Every week after Hurricane Helene wrought destruction to a number of southeastern U.S. states, persons are confronting the immense prices of rebuilding their houses and recovering their losses.
On social media, some are criticizing the federal authorities for what they take into account a meager sum to hurricane victims. Social media customers shared a clip of Vice President Harris saying, “And the federal aid and help that we’ve got been offering has included FEMA offering $750 for folk who want instant wants being met.”
“Oh hell no! These persons are sick!” mentioned the caption of 1 Oct. 2 Instagram put up sharing the video. An Oct. 3 Instagram put up learn, “Kamala is on the bottom in Georgia two days after President Trump’s go to to supply those that’ve misplaced every part $750. Don’t spend it unexpectedly.”
(Screenshot from Instagram)
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The clips are from Harris’ Oct. 2 remarks in Augusta, Georgia. They present her citing one kind of federal assist out there to hurricane victims, and omit her remarks on different assist that the Biden administration is offering. PolitiFact reached out to Harris’ workplace and didn’t obtain an on-the-record response.
Jayce Genco, deputy press secretary for FEMA, instructed PolitiFact the $750 was underneath the Severe Wants Help program, which is designed for instant wants after a catastrophe.
FEMA addressed the declare Oct. 3 in its “Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response” web page, saying the rumor that “FEMA will solely present $750 to catastrophe survivors to assist their restoration” is fake. The company mentioned the $750 underneath Severe Wants Help is usually authorised shortly to assist individuals pay for wants resembling “meals, water, child components, breastfeeding provides, medicine and different emergency provides.”
Individuals might be eligible for extra help, Genco mentioned. The FEMA web site mentioned this contains funding for house restore prices and non permanent housing and is offered to victims no matter whether or not they have acquired FEMA funds from earlier disasters.
In the identical speech, Harris mentioned, “FEMA can be offering tens of 1000’s extra {dollars} for folk to assist them be capable to take care of house restore, to have the ability to cowl a deductible when and if they’ve insurance coverage, and likewise resort prices.”
Harris additionally introduced that President Joe Biden authorised Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s request for 100% federal reimbursement of native prices. That features particles removing, emergency providers, meals, water and shelter, she mentioned.
As of Oct. 4, FEMA mentioned the Biden administration offered greater than $45 million “in versatile, upfront funding” to Hurricane Helene survivors. The company mentioned it has offered greater than 11.5 million meals, 12.6 million liters of water, 150 mills and 400,000 tarps to the affected area.
The White Home mentioned in an Oct. 2 truth sheet that by means of the Severe Wants Help program, FEMA had paid out greater than $1 million to greater than 1,400 North Carolina households inside 24 hours. It outlined different actions that the Biden administration has taken to assist affected communities, together with:
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Deploying 1,000 lively obligation troopers for supply of meals, water and different commodities.
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Declaring public well being emergencies for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to higher accommodate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ emergency well being wants.
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Offering 50 Starlink satellite tv for pc techniques and 65 satellite tv for pc telephones to assist with communications.
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Beginning a 14-day interval of emergency regulatory aid, permitting automobiles extra most driving time for provide supply.
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Imposing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of sure mortgages.
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Approving main catastrophe declarations for Georgia and Virginia — along with Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina — permitting residents in 41 Georgia counties and 6 Virginia counties to use for FEMA help.
We fee the declare that Harris mentioned the Biden administration is offering solely $750 to Hurricane Helene victims False.
