Texas, Trump and FEMA
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Over 100 people have died after heavy rain pounded Kerr County, Texas, early Friday, leading to "catastrophic" flooding, the sheriff said.
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.
The governor was quick to request federal assistance last week after devastating floods hit the Texas Hill Country.
More than 160 people are still missing in the county, officials said in a Thursday update, and hopes of finding any survivors have diminished with each passing day. County authorities say they haven't made a "live rescue" since the day of the flood.
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.
Follow for live updates in the Texas flooding as the death toll rises to 120, as rescue operations start to shift to recovery phase
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.