Do You See A Difference?

Hurricane Hellene created a wide slash of destruction across a half a dozen states, in the Appalachians there were major floods knocking out bridges, roads, and utilities across six states. Currently there are 757,000 homes and businesses without power, down from a peak of over 4.5 million last week. A massive number of bridges are closed and uncounted number of roads have been washed out. AP News reported that,

Several main routes into Asheville were washed away or blocked by mudslides, including a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) section of Interstate 40, and the city’s water system was severely damaged, forcing residents to scoop creek water into buckets so they could flush toilets.

The conservative New York Post wrote,

Hurricane Helene victims in NC are fending for themselves as response from Biden-Harris’ FEMA underwhelms
By Chris Nesi
Published Oct. 3, 2024

Desperate residents of Hurricane Helene-ravaged western North Carolina are relying on homegrown rescue efforts instead of waiting for the Biden-Harris administration’s financially depleted FEMA to get its act together.

Not content to hold out hope for help that some fear might not arrive in time, a handful of grassroots rescue operations have sprung up to render assistance by air, land and even on four legs.

[…]

Helene is the third-deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland US in more than half a century, behind only Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Camille in 1969, according to Fox Weather.

Lets see what Republican governors had to say.

Fact check: Amid bipartisan praise for Biden hurricane response, Trump falsely claims reviews are ‘universally’ negative
CNN
By Daniel Dale
October 3, 2024

Former President Donald Trump, seeking to capitalize politically on the devastation from Hurricane Helene, falsely claimed in a social media post on Thursday that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris “are universally being given POOR GRADES for the way that they are handling the Hurricane, especially in North Carolina.”

Facts First: Trump is wrong. The Biden administration’s response to the hurricane has received bipartisan praise from political leaders in affected states.

That praise has not been universal; there has also been some criticism and some ambivalence. But Trump’s assertion that reviews for the Biden administration’s handling of the crisis have been entirely negative is not true.

[…]

Various Republican governors in the southeastern states hit by Hurricane Helene have praised the Biden administration’s response, sometimes naming Biden in particular.

Republican South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said at a Tuesday press conference that federal assistance had “been superb,” noting that Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg had both called and told him to let them know whatever the state needed. McMaster added that the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Deanne Criswell, had also called. He said, “So we’re getting assistance, and we’re asking for everything we need.”

Republican Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said at a Monday press conference, “I’m incredibly appreciative of the rapid response and the cooperation from the federal team at FEMA.” He specifically thanked Biden, among others, in a press release the day prior.

 The article goes on to report that,

Cooper, the North Carolina governor, has repeatedly praised the federal response. Sitting beside Biden during the president’s visit to North Carolina on Wednesday, Cooper said, “We’re grateful for the quick actions and close communications that we have had with the president and with the FEMA team,” adding moments later, “And Mr. President, we know that we have made a lot of asks of you, and we are grateful for your ear and for your actions.”

Cooper said in a briefing on Tuesday: “I briefed President Biden and Vice President Harris each on two occasions, and they have committed every resource available to this recovery. I appreciate the president’s quick approval of our major disaster declaration this weekend and his direction that FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell will continue to be here on the ground,” saying that residents were already starting to receive assistance funds.

 Gee this doesn’t sound like what the New York Post is saying? Who do you trust? Trump?

Trump allies also claimed that undocumented immigrants are looting.

Fact Check: Were Hurricane Helene Looters Undocumented Migrants?
Newsweek
October 1, 2024

Tennessee authorities confirmed to Newsweek Tuesday that a group of eight men had been arrested for suspected looting in a flood-devastated area, but claims that they were undocumented migrants were unfounded.

All eight are currently in custody at the Washington County Detention Center, held on $20,000 bonds, according to local law enforcement officials.

Following their arrests, a NewsNation reporter on the southern border claimed on Monday these men were "getaways", as confirmed by a Department of Homeland Security official.

On Tuesday, officials in Tennessee denied that to Newsweek.

In a now-deleted post on X, Ali Bradley said:

"DHS sources confirm 8 men arrested for looting in flood-ravaged Tennessee entered as 'gotaways.'"

The post suggested that those arrested were illegal or undocumented migrants, showing the mugshots of those detained by deputies.

Why can’t the right tell the truth? Why do they have to stir up hatred against minorities with their lies! First it was Haitians in Springfield, in Tennessee. The right-wing wants to rally their xenophobic base, that caused violence in Springfield Ohio with bomb threats.

Vote Blue!