Friday, October 04, 2024

The military’s abysmal response to Hurricane Helene.

The devastation Hurricane Helene has wrought on much of Appalachia"and Western North Carolina in particular"presents an unfortunate occasion to examine what the U.S. military is doing to secure the American way of life. Unfortunately, the military's dismal response so far shows that they are unwilling to provide for the American people at a time of dire need. Days after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration finally activated up to 1,000 soldiers to support the delivery of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities. But these efforts are too little, too late. Compare this to the military's response after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when thousands of troops were mobilized within seven hours of receiving orders as the situation spiraled out of control

Comments

Those of us that are actually here in NC know how ridiculous this propaganda essay is.

#1 | Posted by qcp at 2024-10-04 11:07 AM

Please expound.

#2 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-10-04 11:13 AM

These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.

Overall, we rate The American Mind Right Biased based on story selection and editorially positions that align with the political right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing and lightly promoting a conspiracy theory regarding the deep state and replacement theory.

Detailed Report
Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
MBFC's Country Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Website
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

While we might have been born at night, it wasn't last night.
MAGAts post and re-post 100% BS because they believe that everyone is as gullible and stupid as they are.

#3 | Posted by Hans at 2024-10-04 11:19 AM

" . We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing and lightly promoting a conspiracy theory regarding the deep state and replacement theory."

First off, the term "deep state" existed prior to Trump coming on the scene. And the IG unciovered all sorts of malfeasance with Opeartion Crossfire, as just one example of deep state "conspiracy theory." Secondly, Biden/Harris opened the border to an extent not seen in over a century in this country, if ever. And recently, Pelosi said we need to make the undocumented, documented. Schumer even went so far as to say we need to grant them all a path to citizenship. That IS replacement theory and it's a term the left was giddy about as racial trajectories in this country prior to Biden was already trending toward minority populations rising relative to whites which currently favors Democrats in voting trends.

And of course, no substantive response other than just attack the source.

#4 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-10-04 12:20 PM

Have the Governors of the affected states requested more military aid and the request was turned down?


#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 01:54 PM

Days after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration finally activated up to 1,000 soldiers

Compare this to the military's response after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when thousands of troops were mobilized within seven hours of receiving orders

Compare what? Those are entirely different metrics.

#6 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-04 02:01 PM

FEMA, after spending over $1 Billion accommodating illegal aliens, is claiming they don't have the funding necessary to handle the aftermath of this storm. Of course, just a couple of months ago, Mayorkas claimed FEMA was super prepared for hurricane season. The gross incompetence of this administration is astounding.

#7 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-10-04 04:21 PM

mediabiasfactcheck.com

RIGHT BIAS
These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward conservative causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports, and omit information that may damage conservative causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Right Bias sources.

Overall, we rate The American Mind Right Biased based on story selection and editorially positions that align with the political right. We also rate them Mixed for factual reporting due to poor sourcing and lightly promoting a conspiracy theory regarding the deep state and replacement theory.

#8 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-10-04 04:27 PM

#7

No, Biden didn't take FEMA relief money to use on migrants - but Trump did

The Facts

FEMA is part of the Department of Homeland Security. On Wednesday, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters: "We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting. FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season."

He emphasized there was plenty of money to deal with the current disaster. "We are meeting the moment," he said, adding: "We have the immediate needs right now. On a continuing resolution, we have funds, but that is not a stable source of supply, if you will."

Congress, as part of a short-term spending bill, recently provided $20 billion to the FEMA disaster relief fund. But Mayorkas noted: "That doesn't speak about the future and the fact, as I mentioned earlier, that these extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, and we have to be funded for the sake of the American people. This is not a political issue."

So how does Trump link this to migrants? A Trump campaign spokesman pointed to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to local governments and nonprofits to take care of undocumented immigrants. Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. The program's 2023 annual report says it provides shelter, such as hotel/motel services, food and transportation, including plane tickets up to $700 a person.

As we said, Congress appropriated this money, just as it did the disaster fund. There's no evidence that any money from the disaster fund was used to help migrants.

"These claims are completely false," DHS said in a statement Thursday night. "As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters.

