Kerr County struggled to fund flood warnings. Under Trump, it's getting even harder

C

Cypress

Well-known member

Kerr County struggled to fund flood warnings. Under Trump, it's getting even harder​

Years before the flooding took more than 90 lives in Kerr County, Texas, local officials knew residents faced threats from rapidly rising water. They started planning a flood warning system, one that could alert residents when a flash flood was imminent.

Still, like many other communities around the country, Kerr County struggled to find a way to pay for it. They turned to the largest source available for most localities: funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA has granted billions over the last five years to help communities prepare for disasters. The idea is one that has been proven on the ground: When communities invest in infrastructure and preparation before a disaster, it can dramatically lessen the damage when a disaster hits, as well as save lives.

Kerr County's funding application was turned down by Texas officials in charge of administering the federal funds. As with most of FEMA's programs, there was more demand for money than was available. Kerr County looked into a Texas state grant program for flood projects, but gave up when they learned it would cover only a small portion of the cost.

Now, funding prospects for communities at risk are getting even more limited. The Trump administration has frozen or canceled billions of dollars dedicated to help communities prepare for disasters. Trump signed an executive order saying states should be responsible for funding disaster preparedness, instead of the federal government.

"I think that's going to be a big gap to fill," says Christopher Steubing, executive director of the Texas Floodplain Management Association, which represents flood officials around the state. "FEMA has a reason to be around and they need to be there. There's a lot of programs that they engage with and oversee that communities rely on."


 
Cypress said:
That's why three months ago MAGA morons were wildly cheering the gutting of federal agency budgets and staff, but then suddenly last week they were so frantic to howl that the National Weather Service was fully staffed and funded.
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MAGAts will do or say anything to protect their Orange Jesus. "It's Biden's fault" is a common refrain.

While there's plenty of blame to spread around, the fact the MAGAts are so adamant about deflecting any fault from Trump's chainsawing of government services is very telling.
 
Kerr County, and the whole of counties along the Guadelupe River, have known this is an issue for decades, for over half-a century at least. They've had time to take care of the issue but haven't. Blaming Trump and cuts that occurred in the last few months is utter bullshit.

That aside, there is no reason why any of those Texas counties had to wait for the federal government to do a damn thing either. This problem is local and most of the answers to it could be done locally. I'd venture to say the very federal bureaucracy you proclaim is the solution would actually be the problem in not solving the problem beforehand.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
Kerr County, and the whole of counties along the Guadelupe River, have known this is an issue for decades, for over half-a century at least. They've had time to take care of the issue but haven't. Blaming Trump and cuts that occurred in the last few months is utter bullshit.

That aside, there is no reason why any of those Texas counties had to wait for the federal government to do a damn thing either. This problem is local and most of the answers to it could be done locally. I'd venture to say the very federal bureaucracy you proclaim is the solution would actually be the problem in not solving the problem beforehand.
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Your defense of Trump is admirable, Terry. :thup:
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Dutch Uncle said:
MAGAts will do or say anything to protect their Orange Jesus. "It's Biden's fault" is a common refrain.

While there's plenty of blame to spread around, the fact the MAGAts are so adamant about deflecting any fault from Trump's chainsawing of government services is very telling.
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What government services were cut that affected the disaster?
 
Dutch Uncle said:
Senior staffing.
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And where did you get that from?

Did US government cuts contribute to the Texas tragedy?​

BBC Verify has examined the impact of cuts under President Trump in this area and while there has been a reduction in the workforce at the NWS, experts who we spoke to said the staffing on hand for the Texas floods appears to have been adequate.
www.bbc.com

Did US government cuts contribute to the Texas tragedy?

Following the Texas floods some Democrats have warned about the "consequences" of President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 
Dutch Uncle said:
Your defense of Trump is admirable, Terry. :thup:
a01ena.jpg
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I'm not defending Trump. I'm looking at this realistically. You want the list to exist because you want to bash Trump with it. I don't care one way or the other because the list doesn't provide any evidence beyond his presence just as it would for anyone else on it.

It isn't worth spit in trying to bring legal charges.
 
anonymoose said:

Did US government cuts contribute to the Texas tragedy?​

BBC Verify has examined the impact of cuts under President Trump in this area and while there has been a reduction in the workforce at the NWS, experts who we spoke to said the staffing on hand for the Texas floods appears to have been adequate.
www.bbc.com

Did US government cuts contribute to the Texas tragedy?

Following the Texas floods some Democrats have warned about the "consequences" of President Trump's cuts to the federal workforce.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
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Duh. Your own quote says it. Now everyone should know why I doubt you have 18 years of education.

Why do you keep denying you're a Trumper when you constantly defend him?
 
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