By Rosie Oakley, Chair 11th District GOP
It’s been 12 days since Hurricane Helene unleashed devastation across the Southeast, and while entire communities in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and North Carolina lay in ruin, our so-called leaders in Washington have been busy dodging accountability and making excuses. President Biden’s claim that victims are “very happy” with the federal response is not only tone-deaf, it’s downright insulting. What part of “happy” could he be referring to? The obliterated homes? The roads and bridges washed away? The 227 confirmed deaths? The floodwaters that have stolen lives and livelihoods? Biden and Harris are a national disgrace.
What about Kamala’s outrageous proposal at a recent campaign stop in Augusta, Georgia, where she offered a measly $750 per family for those whose lives were shattered by the storm. $750? That’s barely enough to cover groceries for a month, let alone rebuild after entire neighborhoods have been reduced to rubble.
While American families pick through the wreckage, the Biden-Harris Administration continues to send billions of taxpayer dollars overseas. Just this week Harris announced another $150 million in aid to Lebanon, which will go right into the pockets of the Hezbollah terrorist organization that controls the Lebanese government and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, among others. That’s right — Harris is providing more money to Hezbollah than to American hurricane victims. Our tax dollars flow freely to Ukraine and other foreign interests, while American citizens, ravaged by a natural disaster, are left to fend for themselves. It’s another example of our current leadership that puts America Last.
At a press conference last week, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas let slip that FEMA might not have enough funds to get through the rest of the hurricane season. The very agency tasked with helping Americans rebuild after disasters might run out of money, yet
If the past 12 days have made anything clear, it’s that the real help isn’t coming from Washington—it comes from We the People. It is neighbors, veterans, churches, charitable organizations, and other communities who are providing the supplies, shelter, and hope that FEMA and the federal government have failed to deliver. The responsibility of the government is to protect and care for its people in times of need, yet thousands of Americans are still without power, without homes, and without light at the end of the tunnel.
Conflicting reports continue to emerge about FEMA’s response to Helene, with rumors of bureaucratic delays and hampered efforts to get assistance where it’s needed most. Whether it’s intentional or just another example of incompetence, one thing is certain: the victims of this disaster are being failed by the very government that should be serving them during this crisis.
Many of you are familiar with Samaritan’s Purse, based in Boone, NC and part of the Billy Graham Ministry. They are right in the heart of one of the hardest-hit regions and have been on the ground since Day 1 of this disaster. Go to Samaritan’s Purse and watch a brief video by Franklin Graham, who is leading the charge to bring relief to the victims of Hurricane Helene. This organization has always done incredible work, and their efforts in the aftermath of this storm are incredible. I hope you’ll consider donating to either Samaritan’s Purse or to the fundraiser set up by President Trump’s Campaign: Support Hurricane Helene Victims.
Please continue to pray for those who lost everything when Hurricane Helene decimated their communities. America First – always!