Harris Harangued for Hurricane Response
As Long Islanders join in the nationwide effort to gather supplies for those devastated by Hurricane Helene, the federal government’s response to the tragedy has become a presidential campaign issue with charges that emergency funds were diverted to support illegal immigrants.
“She threw open the border, destroyed the middle class, and now as our citizens are suffering from the catastrophic Hurricane Helene, Kamala Harris has left them stranded,” her opponent for president, Donald Trump said at a rally in Erie, PA. “This is the worst response to a storm or a catastrophe, or a hurricane that we’ve ever seen, ever.”
Coming ashore at Florida’s Big Bend, Helene cut a path of destruction through the southern U.S. and devastated western North Carolina, dumping up to 30 inches of rain and causing massive flooding and mudslides. More than 200 were killed in the late September storm as residents made chilling appeals for help. The Biden/Harris administration responded with an offer of $750 to affected families, an amount decried as far too little for residents in communities without power, running water, and cell service. Many are reported still missing in one of the deadliest storms in U.S. history.
Asked by a reporter what the people in the storm zone need, Biden replied, “What storm zone?” When reminded of the hurricane, he answered, "Oh, in the storm zone. They're getting everything they need. They're very happy, across the board."
On the campaign trail, Trump begged to differ. “Their response was probably worse than Katrina, that’s hard to believe. And she sends their money to foreign nations. They send hundreds of billions of dollars to foreign nations, and they’re giving our people 750 bucks.” He added, “If you want someone who steals your wealth and abandons your family when the flood waters rise, vote for them.”
“It’s unacceptable for Americans to grapple with the catastrophic aftermath of Hurricane Helene while the federal government remains fixated on spending hundreds of millions on a program sheltering illegal immigrants instead of helping our own citizens,” said South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace. She’s introduced a bill to redirect federal funds from immigration efforts to Hurricane Helene relief and terminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Shelter and Services Program for migrants.
“How tone-deaf can they be?” asked Congressman Nick LaLota. “In Washington, President Biden and VP Harris' FEMA spent $1.4 billion on migrants while telling Americans suffering from catastrophic storm damage they can only get $750 each. This is why so many of my constituents are pissed and are voting for common-sense conservatives who will continue to prioritize American law-abiding citizens.”
Biden and Harris were also roundly criticized for their response to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last year, with opponents charging that it’s part of their practice to short-change communities that voted for Trump. The migrant flood is seen as a strategy to infiltrate these Republican areas with new Democrat voters.