FEMA’s hurricane flood rescue failures: Letters to the Editor — Oct. 8, 2024

The Issue: FEMA’s failure to help people trapped by floodwaters across the state of North Carolina.

I am not surprised that the victims of Hurricane Helene are complaining about FEMA (“On their own in NC,” Oct. 6).

In 2021 some residents of my town lost their homes because of Hurricane Ida. As the Greenburgh town supervisor in Westchester County, I completed the application for a FEMA grant, but the process of getting a grant from FEMA is difficult and takes a very long time.

We anticipate that the victims of Hurricane Ida won’t be back in their homes for at least another year — some are still homeless.

FEMA needs to streamline the process when awarding grants to victims of disasters. Grants and dollars should be processed in weeks — not years.

Paul Feiner

Greenburgh

The Biden-Harris administration allocated $640 million from FEMA’s funds to provide housing, food and medical care to migrants.

And now they don’t have the money to help those in North Carolina who have been left destitute from deadly hurricanes and other natural disasters. Vice President Harris, who has given her stamp of approval and praise of every one of her administration’s disastrous policies, is OK with this redistribution of FEMA money.

Phil Raschiatore

Tampa, Fla.

Just some advice to FEMA management who state they cannot get in to the resilient people of North Carolina due to road closures: There’s a new high-tech instrument called a ‘drone’ (“Oh, the hel’ with ya, FEMA,” Oct. 7).

Perhaps FEMA’s folks may have heard of it. It would be great for inspections and assessing the horrendous damage these people are experiencing.

To be fair, though, much of the burden is also on the powers that be in Washington, D.C.

Donna Skjeveland

Holbrook

We are witnessing a repeat of FEMA’s meltdown during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

It is pretty clear from many posted videos on social media that FEMA’s efforts are utterly inept. FEMA is trying to operate with zero consideration of conditions or risks on the ground.
Their efforts to block or limit helicopters is ignorant of the reality of the situation on ground and in the mountains of North Carolina.

Katrina was a disaster. So when will we learn from situations like it, that political appointees with zero on-the-ground experience know nothing about the need to adapt and move forward quickly to save lives?

James Barends

Wayne, Pa.

Billions of dollars to Israel, Ukraine and illegal immigrants.

No money to help Americans ravaged by Hurricane Helene. The Biden-Harris administration has been a disaster since the first day of Helene’s landfall.

With its open-border policy, the administration has drained FEMA’s assets so they must beg Congress for additional funding.

FEMA’s funds are supposed to be for helping Americans suffering from natural disasters, not migrants that cross our border.

Jerry Esposito

Southold

FEMA has billions to spend on illegal aliens but no money for disaster relief for American citizens.

Could it be because North Carolina leans right in the upcoming election? Political punishment is a way of life for the Democrats, given the constant lawfare attacks on former President Donald Trump.

Walter Goldeski

East Brunswick, NJ

Ever hear the expression “a day late and a dollar short?”

If so, then what is taking FEMA so long? The response to Hurricane Helene is an American disgrace.

Dick Cardozo

Westbury

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