FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell vowed that Hurricane Ian relief would be provided to “all communities” after Vice President Kamala Harris said last week that the Biden administration would prioritize aid to minorities “based on equity.”
Appearing on “Face the Nation” Sunday, Criswell was asked to respond directly to the comments made by Harris. Criswell claimed that the vice president was speaking in the longer term. Still, she also reassured Americans that the federal government resources would support all people affected by the natural disaster.
“[O]ur programs support everybody,” Criswell told host Margaret Brennan. “I would say I believe some of the things the vice president was talking about are the long-term recovery and rebuilding these communities to be able to withstand disasters, so they can have less impact. We’re going to support all communities. I committed that to (Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis), I commit to you right here that all Floridians are going to be able to get the help that is available to them through our programs.”
Harris raised eyebrows on Friday when she told attendees at the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Leadership Forum that officials would favor low-income and minority groups.
“It is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues that are not of their own making,” Harris said. “And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity, understanding not everyone starts out at the same place.”
“And if we want people to be in an equal place, sometimes we have to take into account those disparities and do that work,” she added.
Christina Pushaw, Director of Rapid Response for DeSantis’ re-election campaign, pushed back on Harris’s comments and demanded clarification from the Biden administration.
“This is false. @VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified,” Pushaw wrote on Twitter. “FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background. If you need assistance visit disasterassistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362.”
This is false. @VP‘s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background. If you need assistance visit https://t.co/x9X8AstnzL or call 1-800-621-3362. https://t.co/idsw1PX86x
— Christina Pushaw 🐊 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) September 30, 2022
“[T]he areas of SWFL hardest hit by the storm are mostly white but greatly varied in socioeconomic status,” she added in a reply. “None of that matters; rescuers are helping everyone they possibly can and people are getting the assistance they need.”
