Stories about heroic volunteers and emergency responders fill social media in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which sent floodwaters and winds that destroyed entire towns and killed more than 200 people.
It’s neighbors helping neighbors, emergency food programs, search-and-rescue teams that use boats or helicopters, riders who bring supplies by mule, linemen and tree crews who came from all over to gradually restore electricity to almost 5 million who lost power.
It’s humbling to see the outpouring of love from people they don’t know. They’re grateful and say as much.
But they also say: “No thanks to the government.”
What we are seeing now is federal and state governments taking over the operations, pushing these hard-working volunteers and first responders to the side.
It’s ridiculous and counterproductive. We should not have metaphorical pissing matches about who is in charge.
FEMA needs to resist its urge to control the response in such a top-down fashion, a tactic that chastises people who want to help and leaves them feeling helpless. We have too much to do to put good people on the sideline and threaten arrests.
This isn’t new. FEMA got lambasted from all sides for its misguided actions with Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It’s 19 years later, and its early actions with Helene suggest it hasn’t learned.
“As president, I would redirect FEMA to coordinate their efforts with local governments and individuals on the ground, and urge state government responders to do the same.
And as a Libertarian, I believe in the power of volunteerism. The overwhelming spirit of love and support that we provide in times of peril shows the true face of America.”
It’s not about political division or partisanship. It’s people helping each other.
No one struggling in cold water asks, “Who did you vote for?” when someone is rescuing them. No one cares about politics when you’re doing your best to keep your family going when the night is dark, the wind is howling, and there’s no power.
I am saddened by the destruction and the loss of life, yet proud of the compassionate response of individuals coming together to render aid and comfort.
FEMA responders could learn how to do their job more effectively if they listened to the people already doing the hands-on work. Maybe they’d earn the thanks that the volunteers get.
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Amber Howell, Media Director
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