Hurricane Helene FEMA and the weak Federal response

[guyfriday]

Not to pile on, but when governmental exploitation is happening, it must be exposed. Sure, there are people dead, hurting, in need, but the government is exasperating the conditions. 

It's not a single side to blame, but many players of this mess do seem to be on one side of exploiting the American people, so it does sound politically biased. I mean pointing out wrongdoing by a government will always be biased to a point.

[Maxmars]

You yourself made it political in the opening thread where you mention FEMA and the Biden administration. Now you tell me that I shouldn't make it political or mention FEMA? So I offered you my opinion to the contrary. I guess I apologize if it affected your sensitivities or invaded your personal space. My bad. However RINO's or not, the affected are receiving help. The ones not receiving help are trapped behind a100 miles of missing road, not minor repairs, but completely gone. No infrastructure to speak of , all roads closed .I am really close with a few brewers and owners in the Ashville area, and our industry is rallying around several collaborations with 100% of the proceeds going to affected communities in Ashville and other places. Already have a couple hundred signed up. Don't tell me I don't know, those people lost everything, business and home, all of those people lost everything. So ya, a bit sensitive about it. If you don't want to have politics leak into a thread, don't bring up politics.

Apologies... I missed your subsequent answer before my last post.

Agreed, alluding that the story is "about" politics detracts from the point of a federal agency's management falling short of effective and satisfactory.  We presumably establish these agencies to operate regardless of political partisanship issues.  Our elected officials' partisan gamesmanship in "appointing leadership" may be to blame for the inefficiencies.  But that is another topic entirely.

But that counter point you raised is equally political.  I understand now that you may have been highlighting the 'fact that everyone always complains and lassos in a political angle.'  I'm sorry if I clumsily commented on your post, but as I said earlier, and as you well know, my concern is primarily directed at those suffering and waiting for help that our government spokespersons have publicly said "we cannot afford it, give us more money."

What isn't political is "pain, suffering, and helplessness."

I'm glad that your associates in the area can rely on support from your industry... I wish everyone had such devoted resources. 

FEMA was established to provide help and support for citizens afflicted by disasters like these... (yet I must point out that they always seem to provide it with a floor show of their 'virtue' (which politicians seize as a virtue signaling opportunity) and their perennial and instantaneous claims of 'working on a shoestring budget' with every disaster they are called upon to handle. 

Not necessarily anyone's 'fault' - except that it is what we pay them for... as they proudly claim to be 'ready' for it at every opportunity that isn't a disaster.

I am not seeking to invalidate your opinion.  Just trying to understand it.

[putnam6]

You yourself made it political in the opening thread where you mention FEMA and the Biden administration. Now you tell me that I shouldn't make it political or mention FEMA? So I offered you my opinion to the contrary. I guess I apologize if it affected your sensitivities or invaded your personal space. My bad. However RINO's or not, the affected are receiving help. The ones not receiving help are trapped behind a100 miles of missing road, not minor repairs, but completely gone. No infrastructure to speak of , all roads closed .I am really close with a few brewers and owners in the Ashville area, and our industry is rallying around several collaborations with 100% of the proceeds going to affected communities in Ashville and other places. Already have a couple hundred signed up. Don't tell me I don't know, those people lost everything, business and home, all of those people lost everything. So ya, a bit sensitive about it. If you don't want to have politics leak into a thread, don't bring up politics.

LOL Im not complaining about it being political AOB, you are mistaken

It's the opposite it has a political aspect just like it did during Katrina and all-natural disasters it's why I brought up the Carville quote should have been the first clue

read the link from the Ashville Citizen below they know its political aspects as well.

You were the one concerned about political stumping, not me, how about quoting where I said suggested or inferred it didn't have a political aspect? I know it does Katrina did too. 

What you said that caught my attention was your suggestion we shouldn't discuss the topic because of the deaths, thus the concerns it was affecting your sensitive nature. All the while it is all over many other platforms on social media.

FWIW I have no problem being called "sensitive" to human suffering in Ashville and the other surrounding areas. So glad you have talked with your brewery friends in the area and they are OK, we are still waiting to find out about a few people in Ashville and other areas in Western Carolina.

