The Politics of Hurricanes

By Hank Silverberg

Everything is politics these days. Since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, much has been written about the response of  the federal government to natural disasters. Has Congress allocated enough money? Was the response quick enough? Did those in high office show enough concern about the victims? These are all legitimate questions for the press, the public, and the government itself to review.

The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) has been restructured several times since Katrina left hundreds of people stranded in the New Orleans Superdome without proper supplies or facilities during the 2005 disaster.  And both the Bush and Obama Administrations responded much better to subsequent storms. But somehow the current administration can’t seem to do so without bringing its bizarre view of the world into it.

As Hurricane Florence approached the east coast this past week, the media did what it always does: assessed how the government  prepared for the storm and looked back at what problems arose during the last big disaster response.                                                                  

(Satellite picture of Hurricane Florence.
Courtesy of  NOAA)

A year after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a report done by George Washington University, at the request of Puerto Rico's governor, estimated more than 2,975 people died from the storm and during the six months after it because of a lack of vital services.

https://publichealth.gwu.edu/sites/default/files/downloads/projects/PRstudy/Acertainment%20of%20the%20Estimated%20Excess%20Mortality%20from%20Hurricane%20Maria%20in%20Puerto%20Rico.pdf

That made Maria among the deadliest natural disasters in U-S history. The Government had only listed 62 deaths related to that storm, but this report took a closer look at how people died, particularly the sick and elderly. The lack of medication, health care, electricity and other factors connected to the storm were included. Puerto Rico’s governor accepted the report, admitting his administration and other municipal governments on the island were unprepared and made mistakes. But the man in the White House wasn’t going along with the facts.

It was clear to those watching a year ago that the Federal Government, as it had during Katrina in 2005, was slow to act. But President Trump was having none of that this week, calling his administration’s response a year ago “an incredible unsung success,” and in a series of tweets calling the George Washington University estimate of three thousand people dead a plot by the Democrats to make him look bad.  

  

Donald J. Trump

✔ @realDonaldTrump

       

3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico. When I left the Island, AFTER the storm had hit, they had anywhere from 6 to 18 deaths. As time went by it did not go up by much. Then, a long time later, they started to report really large numbers, like 3000...

8:37 AM - Sep 13, 2018

Donald J. Trump

✔ @realDonaldTrump

.....This was done by the Democrats in order to make me look as bad as possible when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico. If a person died for any reason, like old age, just add them onto the list. Bad politics. I love Puerto Rico!

8:49 AM - Sep 13, 2018

Even more bizarre than the President's tweets, if that's possible, was a comment from FEMA director Brock Long. Appearing on NBC’s "Meet the Press" on Sunday, he responded to a question about the GWU report by saying  “ You might see deaths indirectly as time goes on,” noting things like heart attacks and car accidents from traffic lights that don't work, but then adding  “you can’t blame spousal abuse after a disaster on anyone.” “Spousal abuse?” It was a totally ridiculous comment on hurricane related deaths.    

It must be noted that the people in Puerto Rico, though American citizens, are not allowed to vote for President. Since the current administration seems to care more about popularity in red states and personal profit rather than their constitutional duty to provide for the general welfare of the public, it will be interesting to watch their response to this week’s hurricane and its aftermath.

As Hurricane Florence approached the Carolinas, and local residents began evacuating earlier this week, it was also reported by several news agencies that $9.8 million dollars meant for FEMA in the Department of Homeland Security budget was included in the transfer of $170 million to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). That money was needed it seems, for the removal or detention of migrants, including thousands of children. FEMA says the money did not come from the disaster relief budget, but several news agencies reported the money was taken from the budgets previously designated for response and recovery preparedness.  No matter which is true, after the President’s tweets it looked callous and vindictive.

It may take weeks for the folks in the Carolinas, where the death toll is climbing, to assess the overall destruction and get their lives back together. It will be interesting to see how the Trump administration responds in North Carolina and South Carolina, two states that voted for Trump in 2016.

Two sidebars here. Brock Long, the man in charge of hurricane relief, is under investigation by the Inspector General's office for improper use of his government supplied car. It's alleged he used it routinely to commute from Washington to his home in North Carolina.     

   

 And then there's Trump and his minions who refuse to even acknowledge the existence of climate change. There is substantial  science documenting the connection between climate change and human activity. There is now some serious debate on whether climate change has increased the size, intensity and number of hurricanes. That research needs to be enhanced in order for this country and others to be prepared for future environmental disasters. The Trump administration’s refusal to absorb simple facts like the death toll from storms like Hurricane Maria, will make that prospect less likely.

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      (You questions and comments are welcome. See the bottom of the page)

     (Come visit me at the Fredericksburg Book Festival on Sept 29th from 10 to 4  at Old Mill Park. There will be plenty of books for sale including my latest, "The Campaign". )