Allow me to add a modest observation: all American states with a coastline on the *ahem* Gulf of Mexico are deep, deep red. Hurricanes punish the stupid. I think you're right, I think the future devastation and suffering will be unimaginable. They didn't vote for that. But yes, yes they did.
So well written Olivia. Ty!! I was in Ft Myers to help my immediate family after Ian hit. My cousins house literally floated down the road during the storm surge. He was two blocks behind the Lani Kai. The magic word there is “was.” FEMA isn’t just for federal disaster aide, they also act like the Red Cross and are likely your only source of fresh water & basics after a catastrophic hit. DJT is being completely irresponsible with FEMA and it’s a matter of time before someone dies or gets seriously injured by his actions.
Good luck finding Republican Representatives or even Senators, even when their own people are at risk of being abandoned by FEMA, standing up to Trump. They know their own voters will not care unless they themselves were impacted, because in the Republican party, compassion is seen as 'stupid', and even in disasters it is a relatively small portion of their voters who are actually hurt. Trump will bray and shout all sorts of BS, but will let those politicians know, as he has before, that dissent in the ranks will NOT be tolerated.
It has long been clear, certainly since Covid, that Trump NEVER accepts responsibility, and considers these various disasters as state problems. Sure, in the past he went along and got his 'Photo-Ops', but he never cared about the people.
Not to wish harm upon any of the innocents just trying to get by, but it would be good if Mar-a-Lago was to get destroyed in a hurricane, because Trump's disproportional response will be educational for the people. I fear what is more likely is that 'Katrina' like failure will be multiplied, because as fouled up as they were back then, they at least tried. Trump will just strut around blaming democrats, Biden, immigrants and 'Fake News', while using it to further distract from the Epstein files and the faltering economy (made worse by the disasters).
Until the people wake up and realize who and what Trump is, in very large numbers so that even Republican Politicians will grow a backbone, we will continue to take damage from Trump as a nation, and just hold on, praying our democracy stays intact, against Trump's clear intent.
We all know there will be at least one devastating hurricane this season. I live in Bethany Beach Delaware and just seeing the waves and wind generated by Erin which was hundreds of miles offshore last week really hit home how serious even a ‘moderate’ hurricane is and how important FEMA is. I will hope for the best in the next few months but know w this administration no one can depend on there being the resources needed, be it the Gulf or East Coast.
Trump is threatening to send the national guard to Chicago. Governor Pritzker opposes this action. Imagine this scenario: Trump sends National Guard units for red states. Pritzker sends in National Guard units from Illinois, declaring that "if we need the National Guard in Chicago, it will be my National Guard, under my command." The two units clash and the civil war is on.
Truth to Power Olivia and the brave folks inside Fema. I remember Katrina well, it is also the anniversary of my health descent 20 yrs ago. I live in Arkansas and housed Katrina evacuees, heard their stories. One family's daughter was a newscaster and she stayed in New Orleans to report the news. Brave and tragic. It is astounding our systems and safeguards have eroded so much but the incompetence, brutality, greed and inhumanity of those who govern. It's time for the wisdom of our collective to Rise up.
As a native New Orleanian living in New Orleans at the time of Katrina, I thanked you before for your service there, I thank you again. We needed help because our state failed us long before fema did. Not a popular opinion.
We knew before Katrina that our levee system was not ready for a major storm even as we were already mired down in a multiple evacuation storm season before Katrina. State readiness?.
I'll say it because I was there: New Orleans' mayor and its governor stunk at emergency preparedness and coordinating with the federal government. Governor Blanco went on record applauding our readiness and Mayor Nagin went to jail for stealing fema funds.
Alexandria, LA has an airport that deports immigrant so fast it's operators call it the "human fed ex"
9 immigration detention centers are in LA.
State agencies loose their state monies if they are caught not reporting undocumented immigrants.
I live in Maryland on higher ground now and that is where I speak from.
Where will LA. house its climate refugees when the next storm comes?..in those detention centers? Their red state Mystic Krew government cares more for ethnic cleansing than it does for humane common sense emergency preparedness.
No doubt that FEMA will suffer with operations because of stupid people making decisions. The same can be said for every damn federal department, agency, and service. Now, the imbeciles are begging for many of these people to return. This is an almost complete kakistocracy and a plurality of the voters opted for this. I always knew that a scary percentage of the public was intellectually challenged and having Trump as president confirms that.
I appreciate your first-hand knowledge here.
Allow me to add a modest observation: all American states with a coastline on the *ahem* Gulf of Mexico are deep, deep red. Hurricanes punish the stupid. I think you're right, I think the future devastation and suffering will be unimaginable. They didn't vote for that. But yes, yes they did.
I'm guessing you're white. So am I. Many of those most directly affected by hurricanes in the Gulf are not white. They did not vote for Trump.
