A new Homeland Security rule is reportedly hobbling the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the devastating Texas floods, that has taken at least 120 lives, including children, while over 150 remain unaccounted for.
According to The Daily Beast, four officials at FEMA, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, revealed to CNN that the new rule rolled out by Secretary Kristi Noem has delayed the agency’s response to the disaster. As reported by the outlet, this new policy requires Noem’s signature on any contract or grant over $100,000.
A longtime FEMA official further told CNN, “We were operating under a clear set of guidance: lean forward, be prepared, anticipate what the state needs, and be ready to deliver it. That is not as clear of an intent for us at the moment.”
The outlet alleged that some of the rescue operation was hampered by ‘ICE Barbie‘s’ new rule, adding that FEMA was prepared to move Urban Search into position when the flash flood struck on Friday. However, the whole process was delayed because it required Noem’s signature, which only came on Monday.
In addition, CNN further alleges that FEMA’s disaster call center was also forced to wait longer for a response as they couldn’t get additional staff on board without Donald Trump‘s Homeland Security Secretary’s approval.
Following the devastating floods, Texas immediately requested aerial imagery from the agency to accelerate the search and rescue operations; however, was told to wait until Kristi Noem’s direct approval, as revealed by a source.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t authorize FEMA’s deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams until Monday, more than 72 hours after the flooding in Texas began, multiple sources told CNN.
Outrageous. pic.twitter.com/r5DBNItRIV
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Some FEMA officials also told CNN that the acting administrator of the agency, David Richardson, has very little authority in these matters, with Noem directly controlling the contracts. The memo, obtained by the outlet last month, requests details such as the mission’s report, amounts, timeline, plan of action, and even descriptions of the supplies and services before funds are released.
“FEMA is shifting from bloated, DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens. The old processes are being replaced because they failed Americans in real emergencies for decades,” said Tricia McLaughlin, the spokesperson for Homeland Security.
“What happened, I think, here, is that we couldn’t move, or FEMA couldn’t move those resources in like they normally would, to be on the ground ready once they found out how bad the situation was.”
McLaughlin added, “And you lose time, and that’s time that can cost lives in the end. And so it’s really important for emergency managers to always be proactive and thinking ahead and getting resources in place.”
