Texas, Trump and FEMA
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Ex-FEMA officials say it’s unclear how the response differs from FEMA’s typical role in disasters, which is to support states through coordination and funding.
Trump will reportedlt conduct an aerial survey of the hardest-hit areas to avoid disrupting recovery efforts. He will be joined by First Lady Melania Trump, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
The governor was quick to request federal assistance last week after devastating floods hit the Texas Hill Country.
Q: Is it true that if President Donald Trump hadn’t defunded the National Weather Service, the death toll in the Texas flooding would have been far lower or nonexistent? A: The Trump administration did not defund the NWS but did reduce the staff by 600 people.
President Donald Trump has avoided talk of scrapping the federal disaster response agency after the catastrophic flash flood in Texas that killed more than 100 people, including children at an all-girls camp.
Some governors and mayors are concerned over how current or potential cuts to agencies will impact how the government can respond in the future to major weather events.
President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency chief has thrown his weight behind right-wing conspiracy theories that have spread online in the wake of the Texas floods.
House Democrats are calling for an immediate hearing on disaster preparations after catastrophic flooding in Texas, citing concerns about FEMA's readiness and the Trump administration's weakening of the Federal government's capacity to respond to disasters.