House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed the Biden administration's response to Hurricane Helen relief efforts, calling the federal government's response a “terrible failure.”
“At the federal level, this is a huge failure. Just ask the people on the ground. I've been there. I've been in Georgia. I've been in Florida, where Hurricane Helen… And we're going to be in some of the hardest-hit areas in North Carolina this Wednesday, and if you talk to the people who were directly affected, they'll tell you this was a terrible mistake.” said Johnson, a Republican. he told Fox News' Shannon Bream in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”
Hurricane Helen flooded devastated towns and cities across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee, killing more than 220 people.
Prime Minister Johnson went on to say that the public had been warned about the hurricane for more than a week and that FEMA should have been better prepared to assist victims.
Johnson slams Biden administration's 'lack of leadership' on Helen: 'Alarmed and disappointed'
Chairman Mike Johnson said FEMA should have been better prepared to assist victims. (Getty Images)
“I think very often FEMA has lost sight of its core mission, and the administration has not shown that it was prepared for this contingency and this terrible disaster. Shannon, Important About Hurricanes The thing is, we know that.''You know, they notified us of this over a week ago, and yet there are still people in North Carolina who haven't received relief. Masu. This is a heartbreaking, tragic, and infuriating situation that the federal government finds itself in. Governments will fail as they always have. ” he said.
Death toll rises as North Carolina reels from Helen's devastation: 'We've never seen anything like this'
A rescue team rows the Swannanoa River on Sunday, September 29, 2024. The remnants of Hurricane Helen caused widespread flooding, downed trees, and power outages across western North Carolina. (Travis Long/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Republican elected official Elon Musk and volunteers spoke out against the government's response to the hurricane as crews continued to search for missing people and bodies across the affected area.
Hurricane Helen: North Carolinians fight to survive as essential goods run out
“Weak leadership from the federal government here in North Carolina has completely failed,” said John Howard of the Florida National Guard Task Force, which is assisting with rescue efforts in North Carolina. “We need strong spiritual leadership from the state.” he said on Fox News last week. “This would never have happened if Gov. (Ron) DeSantis hadn't sent a National Guard task force here. But there's no support here at all. There's no leadership.”
Flood damage to a bridge over Mill Creek in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen in Old Fort, North Carolina, September 30, 2024. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
“When I meet locals there, they ask me, 'Are you in the National Guard?' I say, 'I'm from Florida,' and they say, 'Where is North Carolina?' You know, they're asking where their leadership is,” he continued. “They have no idea what's going on and the officials here are even trying to kick us out of Lakemoor and Chimney Rock… That's nonsense. They're not giving me permission. This is the craziest thing I've ever seen. It's like they want these people dead.”
Musk on Friday accused FEMA of “blocking” a shipment of Starlink satellite internet deliveries to North Carolina, where the devastated region is trying to get back online.
President Trump targets Biden, Harris over federal response to hurricanes: 'Poor management'
“FEMA is not only not adequately helping people in need, they are actively blocking citizens who are trying to help!” Musk posted on X.
Later in the day, Musk credited Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg with saying the problem was “resolved” and denying claims that FEMA had confiscated supplies for hurricane victims.
The remains of a house are seen in Lake Lure, North Carolina, after Hurricane Helen passes on October 2, 2024. (Alison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images)
President Biden surveyed hurricane damage in North Carolina and South Carolina last week, met with victims in Florida and Georgia on Thursday, and urged Congress to replenish funding for disaster relief programs. I called out.
Johnson continued that Congress will reconvene immediately after the Nov. 5 election to address additional funding for FEMA for additional hurricanes and natural disasters that may occur in the near future.
SpaceX considers establishing new Starlink, Elon Musk criticizes female North Carolina doctor over treatment of Helen
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson speaks during a press conference on June 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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“Congress is going to do its job. Before we left Washington, by the way, the day before Helen made landfall, Congress added additional funds to FEMA to make sure we immediately had the funding we needed to address the emergency needs.” “Remember, we allocated $20 billion. Then Congress always takes the right approach of providing what is needed,” he said, adding that Congress must first see damage estimates from the states. He explained that the calculation could take some time.
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