Help w/info to rebut MAGA FEMA employee

[OneGrassRoot]

The main message coming out of MAGA is "no more money for other countries -- take care of our own!!!"

Everything is black or white to them. But she posted this in response to one of those memes:

"Biden puts up 1 Billion. Wow, generous insult. Florida numbers alone exceed 26 Billion in damage alone."

I can't find anything with that info. The only thing I found with specific $$ mentioned is this 9/30 Roll Call article:

President Joe Biden said he expects to request an emergency spending package to finance the recovery efforts from Hurricane Helene that ravaged the Southeast, and that Congress might need to cut short its October recess to pass it quickly.

“That is something I may have to request,” Biden told reporters Monday, though he said no decisions had been made about the size of a funding package or whether it would require interrupting the election-season recess.

That decision would be up to lawmakers, who were in wait-and-see mode Monday for more information on the extent of damages. But it would almost certainly require a massive need for additional funds to bring lawmakers, who aren’t due to return to Washington until Nov. 12, back from the campaign trail before Election Day.

Before leaving town last week, Congress passed a stopgap funding measure that includes a provision allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to tap into about $20 billion in disaster relief funds beginning Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

But roughly $6 billion of that money had been expected to be used to address a host of pent-up demands for disaster recovery efforts, from flooding in Vermont to wildfires in Hawaii.

FEMA was forced to put longer-term projects on hold in early August when it triggered “immediate needs funding” status, diverting all available funds only to the highest-priority “lifesaving and life-sustaining” activities. The agency could decide to extend that status even after receiving its $20 billion infusion on Tuesday, which would mean further delays in addressing longstanding disaster relief needs.

[cyclonefence]

1. First of all

Congress is on vacation until Nov. 12, so no spending packages that require Congressional approval can be passed until then, unless they agree to cut short their vacation, as Biden has asked them to. But:

Before leaving town last week, Congress passed a stopgap funding measure that includes a provision allowing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to tap into about $20 billion in disaster relief funds beginning Oct. 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

But roughly $6 billion of that money had been expected to be used to address a host of pent-up demands for disaster recovery efforts, from flooding in Vermont to wildfires in Hawaii.

FEMA was forced to put longer-term projects on hold in early August when it triggered “immediate needs funding” status, diverting all available funds only to the highest-priority “lifesaving and life-sustaining” activities. The agency could decide to extend that status even after receiving its $20 billion infusion on Tuesday, which would mean further delays in addressing longstanding disaster relief needs.
https://rollcall.com/2024/09/30/biden-floats-recess-action-on-helene-supplemental/

Hope this helps.

[OneGrassRoot]

2. Yes, the excerpt I included is from that article...

I vaguely recall people not liking to read Roll Call so I didn't link to it.

Thank you though!

[cyclonefence]

3. Oops

If I learn to read, I might be dangerous.

[cyclonefence]

5. Trying again

Have you checked out https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/10/02/fact-sheet-update-biden-harris-continues-life-saving-response-efforts-in-response-to-hurricane-helene/

I don't know how you could put a dollar value on all these efforts, but none of this stuff just falls off trees.

I'm impressed that you're actually discussing this with a MAGAT. In my experience, all they want to do is call people names.

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Don't be impressed...

The only time I engage is after I have collected every bit of evidence that I can find to refute something. 😂

I have been on the White House page and FEMA’s but no $$ figure is given. So, per usual, they’re making shit up, it seems.

Thank you!

[OneGrassRoot]

8. AND, I not only have to be prepared with FEMA and federal disaster relief info...

but I'm also gathering the last 10 years' worth of disaster relief federal budgets, compared with USAID budgets. And points explaining why it's to our national security and economic interest to provide much of that foreign aid. Being around them my whole life, I know how they think and can anticipate their retorts. I don't do it for the MAGA people but for any rational onlookers.

lolol

[cyclonefence]

9. Might be a good time to try

"You Republicans! Always wanting to throw money at problems!"

[BoRaGard]

4. repubes looking for government handouts.

what hypocritical poltroons they are.

Got their hands out -- gimmee gimmee gimmee -- while turning their backs and asses to everyone else in need.

[OneGrassRoot]

7. It's ok if they're white...

Heaven forbid non-white people here or other countries receive any of their “hard-earned money.”

🤮