In the aftermath of the devastating July 4 floods in Texas, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stood by the administration’s handling of the crisis, despite mounting criticism of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response.
During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press with Kristen Welker on July 13, Noem addressed reports from The New York Times that revealed FEMA’s struggle to respond to calls from disaster survivors. The newspaper reported on July 11 that nearly two-thirds of calls to FEMA’s disaster assistance hotline went unanswered, particularly in the chaotic days following the flood. The hotline’s response rates plummeted to a dismal 35.8% on July 6 and 15.9% on July 7, amid ongoing search and rescue operations.
“No employees were off work,” Noem asserted when directly questioned about the low response rates. “Every one of them was answering calls, so false reporting, fake news, and it’s discouraging.” She expressed frustration that such reports were being politicized during a time of significant loss, emphasizing that the response to the crisis had been immediate.
However, the New York Times investigation highlighted that the lack of call center staffing stemmed from FEMA’s decision to cut hundreds of contractors. These contractors were responsible for answering the hotline, but their contracts were not renewed due to a new policy implemented by Noem. The policy requires that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary personally approve any expenditure over $100,000. According to reports, Noem did not approve the renewal of the call center contracts until July 10, five days after they expired and six days after the deadly floods hit.
When Welker asked about the claims that only 15.9% of calls were answered on July 7, Noem reiterated her stance, asserting that the contracts were in place and the call centers were staffed. She called for the report to be “validated,” questioning the credibility of the news coverage.
The floods, which have now claimed 129 lives, including more than three dozen children, have left many families in mourning. Among the victims were at least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp. Despite intensive search efforts, over 160 individuals remain unaccounted for across Texas, as officials continue to search for and identify the bodies of those who perished.
As search and rescue operations shift toward recovering the missing and identifying victims, concerns about disaster preparedness and response have intensified. USA TODAY reported that, in the wake of the disaster, Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas, had its request for a $1 million grant to improve its flood warning system denied by the state’s Division of Emergency Management. Additionally, CNN reported that Noem’s new cost-control rules for FEMA contracts had contributed to delays in the agency’s response. DHS, however, disputed these claims.
As the situation remains dire, a group of Democratic lawmakers, including several from Texas, has called for urgent answers regarding FEMA’s handling of the disaster. On July 13, they sent letters to FEMA, the Department of Commerce Inspector General, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), seeking a full investigation into the delays in disaster relief.
“The tragic loss of life underscores the urgent need to understand what contributed to this disaster and how we can better prepare for future disasters,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter to NOAA. “Rigorous oversight is needed not only to provide answers to grieving communities in Central Texas, but also to save lives in future extreme weather events.”
As recovery efforts continue and officials review the circumstances surrounding the disaster, the focus now turns to enhancing flood prevention systems and ensuring swift, effective responses to future emergencies.
