Noem Under Fire: FEMA Call Failures Exposed Amidst Texas Flood Crisis

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is facing intense scrutiny following reports that thousands of critical calls to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) went unanswered in the immediate aftermath of devastating Texas floods earlier this month. Despite a New York Times report detailing significant call failures, Noem has dismissed the claims as “fake news.”

The Times investigation revealed a stark drop in FEMA’s responsiveness: while nearly all calls were answered on July 5, only 846 out of 2,363 were answered on July 6, and a mere 2,613 out of 16,419 (15.9%) on July 7. Sources within FEMA attribute these critical delays to a new policy implemented by Secretary Noem, which required her personal signature on all contracts exceeding $100,000. This reportedly led to the non-renewal of contracts with call centers and the subsequent firing of hundreds of contractors, leaving disaster survivors unable to connect with the agency.

The human toll of the Texas floods is grim, with at least 129 confirmed deaths and over 160 people still missing, as rescue efforts face new threats from ongoing rain. Beyond the call center issues, Noem is also accused of delaying the deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams for three days and holding up approvals for aerial imaging requested by Texas authorities.

This controversy unfolds amidst a backdrop of previous statements from both Noem and former President Trump expressing a desire to “dismantle” or “eliminate” FEMA, coupled with recent firings of agency officials who opposed such plans. An internal FEMA review in mid-May reportedly found the agency “not ready” for the current hurricane season due to staff limits and coordination issues. As hurricane season progresses, the alleged failures raise serious concerns about the federal government’s capacity to respond effectively to future disasters.

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