In 2019, the Trump administration, in the middle of hurricane season, told Congress that it was taking $271 million from DHS programs, including $155 million from the disaster fund, to pay for immigration detention space and temporary hearing locations for asylum seekers who had been forced to wait in Mexico.

The monthly reports issued by the FEMA disaster fund show $38 million was plucked and given to Immigration and Customs Enforcement in August that year - just before the prime storm period of September and October.

The Pinocchio Test

Trump falsely claims FEMA has run out of disaster money - and then falsely says that's because money instead was spent on migrants. There is no evidence the Biden administration spent FEMA disaster money on migrants. Rather, that's what Trump did.

He earns Four Pinocchios.

More projection and gaslighting. Quelle surprise.

#9 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-04 04:32 PM

#9. Look in the mirror. That is the worst fact check I've ever seen.

#10 | Posted by BellRinger at 2024-10-04 04:34 PM

That is the worst fact check I've ever seen.

Yes, because it eviscerated your lying argument. Congress passed money for FEMA's SSP program SEPARATELY from the disaster funds. NO DISASTER FUNDS were spent on immigrants during the Biden Administration, only TRUMP did that in 2019.

FEMA hasn't spent all their budget yet, but with the most expensive hurricane damage IN HISTORY currently being addressed, if another storm hits our mainland this season FEMA won't have the money to adequately respond. They're letting Congress know in advance, not waiting until the last second.

And lastly, the only President to steal money from the disaster fund was TRUMP in 2019, as documented in the article.

Sorry, you don't have facts, you have lies and projections fueling your never-ending gaslighting. Hopefully one of these days you'll self immolate from all your dishonesty.

#11 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-04 04:42 PM

Bell,

Looking for QCP response to your question.

Only a matter of time before we hear more stories of death and medical supplies deprivation for people stuck in remote areas.

The federal government botched it and private citizens on the outside went in to provide assistance.

#12 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-04 08:51 PM

@#12 ... The federal government botched it ...

How so?

Please be specific.

thx.

#13 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 08:58 PM

@#12 ... medical supplies ...

Storm damage closes N.C. factory that makes vital hospital supplies
www.npr.org

Hospitals take steps to conserve IV fluid supply after Helene strikes critical factory
www.nbcnews.com

Hospitals across the U.S. face IV fluid shortage after Hurricane Helene
www.cbsnews.com

IV fluid supplies in US disrupted by Hurricane Helene
www.bbc.com



#14 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 09:02 PM

Rumor: FEMA does not have enough money to provide disaster assistance for Helene.

Fact: FEMA has enough money right now for immediate response and recovery needs. If you were affected by Helene, do not hesitate to apply for disaster assistance as there is a variety of help available for different needs.

Rumor: Funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border related issues.

Fact: This is false. No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA's disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts.

www.fema.gov

#15 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-10-04 09:05 PM

Days after Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration finally activated up to 1,000 soldiers

What are you talking about? There were more than 5,000 guardsmen in region and actively doing rescue/recovery/resupply two days.

Which is probably why, contrary to the America hating right on X, the death toll won't be in the thousands. Last I saw, the toll was at about 220 confirmed with something like 280 still unaccounted for.

The right is really showing their anti-American ass on this one.

#16 | Posted by jpw at 2024-10-04 09:11 PM

Only a matter of time before we hear more stories of death and medical supplies deprivation for people stuck in remote areas.

I feel like you righties are susceptible to the nonsense on this topic because you don't really grasp the scales involved. The number of square miles of difficult terrain, the amount of space between need and the difficulty in getting from A to B (see point 1), and the sheer scale of the breadth and volume of needed supplies. You can't just *poof* this ---- into thing air, *shazaam* it to the people's front porch and *boing* know exactly where to go next.

Like I said, you're really showing your anti-America ass on this because your bias is making you susceptible to believing BS without a second thought.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2024-10-04 09:17 PM

"The federal government botched it"

Why are the governors of each of the affected states claiming the exact opposite?

More to the point ... who TF are you to lie about it?

