FEMA Website: ‘Instill Equity As A Foundation Of Emergency Management’
My latest at IWF.
Hurricane Helene has caused untold devastation across southeastern U.S. states, and the impacted communities are in dire need of immediate relief. As of this writing, at least 100 people have tragically perished.
Instead of pledging help to affected communities, some immediately politicized the unprecedented flooding event. A former Obama administration official suggested climate change denial will invite more natural disasters like it, while a prominent media outlet suggested criticism of the lackluster Biden-Harris response is political.
While the Biden-Harris administration claims there is “robust and well-coordinated Federal support” for Hurricane Helene relief efforts, doubts have emerged due to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website claiming “equity as a foundation of emergency management” under its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan.
Unsurprisingly, Goal 1 of the strategic plan is to make equity the centerpiece of emergency management.
“Underserved communities, as well as specific identity groups, often suffer disproportionately from disasters. As a result, disasters worsen inequities already present in society,” the strategic plan reads. “By instilling equity as a foundation of emergency management and striving to meet the unique needs of underserved communities, the emergency management community can work to break this cycle and build a more resilient nation.”FEMA claims equity in emergency management isn’t a novel concept. However, existing law—the Stafford Act—says emergency assistance must be equally applied to everyone. Under Section 308 of the Stafford Act, the agency can’t unfairly distribute resources to one group over others:
FEMA cannot, on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, nationality, sex, English proficiency, age, or economic status, either directly or through contractual means:
Deny program services, aids, or benefits;
Provide a different service, aid, or benefit, or provide them in a manner different than they are provided to others; or,
Segregate or separately treat individuals in any matter related to the receipt of any service, aid, or benefit.
But the agency admits the Stafford Act could obstruct their equity vision because it “must be aware of, and responsive to, the needs of different individuals and communities to ensure that the benefits of FEMA programs are available.”
On a corresponding “Equity” page, FEMA has adopted a whole-of-government policy “requiring that agencies assess equity with respect to race, ethnicity, religion, income, geography, gender identity, sexual orientation and disability” from the January 20th, 2021 Executive Order on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”
“We’re turning a page at FEMA and infusing equity throughout our agency, programs, and policies to better serve people who face unique barriers before, during and after disasters,” FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said.
This isn’t the first time the agency has been embroiled in controversy involving its emergency management mission.
Earlier this year, I wrote here at IWF how FEMA is being pressured by radical environmental groups and climate activists to label wildlife smoke and excessive heat “major disasters”:
Per the Stafford Act, extreme heat and wildfire smoke aren’t typically declared “major disasters.” Previous presidents have denied issuing declarations for excessive heat events because the “ ‘severity and magnitude’ of the incident was insufficient to warrant a declaration.” Ultimately, Congressional action—not an executive order—is required to add “extreme heat” and “wildlife smoke” to FEMA “major disaster” declarations.
Emergency management should be equally applied to all Americans in the path of natural disasters—regardless of their state of residence or socioeconomic status. Relief and assistance must be delivered in a timely manner so all persons impacted by Hurricane Helene can survive and move forward after this horrific event.
Wow! And here I thought all of the contract work I did for FEMA was to prevent or minimize the effect of natural disasters. I didn’t know that flooding (my work) was the result of inequities in the system.
Considering that representatives of this Administration have difficulty in defining a woman or that sexual preference is a (unstated) qualification for a government position, it is not surprising that they have to openly state that all persons are eligible for disaster assistance and aid. One would think that if a person is drowning, one would thrown them a rope without first considering “is this equitable.”
In making such a bold statement, is the agency admitting that its previous policies were, in fact, inequitable?
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, or blizzards, are indiscriminate. They do not recognize economic barriers, gender differences, or differing creeds. It would seem the primary, and only, purpose of an agency intending on managing the effects of such disasters would be to provide the necessary aid to those in need of medical care, and to provide assistance to those in need of recovering from property damage inflicted by said disaster. Such aid and assistance shall be provided immediately and without cost to the victims.
What else is needed?
I also note, with more than a little delightful irony, all of the fossil fuels and ICE equipment necessary to render that aid and assistance. Funny that fact never, ever gets mentioned in their claims that us climate deniers are making things worse.
So unbelievable! Get the people the help needed w/boots on the ground from not just local governments but FEMA. Local churches through the people can only do so much. Stop the bull and politicizing and holding onto and siphoning out our taxpayer funds for your own games.