Former U.S. President Donald Trump | Wikipedia Commons/Gage Skidmore
Former U.S. President Donald Trump | Wikipedia Commons/Gage Skidmore
President Donald Trump said the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the Biden-Harris administration gave "over a billion dollars to illegal migrants" and did not reserve any money to provide relief efforts for states like North Carolina after the destruction from Hurricane Helene.
"They are doing a very bad job," Trump said in response to a reporter's question about FEMA not having enough money to last through the hurricane season. "They've given over a billion dollars to illegal migrants that came in and now they have no money for North Carolina, for Georgia, for South Carolina, and Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida."
"I think that's a disgrace," said Trump. "This is a country that's being run by fools."
FEMA has designated approximately $364 million for the fiscal year 2023 and $650 million for fiscal year 2024 to the “Shelter and Services Program.”
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the program is run along with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) “to support CBP in the safe, orderly and humane release of noncitizen migrants from short-term holding facilities."
Under the current administration, FEMA’s top priorities do not list disaster relief as one of its two main goals. According to FEMA’s website, the primary objectives are to establish “equity as a foundation of emergency management” and to “lead the whole community in climate resilience.” The aim of “promoting and sustaining a ready FEMA and prepared nation” comes in third on the department's priority list.
The death count from Hurricane Helene has reached a minimum of 224 individuals across six states in the southeast U.S, with over half the death count coming from North Carolina. Hurricane Helene has become the deadliest hurricane to hit the country since Hurricane Katrina.
In areas like Asheville in Buncombe County, the high level of flooding has led to some of the highest density death counts. Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller reported that the death toll has reached 72 people, the highest in the state. Additionally, more than 200 individuals are still unaccounted for in the county.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cautioned that if another storm were to hit the US in the coming months, the Federal Emergency Management Agency would face challenges in delivering assistance. Hurricane season lasts through the end of November, with Hurricane Kirk and Tropical Storm Leslie currently being monitored.
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