#18 | Posted by Danforth at 2024-10-04 09:29 PM

It's odd to me that the states are entirely dependant on the federal government and are incapable of doing anything for themselves. You'd think they would have some form of local disaster response organized. "The climate has always been changing" rhetoric will only go so far.

#19 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-04 09:50 PM

National Guard Provides Support to Hurricane Stricken States
www.defense.gov

... In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall last week and has since dissipated, National Guard units in the hardest-hit states across the American Southeast are still working alongside state emergency response agencies to get life back on track for communities affected by the storm.

About 6,700 guardsmen from 16 states across the U.S. have been activated to provide assistance, as part of emergency management assistance compacts, in the states hit hardest by the hurricane. Guard members are engaged in operations such as highwater rescues, debris clearance, transportation and distribution of disaster relief supplies, search and rescue, and route clearance. ...


#20 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 10:01 PM

Well obviously they are not doing enough... why is no one bitching about their performance? Only bitching about the fed response.

#21 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-04 10:04 PM

Dozens more New England utility crews head south to help after Helene
www.wcvb.com

... Numerous utility crews pulled out of a parking lot in Westwood, Massachusetts early Sunday morning to start the long drive to Virginia, where they will help restore power in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Eversource officials said that approximately 50 line crews from across Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire are making the trip to support Appalachian Power in a region where about 130,000 customers are still without power. Approximately 20 support personnel are also making the trip. ...


#22 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 10:06 PM

that approximately 50 line crews from across Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire are making the trip to support Appalachian Power

It's excellent that they would donate their time and equipment like that.

#23 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-04 10:14 PM

Redial:

700 Canadian electrical line workers to the rescue!

"New Brunswick-based companies, Holland Power Services and its partner Gagnon Line Construction, began sending crews to staging areas across the Carolinas early last week, after being contracted by a U.S.-based power utility."

x.com

#24 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-10-04 10:21 PM

@#23 ... It's excellent that they would donate their time and equipment like that. ...

From what i see on the local CT news, the local crews have helped before.

For example...

Eversource crews from Massachusetts helping to repair electric systems in Louisiana (2021)
www.youtube.com

... More than 100 Eversource workers from the New England area are working in Louisiana to help restore power that's been out since Hurricane Ida. ...

And, yeah, that level of cooperation is great!


#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 10:22 PM

@#24 ... 700 Canadian electrical line workers to the rescue! ...

Wow!

Our great friends in Canada.

Awesome!

#26 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 10:23 PM

Awesome!
#26 | Posted by LampLighter

Yep, here's a good article about the work they are doing:

Atlantic crews working in U.S. to restore power in Helene's wake
Restoration work is expected to take at least 2 weeks

www.cbc.ca

#27 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-10-04 10:35 PM

From the link in #27 ...

... More than 700 Canadian lineworkers, including about 300 from Atlantic Canada, have been deployed to assist in restoring power in North and South Carolina in the wake of a major tropical storm. ...

#28 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 10:53 PM

The crews came from all over to help restore power. I read they came from 18 states and Canada. God bless them:

New York crews work to reestablish power along the North Carolina-Tennessee border after Hurricane Helene

In Trade, a Tennessee border town, a crew is working to erect new power lines for the Mountain Electric Cooperative, which provides energy to the region. The workers are from Fredonia, New York, which sits on the Canadian border.

Zael Kravitz operates a 21-ton material handler. He has to drive it carefully, as most of the road has fallen into a newly formed 90-foot ravine.

www.wfdd.org

#29 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2024-10-04 10:54 PM

@#29 ... The crews came from all over to help restore power. I read they came from 18 states and Canada. God bless them: ...

Yes.

#30 | Posted by LampLighter at 2024-10-04 11:01 PM

More than 6,700 Army and Air National Guard members from 16 states have been deployed to the southeastern United States to support search and rescue and recovery operations in communities impacted by Hurricane Helene, one of the deadliest storms in recent history.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has also authorized the deployment of up to 1,000 active-duty troops to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Guard with recovery efforts.

As governors continue to assess and determine the needs on the ground, the number of National Guard personnel deployed to impacted areas will most likely increase over the coming weeks, said Army Maj. Gen. Win Burkett, National Guard Bureau director of operations.

