Rumors and lies about government responses to natural disasters are not new. Politics, misinformation and blame-shifting have long surrounded government response efforts.
For example, when Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in 2017, rumors and misinformation all originated from and were spread by government, news, and personal user accounts on social media. And after Hurricane Sandy in 2012, rumors about the hurricane were so widespread that even CNN’s live coverage of the event was inaccurate.
These rumors usually don’t originate from former presidents. But after Hurricanes Helen and Milton, former President Donald Trump spread falsehoods about the federal government’s response to disasters. Misinformation about this matter has become so widespread that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, known as FEMA, has set up a webpage to debunk rumors generated by President Trump.
President Joe Biden expressed anger at the lies spread by President Trump and his followers, calling them “reckless, irresponsible” and “disturbing.” He also suggested that President Trump’s claims undermine rescue and recovery efforts being undertaken by local, state and federal authorities.
Disaster relief is often political because so many people are affected and because there is so much media coverage of hurricanes, floods, and other significant weather events. Furthermore, relief would require significant funding and coordination by high-profile elected officials.
The rhetoric around federal emergency management only gets more complicated because most people don’t know much about the federal laws governing disaster relief. In fact, even state and local officials find it difficult to understand the details of the law and its accompanying regulations.
And finally, the design of the law and the timing of the hurricane season can lead to politicization. Elected officials, or politicians, are constantly involved in coordinating government response efforts, adding an element of politics to disaster relief. The fact that hurricane and election seasons coincide only heightens the politics of such relief.
Former President Donald Trump falsely said the Biden administration “stole $1 billion” meant for disaster relief and used it to aid immigrants.
Explaining the government’s response to natural disasters
The Disaster Relief Act of 1974, as amended and now known as the Stafford Act, is the law that governs how the federal government responds to natural disasters and other emergencies.
But the law does not guarantee federal aid to communities affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Instead, the governor of the affected state or the chief executive of the affected tribal government must request a disaster declaration from the President. Requests can be made before or after a storm, but must prove the disaster is too severe and large for state, local or tribal governments to respond to alone.
In response to these requests, Mr. Biden issued a proclamation targeting the eight states surrounding Helen. He also issued statements against Milton and against the Seminole Tribe and the state of Florida.
After the president issues a proclamation, the federal government can begin providing aid to state, local, and tribal governments. This includes coordinating all disaster relief assistance, from evacuation to recovery, provided by federal agencies, private organizations such as the Red Cross, and state and local governments.
Federal assistance can be financial or logistical. This includes everything from helping to repair roads and restore public services to providing support and services to people affected by disasters, such as temporary housing, legal services and crisis counseling.
The number of federal agencies and employees involved in disaster relief is staggering. For example, thousands of federal employees from FEMA, the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Transportation responded to Helen and Milton. We are supporting.
State and local officials also play an important role after a disaster is declared. Each state’s governor or chief tribal officer will play a leading role in coordinating state and federal efforts. That person also appoints an official to serve as a liaison between the federal government and the state or tribe. And in each affected community, local elected officials will lead the on-the-ground response. This is usually the mayor of the city or town.
federalist activity
Enforcement of the Stafford Act requires a collaborative and healthy relationship between the President, federal agencies, and state, local, and tribal governments.
When done well, the government’s disaster response is a classic example of so-called “federalism” in action. Federalism involves the sharing of power between national and state governments. The framers of the U.S. Constitution created this power-sharing system so that the national government could solve coordination and capacity problems among the states and allow state governments to respond to the nuances of local conditions.
For example, in response to requests from state governments after Hurricane Helen, Mr. Biden directed federal efforts to help those most affected. The federal response has so far included more than 450 state and federal efforts to ensure those affected by the hurricane receive everything from housing assistance to financial assistance for medical and funeral costs. This includes working with local government officials.
Politics is also mixed in
But the very intentions of the framers of the federal constitutional system can create opportunities for political manipulation. The Stafford Act creates an emergency management system that is highly decentralized and responsive to local needs.
However, decentralization also means that disaster response personnel have different perspectives and therefore different priorities, which can lead to conflict.
For example, various officials involved in the response to Hurricane Helen have advocated for federal resources, including money and personnel, to be used to restore public works, law enforcement, fire, health, communications, and transportation services. How can the central government choose between all these necessary services?
Research has shown that the officials responsible for making such decisions—elected officials and their appointees—are on average less likely than career civil servants who routinely work with affected populations to Everything is made even more complicated by the lack of government experience. by natural disasters.
As a result, the Stafford Act’s decision to place elected officials and their appointees in charge of emergency management may reduce the quality of the government’s response.
Members of the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Unit search flooded areas in Asheville, North Carolina, in the aftermath of Hurricane Helen on October 4, 2024. Mario Tama/Getty Images
Discuss the size and role of government
The different political leanings of elected officials add an additional wrinkle. Debate over disaster response often reflects larger political debates, such as debates over the size and role of government.
The history of the Stafford Act provides an example. Traditionally, disaster relief has been the responsibility of state and local governments. But a series of natural disasters, including the 1964 Alaska earthquake, Hurricane Betsy in 1965 and Camille in 1969, were so large that the federal government had to step in and help.
In the immediate aftermath of Camille, accusations of racism in relief efforts and partisan battles over responsibility for the government’s ineffective response to the disaster intensified. Media and Congressional attention to government mismanagement in relief efforts created an opportunity to expand the federal government’s role in the process, ultimately leading to the passage of the first version of the Stafford Act.
Thirty-five years later, many of the same issues emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans in 2005: racism, government mismanagement, and the politicization of relief. Media and Congressional attention led to legislation that amends the Stafford Act, restructures FEMA, and governs how the federal government responds to state and tribal requests for assistance.
Trump’s lies come from the same strategy. It falsely claims that funds are being diverted to immigrants and that relief efforts are only being used to help areas where Democrats live.
But the devastation left behind by Helen and Milton calls into question local and federal collaboration in natural disaster preparedness and response, and calls for improved equity, efficiency, and effectiveness in government responses to natural disasters. This has led to calls for Congress to pass a reform bill. Whether this reform is possible in such a contentious political climate remains an open question.
