Vice President Kamala Harris sparked controversy after announcing the amount of financial assistance the Biden-Harris administration would consider providing to Americans devastated by Hurricane Helene and the subsequent storms.
On Wednesday, following former President Donald Trump’s visit to Georgia, Harris arrived in the state to highlight relief efforts for those affected by widespread flooding across multiple states.
Lets check in on our government:
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 3, 2024
Biden announced a new $2.4B aid package to Ukraine last week while Kamala announced today that victims of Hurricane Helene will get a mere $750.
Oh, and FEMA doesn't have enough money to make it through hurricane season yet spent $640M on… pic.twitter.com/otIebCIidC
“The federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met, such as food, baby formula, and the like. And you can apply now,” Harris said during her visit to Augusta, Georgia, according to a White House transcript. FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is managing the aid distribution.
However, a White House fact sheet clarified that the $750 payment is not guaranteed.
“FEMA assistance in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia can include a one-time $750 payment to help with essential items like food, water, baby formula, and other emergency supplies,” the fact sheet stated. It also noted that individuals could qualify for additional disaster-related financial assistance for repairing homes, replacing property, or securing temporary shelter after registering for disaster assistance.
https://twitter.com/johnnymaga/status/1841869728773542056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1841869728773542056%7Ctwgr%5E9f22d6dd380a0c1d9cf6572979fac284366a4e97%7Ctwcon%5Es1&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.westernjournal.com%2Fkamala-harris-fire-reveals-will-given-hurricane-helene-victims%2F
$750. pic.twitter.com/IaeUSDzYtf
— Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) October 3, 2024
In a moment almost as bad as the original announcement of assistance for Maui burn victims, Kamala Harris comes out and says they will shall be providing $750 for victims of flooding due to hurricane Helene.
— Malcolm FleX (@Malcolm_fleX48) October 3, 2024
Keep in mind these are people who have lost everything, and in this… pic.twitter.com/nU5jLQSlLG
$175 Billion for Ukraine.
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) October 3, 2024
$150.7 Billion for illegal aliens.
But $750 for Americans.
This is Kamala’s America!
Americans deserve better! pic.twitter.com/flCjmXYpBY
Social media erupted with criticism, pointing out the perceived disparity between aid offered to hurricane victims and the support provided to illegal immigrants. Many argued that Americans appeared to be a lower priority.
On the same day, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA might struggle to cover the costs of responding to more hurricanes, according to National Review.
This comes after FEMA allocated over $1 billion to the Shelter and Services Program, which provides housing for migrants.
Republican Rep. Cory Mills of Florida echoed these sentiments in a recent interview, criticizing the administration’s focus. “Let’s go ahead and point out the obvious, which is that FEMA had utilized a large majority of the personnel who should be here taking care of this to be sent and [instead] repurposed, if you will, for immigration resettlement, when we need to be focused on Americans and what’s going on, whether it be in Maui, Palestine, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina or Tennessee,” he said.
Former President Trump also weighed in on the issue, posting on Truth Social, “Kamala and Sleepy Joe are universally being given POOR GRADES for the way that they are handling the Hurricane, especially in North Carolina.”
“It is going down as the WORST & MOST INCOMPETENTLY MANAGED ‘STORM,’ AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, EVER SEEN BEFORE – BUT THEIR MANAGEMENT OF THE BORDER IS WORSE! MAGA2024,” Trump added.