"I would anticipate the number to go up until it doesn't," Burkett told reporters Thursday. If the states determine that they need more capability or they need to start replacing some of the formations that they have, then we're going to provide that, and we're going to continuously look for solutions that would enable that as quickly as possible."

federalnewsnetwork.com

#31 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-10-05 01:23 PM

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

Scroll to the bottom and see what the polls in NC are showing.

After the hurricane, support for Trump over Harris has increased since Oct 1.

Consider that the after effect of the current administration's handling of this disaster and how people feel on local levels.

You can say what you want about just reading conservative sites. Fivethirtyeight.com is not considered a conserversative site.

#32 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:11 PM

I'm looking at the graph in the middle actually.

I see a growing split between the red and blue lines I'll be watching.

#33 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:14 PM

After the hurricane, support for Trump over Harris has increased since Oct 1.

So you trust polling taken when half the state's voters are digging out from a 1000 year storm and no cell phone service nor electricity is available for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people?

You go with that bro.

#34 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 07:24 PM

Tony,

I said I'll be watching it.

Nothing about engraving it in stone.

#35 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:30 PM

Tony,

How about PA?

The split between the red and blue lines is shrinking.

projects.fivethirtyeight.com

Like I said, I'll be watching it.

Working in accounting I'm all about graphing trends.

#36 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:32 PM

Tony,

As sources go, I am reading fivethirtyeight.com leans left of center in bias.

#37 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:35 PM

Tony,

Things are getting down to the wire.

The occurance of this storm and the people suffering could make Harris lose in what might have been a sure thing for her.

#38 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:38 PM

Like I said, I'll be watching it.

Why? Your voting mind was made up years ago. Or just curiosity?

#39 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-06 07:38 PM

Like I said, I'll be watching it.

No disrespect, you're the one that brought up NC after the hurricane hit.

And on the polling in general, I'm having a hard time thinking any pollster has a model reflective of the electorate who'll vote this year.

Don't know if you've read the stories, but Trump has outsourced his GOTV efforts and they're focused on low propensity rural/exurbans who typically don't vote. No one is polling for that.

In their own ways, both parties are trying to expand their own electorates by getting people to the polls who don't consistently participate. That's why we won't really know what polls were right or wrong until after the election. All of them are hoping to be polling the electorate that votes, but none of them can be certain.

What we do know for certain is an awful lot of prior Trump voters will not be voting for him this year and will he be able to not only replace those folks but also expand on the 73 million total who voted for him in 2020?

#40 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 07:41 PM

Tony,

The more we hear about FEMA and the handling of budgeted funds during this current administration, the more things aren't looking good for a Harris win.

You can blame and say it's all lies and misinformation, the truth is public perception is everything.

Frankly, it sort of makes sense and is quite believable actually, considering everything else that has been done the last few years, that disaster money has been diverted leaving Americans doing without, who desperately need financial help, and instead are doling it out to immigrants here illegally.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this impact the polls.

#41 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:49 PM

Tony,

Yes..I brought it up because I was actually expecting to see the polls impacted around Oct 1 so I looked it up.

Sure enough, there it is.

#42 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:51 PM

Tony,

I believe Helena is tossing out a lot of a previous numbers.

There's a new wild card in town.

#43 | Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:53 PM

The occurance of this storm and the people suffering could make Harris lose in what might have been a sure thing for her.

Why? It was the Democrats who tried to strengthen building regulations in the affected areas only to be rebuffed by the GOP majorities overriding vetoes from the Governor allowing builders to go cheap to keep prices down.

I think you're buying into the political narrative and ignoring the reality that every governor - but DeSantis - has praised Biden and the federal response PUBLICLY, even Brian Kemp who just appeared with Trump who lyingly bashed the feds.

It's this simple: Helene caused a once in 1000-year flooding event which struck people in sparsely populated, mountainous rural areas. In many places, entire towns were washed away in the raging waters. There is an unprecedented amount of people and materials either headed towards these people or already nearby to help them. Everyone cannot be reached at the same time, so yes, some people weren't reached or reachable in the immediate days after the storm passed.