I'm not so sure, about who does the voting or who is affected by hurricanes. Every heard of a "hurricane party"? It's a white thing.
I admire your first hand knowledge. I continue to share your stories 🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
So well written Olivia. Ty!! I was in Ft Myers to help my immediate family after Ian hit. My cousins house literally floated down the road during the storm surge. He was two blocks behind the Lani Kai. The magic word there is “was.” FEMA isn’t just for federal disaster aide, they also act like the Red Cross and are likely your only source of fresh water & basics after a catastrophic hit. DJT is being completely irresponsible with FEMA and it’s a matter of time before someone dies or gets seriously injured by his actions.
I wish I shared your faith in Congress.
President of retribution, not relief.
Good luck finding Republican Representatives or even Senators, even when their own people are at risk of being abandoned by FEMA, standing up to Trump. They know their own voters will not care unless they themselves were impacted, because in the Republican party, compassion is seen as 'stupid', and even in disasters it is a relatively small portion of their voters who are actually hurt. Trump will bray and shout all sorts of BS, but will let those politicians know, as he has before, that dissent in the ranks will NOT be tolerated.
It has long been clear, certainly since Covid, that Trump NEVER accepts responsibility, and considers these various disasters as state problems. Sure, in the past he went along and got his 'Photo-Ops', but he never cared about the people.
Not to wish harm upon any of the innocents just trying to get by, but it would be good if Mar-a-Lago was to get destroyed in a hurricane, because Trump's disproportional response will be educational for the people. I fear what is more likely is that 'Katrina' like failure will be multiplied, because as fouled up as they were back then, they at least tried. Trump will just strut around blaming democrats, Biden, immigrants and 'Fake News', while using it to further distract from the Epstein files and the faltering economy (made worse by the disasters).
Until the people wake up and realize who and what Trump is, in very large numbers so that even Republican Politicians will grow a backbone, we will continue to take damage from Trump as a nation, and just hold on, praying our democracy stays intact, against Trump's clear intent.
Thank you for continuing to provide your insights, based on your personal experience, on how government should work and how it's now being undermined.
The damage was done when FEMA was merged into the Department of Homeland Security after 911.
this doesnt help my digestion---but oh...so true! Thanks for your vivid description of a truly "man-made" disaster.
We all know there will be at least one devastating hurricane this season. I live in Bethany Beach Delaware and just seeing the waves and wind generated by Erin which was hundreds of miles offshore last week really hit home how serious even a ‘moderate’ hurricane is and how important FEMA is. I will hope for the best in the next few months but know w this administration no one can depend on there being the resources needed, be it the Gulf or East Coast.
As a reasonably senior former USG employee, (now retired) I agree with you 100%.
"The National Guard as Political Theater"
Trump is threatening to send the national guard to Chicago. Governor Pritzker opposes this action. Imagine this scenario: Trump sends National Guard units for red states. Pritzker sends in National Guard units from Illinois, declaring that "if we need the National Guard in Chicago, it will be my National Guard, under my command." The two units clash and the civil war is on.
All too plausible.
Truth to Power Olivia and the brave folks inside Fema. I remember Katrina well, it is also the anniversary of my health descent 20 yrs ago. I live in Arkansas and housed Katrina evacuees, heard their stories. One family's daughter was a newscaster and she stayed in New Orleans to report the news. Brave and tragic. It is astounding our systems and safeguards have eroded so much but the incompetence, brutality, greed and inhumanity of those who govern. It's time for the wisdom of our collective to Rise up.
As a native New Orleanian living in New Orleans at the time of Katrina, I thanked you before for your service there, I thank you again. We needed help because our state failed us long before fema did. Not a popular opinion.
We knew before Katrina that our levee system was not ready for a major storm even as we were already mired down in a multiple evacuation storm season before Katrina. State readiness?.
I'll say it because I was there: New Orleans' mayor and its governor stunk at emergency preparedness and coordinating with the federal government. Governor Blanco went on record applauding our readiness and Mayor Nagin went to jail for stealing fema funds.
Alexandria, LA has an airport that deports immigrant so fast it's operators call it the "human fed ex"
9 immigration detention centers are in LA.
State agencies loose their state monies if they are caught not reporting undocumented immigrants.
I live in Maryland on higher ground now and that is where I speak from.
Where will LA. house its climate refugees when the next storm comes?..in those detention centers? Their red state Mystic Krew government cares more for ethnic cleansing than it does for humane common sense emergency preparedness.
No doubt that FEMA will suffer with operations because of stupid people making decisions. The same can be said for every damn federal department, agency, and service. Now, the imbeciles are begging for many of these people to return. This is an almost complete kakistocracy and a plurality of the voters opted for this. I always knew that a scary percentage of the public was intellectually challenged and having Trump as president confirms that.
We have fair warning. It is getting scary.