes regardless of what party is in the White House. All states that declared a state of emergency were immediately approved for funding regardless of the political party governing that state.
The most critical step I keep seeing is for people to document their losses in great detail and fill out the forms at www.disasterassistance.gov , download the FEMA App, or call 800-621-3361. If someone you know does not have internet or cell service currently, maybe you can help them fill out the form.
Instead of being critical of the helpers, please join them or be quiet and let them do their work. Local/regional organizations are going to be best able to offer immediate assistance because they know the community and won't be an added burden in areas with few to no resources- let's try to help them. The roads are so fragile or non-existent in many areas, so please be respectful of the transportation difficulties.
IF you have helpful resources to share, feel free to do so in the comments. I will delete comments that are political or otherwise harmful.
You can find more information on the Coronavirus (COVID-19) page and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