But this is through no fault of anyone in the chain of command. Mother Nature dealt this hand and it's a doozy. Outside of the party not in power turning tragedy into a political weapon, there is no reason the very people and party who've warned that our warming climate is supercharging hurricanes in ways we haven't experienced in our lifetimes should be blamed for being right with their warnings and predictions. It's the GOP currently standing in the way of passing needed funds for the bridge reconstruction in Baltimore harbor, and compensating victims from past weather events, not the Democrats. Just today, Speaker Johnson claims that Congress need not return to pass funding in advance of Milton and to bolster FEMA's disaster relief coffers, but you expect voters to blame Harris if they feel the federal government is letting them down?

#44 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 07:55 PM

Frankly, it sort of makes sense and is quite believable actually, considering everything else that has been done the last few years, that disaster money has been diverted leaving Americans doing without, who desperately need financial help, and instead are doling it out to immigrants here illegally.

As I said, you believe in lies and expect others to as well.

4th time:

A Trump campaign spokesman pointed to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to local governments and nonprofits to take care of undocumented immigrants. Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. The program's 2023 annual report says it provides shelter, such as hotel/motel services, food and transportation, including plane tickets up to $700 a person.

As we said, Congress appropriated this money, just as it did the disaster fund.

The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA's disaster-related authorities or funding streams.

FEMA's disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts." ...

www.washingtonpost.com

FEMA has more than one job per CONGRESS not the Democrats or Joe Biden. Congress allocates money for both of these programs overseen by FEMA. The disaster relief funds are NOT being spent on anything other than disaster relief. Anyone saying differently is a liar.

There is no allocation issues because the GOP-led house dictated the amounts going to both programs themselves, it's not discretionary on the part of the White House or FEMA's director.

#45 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:04 PM

Tony,

The more we hear about FEMA and the handling of budgeted funds during this current administration, the more things aren't looking good for a Harris win.

You can blame and say it's all lies and misinformation, the truth is public perception is everything.

Frankly, it sort of makes sense and is quite believable actually, considering everything else that has been done the last few years, that disaster money has been diverted leaving Americans doing without, who desperately need financial help, and instead are doling it out to immigrants here illegally.

I wouldn't be surprised to see this impact the polls.

Posted by BillJohnson at 2024-10-06 07:49 PM | Reply

I'm not a fan of Harris but Congress is responsible for funding the federal government and the house has control of the purse strings which is under Republican control. So if you want to pitch a bitty blame them.

#46 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2024-10-06 08:08 PM

Worth repeating:

I feel like you righties are susceptible to the nonsense on this topic because you don't really grasp the scales involved. The number of square miles of difficult terrain, the amount of space between need and the difficulty in getting from A to B (see point 1), and the sheer scale of the breadth and volume of needed supplies. You can't just *poof* this stuff into thin air, *shazam* it to the people's front porch and *boing* know exactly where to go next.

Like I said, you're really showing your anti-America ass on this because your bias is making you susceptible to believing BS without a second thought.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2024-10-04 09:17 PM

#47 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:11 PM

The more we hear about FEMA and the handling of budgeted funds during this current administration, the more things aren't looking good for a Harris win.

You're not hearing the truth, and the truth still matters. All you're doing is repeating lies just like Trump and just like Vance and just like Haitians are eating dogs and cats.

There is no mishandling of funds, FEMA is doing what CONGRESS mandated in regards to taking care of immigrants in a separately funded program, not by using disaster relief fund money!

A Trump campaign spokesman pointed to FEMA's Shelter and Services Program, which gives grants to local governments and nonprofits to take care of undocumented immigrants. Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024. The program's 2023 annual report says it provides shelter, such as hotel/motel services, food and transportation, including plane tickets up to $700 a person.

As we said, Congress appropriated this money, just as it did the disaster fund.

There's no evidence that any money from the disaster fund was used to help migrants.

"These claims are completely false," DHS said in a statement Thursday night. "As Secretary Mayorkas said, FEMA has the necessary resources to meet the immediate needs associated with Hurricane Helene and other disasters.

www.washingtonpost.com

#48 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:18 PM

Congress boosted the budget from $360 million in fiscal year 2023 to $650 million in fiscal year 2024.

