DHS Secretary Kristi Noem discusses Texas flood response
Throughout a information convention Saturday, Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned the federal response to the Texas flood catastrophe that claimed greater than 119 lives on the Fourth of July. (Credit score: WTSP by way of NNS)
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Homeland Safety Secretary Kristi Noem mentioned Saturday that the federal response to the lethal floods in Texas Hill Nation final weekend was indication of the improved catastrophe response the Trump administration is dedicated to offering.
Devastating floods on the Fourth of July claimed at the very least 119 lives, and greater than 150 others are lacking. Amongst these killed had been 27 women attending Camp Mystic alongside the Guadalupe River in Hunt, Texas.
“What you noticed from our response in Texas goes to be a variety of how President [Donald] Trump envisions what [the Federal Emergency Management Agency] (FEMA) would appear to be sooner or later,” Noem mentioned throughout a information convention Saturday.
“We did issues in Texas, in response, very totally different than Joe Biden.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and Gov. Greg Abbott talk about ongoing efforts with current flooding alongside the Guadalupe River throughout a information convention in Ingram, Texas, July 5. (AP Picture/Rodolfo Gonzalez)
PRESIDENT TRUMP, FIRST LADY HEAD TO VISIT KERRVILLE, TEXAS FOLLOWING FATAL FLOODS
In response to the 2023 Ohio prepare derailment in East Palestine, the Biden administration mentioned the chemical catastrophe didn’t meet authorized necessities for a FEMA catastrophe declaration, ready two weeks to deploy a staff to help.
Within the 2023 Maui fires, greater than 100 individuals had been killed, and historic Lahaina was diminished to rubble. Survivors had been left with out meals, water and shelter.
On the time, FEMA Administrator Michael Brown known as President Joe Biden’s response to the lethal fires “an abject failure.”
Displaced residents Caroline Anthony and Lori Brodeur pause whereas looking for private objects within the rubble of a wildfire that destroyed their house Oct. 5, 2023, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Mario Tama/Getty Pictures)
Sluggish responses and insufficient support had been additionally extensively reported after Hurricane Helene struck North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina in late 2024.
“I will even be signing an government order to start the method of basically reforming and overhauling FEMA or perhaps eliminating FEMA,” Trump mentioned in January whereas visiting North Carolina. “I feel, frankly, FEMA is just not good.”
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Search and rescue groups work in Kerrville, Texas, July 9. (Derek Shook for Fox Information Digital)
Noem famous that, throughout the latest catastrophe, federal help was on the bottom in Texas as quickly because the flooding hit.
“We deployed our Coast Guard, helicopters, [aircraft] and swift water rescue groups out of Customs and Border Safety,” she mentioned. “Our [Border Patrol Tactical Unit] (BORTAC) groups, which I prefer to name the Division of Homeland Safety’s ninjas, are particularly educated for conditions like that, the place the unprecedented is going on.”
After the floods, Noem mentioned she instantly met with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and spoke with him about getting a significant catastrophe declaration signed.
Inside an hour or two of the request, she mentioned, it was accepted by the White Home.
President Donald Trump, first woman Melania Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott meet with native emergency companies personnel as they survey flood injury alongside the Guadalupe River Friday in Kerrville, Texas. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Pictures)
“We pre-deployed {dollars} proper to Texas in order that they’ll make the most effective choices responding to their individuals,” Noem mentioned. “FEMA has by no means completed that earlier than — pre-deployed {dollars} to a state in order that they might use that to save lots of their individuals, so they might use that to exit and save lives.”
Noem mentioned the president desires the states to be empowered throughout emergencies.
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“Emergencies are domestically executed,” she mentioned. “They’re state-managed after which the federal authorities is available in and helps you. [No one] ever desires to take a seat again and wait for somebody from the federal authorities to point out up and rescue you out of your home as a result of that, up to now, has not served individuals properly below the Biden administration.
Below President Trump, Noem mentioned, federal officers had been there instantly to assist native and state officers handle the response.
A number of Texas flood victims have been confirmed lifeless by households, together with among the women who went lacking from Camp Mystic when the Guadalupe River flooded July 4. (Fox Information)
She added her perception that FEMA “will stop to exist the best way that it’s right now.”
“We’re basically reforming that company,” Noem mentioned. “President Trump could wish to, in his prerogative, as he likes to do, rename issues. He could give you a brand new title for this company that displays the basic change that is going to occur there. However this company will now not be the bureaucratic company the place individuals have to attend 20 years for his or her declare to be paid.
“It is going to be an company that instantly says to that state, and to that native emergency administration director, ‘What do you want? How can we assist you?’ After which trains them to have the ability set that they should be serving their individuals instantly, as a result of they’re all the time there quicker. They’re proper there on the streets.”
It’s unclear what the brand new company title may be.
President Donald Trump and first woman Melania Trump pay attention throughout a roundtable dialogue with first responders and native officers on the Hill Nation Youth Occasion Heart in Kerrville, Texas, after observing flood injury Friday. (AP Picture/Jacquelyn Martin)
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When requested about stories of calls to FEMA from Texas residents going unanswered, Noem mentioned she was “throwing the bull—- flag,” claiming she didn’t assume that was true.
“I’ll do away with any contract that does not reply to individuals as a result of they know they’re empowered to do it,” she mentioned.
FEMA didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark.
