FEMA in FL for Milton, why not in TN/NC for Helene?

Question

Recently (late Sep - early Oct 2024), two major hurricanes affected the Southeast United States. Hurricane Helene, after impacting Florida and Georgia, left massive destruction and deaths in Eastern Tennessee and Western North Carolina. Just two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made huge impacts and deaths on virtually the entire state of Florida.

The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is a division of Homeland Security, responsible for helping states deal with disasters.

In Tennessee and North Carolina, local churches, charities and individuals provided assistance after Helene. FEMA's response was offering $750 to residents, which was proudly announced by Vice President Kamala Harris.

In Florida, FEMA already has teams on the ground, just a day after the hurricane, to help with cleanup and recovery efforts, and FEMA's administrator is publicly encouraging Florida residents to apply to FEMA for assistance, to help pay for recovery costs.

The question must be asked: Why is FEMA's response so different between Helene and Milton?

Here is one possibility..

Tennessee and North Carolina are traditionally red Republican states with a total of 26 electoral votes (TN=11, NC=15), while Florida is a swing state that sometimes votes Democratic, and sometimes Republican, with its 29 electoral votes.

Why do you think FEMA is reacting differently to Hurricane Milton versus its handling of Hurricane Helene?

exitseven · Accepted Answer

There are a couple of things going on. The poor response by FEMA during Hurricane Helene has shown Harris to be a poor , ineffectual leader and has really hurt her in the polls. They must do better this time.

Also Florida Gov Ron DeSantis has lots of experiences with hurricanes and had the local first responders in place and brought in extra power line workers to get electricity restored. He had an open channel to president Biden and the two of them set politics aside to get through the emergency,.

jshm2 · Accepted Answer

FEMA works with state governors, and it is up to individuals to apply.

Not sure why Americans think they are living in Japan, and the federal government comes running to fix everything next day!

Seems more Americans are ignorant of process like you, than we thought!

blueonblack22 · Answer

No way the democrats will win Florida at this point. Ron DeSantis absolutely crushed his gubernatorial re-election in 2022. Something like 20 points.

On top of that a lot of conservatives are leaving blue states for Florida. They’ve absolutely had it with how local governance has screwed up everything.

DryGermanGuy · Answer

Tom, you don't strike me as a guy falling for Facebook hysterics invented by kooks?

Twalli · Answer

Well, they were already there to help with Helene. As for where they're helping it's not political, voting to not give them adequate disaster relief funds was. As for those who voted against it, all were republicans, and a good number were from states that could use disaster relief efforts, if there was adequate funding.

gatixek710 · Answer

Trying desperately to pretend they’re doing something that DeSantis and Trump haven’t already done.

msc545 · Answer

That $750 was just an instant payment partial payment. There is or will be much more. This has been repeatedly publicized and it is now common knowledge.  Why do you not know this?

Anonymous · Answer

You need to stop with all the lying Tom.

FEMA in FL for Milton, why not in TN/NC for Helene?

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