This has been elevated to the "billion dollar program spending FEMA money on immigrants." It's the program Congress mandated that FEMA oversee - wholly unrelated to its disaster relief duties.

Lying right wing media are conflating these issues and creating false impressions in people's minds and these need to be corrected with the truth every single time the lies resurface.

And you know what the worst part of this whole convoluted lie is? Trump actually did divert disaster relief funds to pay for immigrant control programs in 2019.

No, Biden didn't take FEMA relief money to use on migrants - but Trump did

#49 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:27 PM

I wouldn't be surprised to see this impact the polls.

#41 | POSTED BY BILLJOHNSON

I think you will be surprised all right.

Hurricane Helene hit especially hard in heavily Republican areas of Georgia and North Carolina " a fact that could work to Donald Trump's disadvantage in the two swing states.

"There's going to be a lot of [voting] alterations, and it probably is going to affect turnout," said Andy Jackson, director of the John Locke Foundation's Civitas Center for Public Integrity, a free-market think tank in North Carolina.

Now, both states face crucial decisions in the next few days about how to help people register and vote after massive flooding ripped away roads, shuttered towns and dispersed residents. Those include whether to extend next week's voter registration deadlines, grant more time for voters to cast absentee ballots, and set up new polling places in areas where floods destroyed roads.

www.politico.com

But like the story of the old man and his white horse. We will see.

I think maybe the south shouldn't have treated women they way they did. God seems pretty mad about it. She doesn't like to see women (Her favorite Creations) treated like disposable property.

#50 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-10-06 08:28 PM

#50

MTG certainly noticed this on her partisan map of voters affected by the storm. I wonder if the GOP will again stand against any non-legislative accomodations for voters in the affected areas. And how many of the survivors might have left the state to stay with friends and relatives? Will Republicans rail against extending deadlines or opening specific mail-in voting for their own constituencies?

This will be interesting to see. Thanks for the reminder Donnerboy.

#51 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:33 PM

#47 | POSTED BY TONYROMA

Not really worth reading.

The military is built to do this, if they aren't they are going to lose. But it needs to be activated.

I have subscription software in which lets me see the activity within the airspace. (Even if the military turns off their beacons there are signs).
There were no NOTAMs for almost 2-3 days after the fact. Then it took them almost 5 days to shut down an airport for resupply.

As comparison, if there is a fire in California, the nearby airport is shut down for CalFire, and resources are deployed within a day.

The response to the hurricane was a reaction to it after the fact, it shows there is no plan. There was little to no preparation in these States. Which do get hit with hurricanes and floods less often but it still occurs in NC.

Regarding the amount of material needed, there are many logistical bases around DC that contain huge amounts of supplies in the event of a war. These bases should be utilized, and activated.

The fact that there is an enormous amount of material and supplies that have to move in an emergency should dictate the infrastructure and preparation needed to do this. But it's not activated even though it's paid for. It would make GREAT training excersizes, and allow them to better their plans in the actual event of a war, or limited nuclear response. Thats the failure.

What this episode has shown me that a serious earthquake in California the response is going to be pitiful. I am amazed at how terrible the government responds.
you see this as a political thing, I am just looking at the reality of what Americans have paid for, and what they are getting back in return. Its pitiful.

Again the only State I see as organized is Florida.

Why is that? What could the Federal Government learn about dealing with Hurricanes from Florida? Have they ever asked?

IMO There should be a playbook that the public can see, and watch as the government executes it. This isn't complicated.

#52 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-10-06 08:37 PM

Again the only State I see as organized is Florida.

So move there.

#53 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-06 08:41 PM

#52

How do you reach towns where the single road in and out was washed out? How do plan for entire towns being washed away and no useable infrastructure left? No water, no electricity, no cell service, no commercial radio, no way to communicate to survivors stuck where they are?

The preparations were there, the ability to activate them was disabled by Mother Nature to the point man literally must first remove debris and impediments just to reach people where they're stranded.

