FEMAs hurricane flood rescue failures: Letters to the Editor Oct. 8, 2024

The Issue: FEMA’s failure to help people trapped by floodwaters across the state of North Carolina.I am not surprised that the victims of Hurricane Helene are complaining about FEMA (“On their own in NC,” Oct.6).In 2021 some residents of my town lost their homes because of Hurricane Ida.

As the Greenburgh town supervisor in Westchester County, I completed the application for a FEMA grant, but the process of getting a grant from FEMA is difficult and takes a very long time.We anticipate that the victims of Hurricane Ida won’t be back in their homes for at least another year — some are still homeless.FEMA needs to streamline the process when awarding grants to victims of disasters.Grants and dollars should be processed in weeks — not years.Paul FeinerGreenburghThe Biden-Harris administration allocated $640 million from FEMA’s funds to provide housing, food and medical care to migrants.And now they don’t have the money to help those in North Carolina who have been left destitute from deadly hurricanes and other natural disasters.

Vice President Harris, who has given her stamp of approval and praise of every one of her administration’s disastrous policies, is OK with this redistribution of FEMA money.Phil RaschiatoreTampa, Fla.Just some advice to FEMA management who state they cannot get in to the resilient people of North Carolina due to road closures: There’s a new high-tech instrument called a ‘drone’ (“Oh, the hel’ with ya, FEMA,” Oct.7).Perhaps FEMA’s folks may have heard of it.

It would be great for inspections and assessing the horrendous damage these people are experiencing.To be fair, though, much of the burden is also on the powers that be in Washington, D.C.Donna SkjevelandHolbrookWe are witnessing a repeat of FEMA’s meltdown during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.It is pretty clear from many posted videos on social media that FEMA’s efforts are utterly inept.FEMA is trying to operate with zero consideration of conditions or ...