Thankfully we found out earlier that most of our family, friends associates, and clients in the rest of the affected areas are alive though most have either damaged to thier homes or businesses.

 lastly, if you made it this far here's an article about the political aspects of hurricanes and natural disasters from the Ashville Citizen you know as in Ashville NC virtually ground zero 

https://www.citizen-times.com/story/news...499421007/

Quote: 
WASHINGTON - Another presidential election blown around by a hurricane.
In terms of politics, Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden are hoping that recovery from Hurricane Helene will resemble the federal government's response to Hurricane Sandy in 2012 - a fairly smooth process that did credit to the last Democratic-led White House in a presidential election season.

 
Disaster politics is nothing newDisaster politics are a staple of presidential politics, from the post-world war flu epidemic of 1918-1920 to the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020.
 
After all, fall campaigns take place in the heart of flu season, although any disaster - and the government response to it - can change the shape of American politics.
 
During the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927, President Calvin Coolidge appointed a prominent official to head up relief efforts: Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover.
 
Already famous for food supplies to Belgium during the world war, Hoover rode flood relief all the way to the White House (where he eventually ran into an economic calamity known as the Great Depression, although that's another story.)
President Lyndon Johnson created a template for modern presidents in 1965 when he traveled to Louisiana to survey the damage wrought by Hurricane Betsy. LBJ assumed personal control of recovery operations.
"
Presidents - as chief executives and the only leaders selected by the entire country - are expected to take actions that will protect and help Americans," said political scientist Lara Brown, author of "Jockeying for the American Presidency: The Political Opportunism of Aspirants."
 
"When disasters occur," she said, "Americans look to presidents to see how closely their promises of compassion, protection, and assistance match their deeds."

[AngryOldBrewer]

A very good read and thank you for sharing. Also, thanks for sharing that your family and friends are all okay. This experience has been no joke, and with apparently another one barreling down on the same region, it's just going to get worse. I came off a bit snarky and I apologize, as we both share a similar opinion and are saying it different I think.

As for my industry, we are resilient but this is on another scale. Chimney Rock, New Belgian, Hi-Wire, Hillman, New Origin, Wedge, River Arts. All wiped from the map. Others were flooded but still standing like Black Mountain Brewing who is handing out water and limited supplies.

[putnam6]

A very good read and thank you for sharing. Also, thanks for sharing that your family and friends are all okay. This experience has been no joke, and with apparently another one barreling down on the same region, it's just going to get worse. I came off a bit snarky and I apologize, as we both share a similar opinion and are saying it different I think.

As for my industry, we are resilient but this is on another scale. Chimney Rock, New Belgian, Hi-Wire, Hillman, New Origin, Wedge, River Arts. All wiped from the map. Others were flooded but still standing like Black Mountain Brewing who is handing out water and limited supplies.

No worries, AOB I'm frustrated and probably stick my head too deep into the subject. I apologize as well, I could blame it on being deep into a 12-pack of Sweetwater IPA but thats not fair to the beer the feeling was there long before I cracked open the first one

Im not political as much as I enjoy political history and all the drama and theater and...

I love following Hurricanes #1 because of my southeastern roots and since HUGO and ANDREW Ive been acutely aware of how long-lasting the damage is or was throughout our home territory. Was watching Helene when it was in the southern Gulf and we had to cross our fingers and hope it didn't hit populated areas, and was fast-moving, and didn't have soaking rains and floods. As we always do hell Georgia has been hit hard with just tropical storms and floods a lot over the years, and yeah most times it hits our business hard too. 

Ironically I checked my Facebook and heard one family we were concerned about in Ashville is OK they have been without power for nine days and have been doing nothing but using the chainsaws and clearing mud in the neighborhood for themselves and others, they do atleast have a generator, and enough gas, not everybody does. They know Duke Power is busting thier azzes the get the power back online. Thier business was flooded pretty much sounds like a total loss. Not sure if they have flood insurance, and it's a concern for lots of people. As one couple said we have insurance but the policy changed so many times they have to search who it was ` all their records are gone 

Thanks for listening to my thoughts in the end as far as the politics we will know in less than 30 days by the votes in the counties in each state that were affected. I hope everybody is satisfied, content, and well taken care of.

like she said #AshvilleStrong and Carolina Proud

[Maxmars]

Just found this...

From FoxNews: FEMA accused of playing the victim after insisting criticism of Helene handling is 'dangerous:' 'The audacity'

Of course this generation of public servants proclaim it "dangerous"... they live in a world of fear.