How many hurricanes in the past have required airdrops in order to supply areas because they're completely inaccessible by land?

I'll take the words of professionals who've been doing relief for decades over your opinions.

#54 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:45 PM

Again the only State I see as organized is Florida.

And you along with DeSantis will be here Friday, complaining about the federal government's response should Milton hit as a major hurricane.

Trust me, I hope that I'm wrong. I've got family evacuating Pinellas County tomorrow heading inland to Orlando.

Florida has had the most practice in hurricane response so they should be better than states hit more rarely.

#55 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 08:50 PM

To be more concise:

Logistics, the means of strategy and tactics, determines what is practically possible in war.

Its nature is expressed in operational choices and decisions, and is fundamental to military preparedness.

logisticsinwar.com

Complaining about moving supplies in volume is pretty funny, because that's pretty much all the military does.

#56 | Posted by oneironaut at 2024-10-06 09:02 PM

#55 Be safe. I have friends that evacuated to Orlando hotels. Unfortunately, on the last update I'm not sure that was a wise move.

#57 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2024-10-06 09:07 PM

And that wasn't meant to be snarky. The storm changed since they left this morning to what they thought might be safer area.

#58 | Posted by gracieamazed at 2024-10-06 09:09 PM

"I believe in Global warming. No really, I do"

-Florida residents who have evacuated more times than they can count.

#59 | Posted by eberly at 2024-10-06 09:13 PM

The storm changed since they left this morning to what they thought might be safer area.

I've got peeps heading there tomorrow from Tampa Bay. If the storm follows the track out now, Orlando will still be far safer than anywhere on the west coast. It's scheduled to move very quickly across the state. I guess it depends how large it is when it hits and how drenching the rains are.

Thank God it isn't forecast to stall over the state.

#60 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 09:14 PM

Logistics, the means of strategy and tactics, determines what is practically possible in war.

Weather isn't war. Warfare is far more predictable than our current history-making supercharged hurricanes.

First and foremost, supply depots can be hit just as readily as any other place. And do you see the spaghetti modeling of hurricane tracking? Even with the best planning, a storm can change on a dime and move in another direction which completely alters response plans. There isn't certainty until there is.

Helene was a once in 1000-year storm. No one can adequately prepare for something so vast and catastrophic in a matter of days, maybe a week, when there is no absolute certainty of just when and where it will do its damage.

#61 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 09:22 PM

And that wasn't meant to be snarky.

I didn't see it that way at all, and thanks for the kindness.

But I am worried about all the rain the same areas of Florida targeted by Milton are getting in advance. If I read the meteorological information from Helene correctly, when a hurricane moves over already saturated land it weakens more slowly and recycles the existent water vapor into more intense downpours leading to catastrophic flooding.

It would be a shame if the storm is still packing a wallop by the time it reaches Orlando. Things simply are looking bleak right now for Tampa Bay and central Florida in the likely path of Milton.

#62 | Posted by tonyroma at 2024-10-06 09:28 PM

Not really worth reading.

A very app warning for all of your posts.

You should label all your posts this way to warn the reader they are about to waste their time.

#63 | Posted by donnerboy at 2024-10-06 10:28 PM

Thank God it isn't forecast to stall over the state.

The HARRIS/biden administration will determine whether or not it does.

#64 | Posted by REDIAL at 2024-10-06 11:06 PM

Drudge Retort Headlines

Matt Gaetz House Report Released (70 comments)

Merry Festivus (41 comments)

Trump Threatens to Retake the Panama Canal (31 comments)

Trump Team's Plans to try to End Birthright Citizenship (23 comments)

Trump Revives Interest in Obtaining Greenland from Denmark (12 comments)

Lara Trump Withdraws Name from Consideration for US Senate (11 comments)

Trump Picks Apprentice Producer Mark Burnett as UK Envoy (11 comments)

Republicans Embrace 'Our Prime Minister' Elon Musk (10 comments)

Are Abortion Bans Across America Causing Deaths? the States That Passed Them Are Doing Little to Find Out. (10 comments)

Alabama Profits Off Prisoners who Work at McDonald's (9 comments)