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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83c\udf00 Who\u2019s Calling It \u201cDisastrous\u201d?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Several sources have raised alarms about delays and bureaucratic hurdles:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- CNN<\/strong> reported that FEMA\u2019s response was slowed by a new policy from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, requiring her personal approval for contracts over $100,000. This reportedly delayed the deployment of Urban Search and Rescue teams by over 72 hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The New York Times<\/strong> and PBS<\/strong> highlighted FEMA call center understaffing due to contract lapses, which led to thousands of unanswered calls during the crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Democratic lawmakers<\/strong>, including Rep. Jared Moskowitz and Sen. Chuck Schumer, have publicly criticized the response, with Schumer linking the tragedy to staffing cuts at the National Weather Service and FEMA.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Inside Climate News<\/strong> and The New Republic<\/strong> framed the administration\u2019s messaging\u2014calling the floods \u201can act of God\u201d\u2014as a rhetorical strategy to deflect accountability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\u26a0\ufe0f Political Opportunism?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Yes, there\u2019s been plenty of that too\u2014on both sides:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Rep. Jasmine Crockett<\/strong> was accused of politicizing the tragedy by blaming Trump\u2019s policies during ongoing rescue efforts, sparking backlash from conservatives and grieving families.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- President Trump<\/strong>, Gov. Greg Abbott, and Secretary Noem have dismissed criticism as \u201cfake news\u201d and \u201cblame games,\u201d with Abbott calling questions about responsibility \u201cthe word choice of losers\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Dan Abrams<\/strong>, a media commentator, defended the administration, arguing that the National Weather Service issued timely warnings and that blaming Trump was unfair and misleading.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Meanwhile, some progressive outlets<\/strong> argue that the administration\u2019s push to dismantle FEMA and shift disaster response to states is a dangerous experiment that failed its first real test.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\ud83e\udded What\u2019s Really at Stake?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Beyond the political theater, the core issues include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Centralized vs. state-led disaster response<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- FEMA\u2019s future and funding<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Emergency alert infrastructure<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Climate resilience and floodplain development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re interested, I can help you map out the competing narratives or dig into how FEMA\u2019s restructuring might affect future disaster responses. Want to explore that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10 references<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.cnn.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
FEMA\u2019s response to Texas flood slowed by Noem\u2019s cost controls<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.cnn.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
2<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Houston Chronicle | MSN<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem defends FEMA Texas flooding response after NYT reports slow response<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.msn.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Former FEMA head responds to praise and criticism of federal response to Texas floods<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.pbs.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mises Institute<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Texas Floods and Political Opportunism<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
mises.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
5<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inside Climate News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why Calling the Texas Flooding \u2018An Act of God\u2019 Is a Dangerous Form of Political Denial<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
insideclimatenews.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
6<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
newrepublic.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Deadly Floods Revealed Texans\u2019 Heroism\u2014and Their Failed Politics<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
newrepublic.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
7<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
integritypress.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Politician HIJACKS Texas Tragedy\u2014Fury Erupts | Integrity Press<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
integritypress.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
8<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Texas Tribune | MSN<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump defends federal government\u2019s response to Hill Country floods during Texas visit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.msn.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
9<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mediaite | MSN<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan Abrams Defends Trump From \u2018Unfair\u2019 Partisan Attacks After Texas Flood Tragedy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.msn.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
10<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.usnews.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas Flooding, and Politics Around It, Underscore the Challenges Trump …<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
www.usnews.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2025\/07\/09\/politics\/fema-texas-flood-noem?form=MG0AV3&form=MG0AV3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/www.msn.com\/en-us\/news\/us\/dhs-secretary-kristi-noem-defends-fema-texas-flooding-response-after-nyt-reports-slow-response\/ar-AA1IARr2?form=MG0AV3&form=MG0AV3<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- President Trump<\/strong>, Gov. Greg Abbott, and Secretary Noem have dismissed criticism as \u201cfake news\u201d and \u201cblame games,\u201d with Abbott calling questions about responsibility \u201cthe word choice of losers\u201d.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The New York Times<\/strong> and PBS<\/strong> highlighted FEMA call center understaffing due to contract lapses, which led to thousands of unanswered calls during the crisis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n