(I might add never once examining why they're always afraid of the people they serve.)

Entitlement... thy name is "political appointee."

[putnam6]

Just found this...

From FoxNews: FEMA accused of playing the victim after insisting criticism of Helene handling is 'dangerous:' 'The audacity'

Of course this generation of public servants proclaim it "dangerous"... they live in a world of fear.

(I might add never once examining why they're always afraid of the people they serve.)

Entitlement... thy name is "political appointee."

Here's a story Im looking for more information on. FWIW we had stories like this with Katrina and other storms. Sometimes it's just the nature of interjecting the Feds in a local jurisdiction. First is the Instagram link where you can hear Lincoln County Sheriff Bill Beam talk about thier recovery efforts. Let's just say it sounds like he has got his shit together, and he isn't waiting for FEMA to get there to help out the people of his county.

but I encourage the skeptics to read and watch and decide.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAoBQs8O_...BiNWFlZA==

Sheriff's Facebook page 
 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015640929571

https://countylocalnews.com/2024/10/06/h...-carolina/

Alleged Controversy Surrounding FEMA in North CarolinaHave you ever heard a story that made your jaw drop in disbelief? Well, that’s exactly what happened when a tweet surfaced claiming that everything a certain individual, Harris, had said was a complete lie. According to a local lady heading up volunteers in North Carolina, there have been shocking allegations about the treatment they received from FEMA.
The tweet mentioned that the situation was so dire that Sheriff Bill Beam took matters into his own hands and kicked FEMA out of his county, deciding to manage things himself. While these claims are certainly eyebrow-raising, it’s crucial to remember that they are just that – claims. There is no concrete proof or evidence provided to back up these allegations.

Video at the link below

It was so bad that their Sheriff, Bill Beam, ended up kicking FEMA out of his county and taking it over himself.
 
[Image: https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/167...bigger.jpg]
SaltyGoat

@SaltyGoat17
Everything Harris has said is a LIE!!! This is a local lady heading up the volunteers in North Carolina talking about what they've had to go through with FEMA. It was so bad that their Sheriff, Bill Beam, ended up kicking FEMA out of his county and taking it over himself. In case you weren't aware, the Sheriff in your county has WAY more authority than pretty much any government agency. The government really doesn't want you to know that!! Watch this and SHARE!!!

https://x.com/SaltyGoat17/status/1842944529172734286

[putnam6]

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For a good perspective of the situation in western NC WATCH THE VIDEO  

https://x.com/Alamo1836Alamo/status/1843000433377468534

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[guyfriday]

[Image: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GZP6c3PXgAAL...name=large]

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[Image: https://i.ibb.co/HCrtqN7/Screenshot-2024...53-285.jpg]

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For a good perspective of the situation in western NC WATCH THE VIDEO  

https://x.com/Alamo1836Alamo/status/1843000433377468534

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[Video: https://youtu.be/BYTtm8rtskI?si=utm7uY3dVofbjirZ]

Just to pile on to this lack of funds crap.
Watchdog found $7B in untapped FEMA funds — even though DHS Secretary Mayorkas said none available for future disasters (nypost.com)

A Department of Homeland Security inspector general’s report from August reveals more than $7 billion remain in emergency funding that could be used for natural disasters — even though DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said last week none was available after Hurricane Helene.
 
Mayorkas, 64, told reporters following the devastation of Helene in North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) “does not have the funds” to endure more hurricanes this fall.
 
“We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” the DHS chief said Oct. 2, days before Hurricane Milton began picking up speed in the Gulf of Mexico. “We do not have the funds. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season and what is imminent.”

also pointed out in this story of "found billions"

So far, the feds have paid just $4 million to Americans hit by Helene in the Southeast, providing up to $750 in immediate aid for individuals to help cover the cost of groceries and emergency supplies.
 
The storm has killed at least 232 people and caused more than $47.5 billion in devastation.

So out of the 7 billion that was discovered just hanging out somewhere, of which none has been used, only 4 million has been handed out to help in this crisis due to lack of funds. Then FEMA wants to cry about being colored as the bad guy here.

[727Sky]

Milton is now a Cat 5 storm and during the video they interview an air force person who worked in weather modification unknown to them. When they found out what was going on they got out of the service and filled a lawsuit. Weird world we are living in.