Category: Hurricane

I Brought Christmas Toys for Hurricane Helene Victim Kids – Their Reactions Were Priceless

Join us as we share a heartwarming journey of hope and kindness in the aftermath of Storm Helene. This video highlights a special event where we distributed toys to children impacted by the devastating storm. Watch as smiles light up their faces and experience the power of a community coming together to make a difference during the holiday season.

FEMA Official Removed From Role After Telling Hurricane Milton Relief Workers To Skip Homes With Trump Signs

he Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters, in Washington is photographed on October 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. FEMA is running low on personnel, with only 9% of staff available as Hurricane Milton, with 175 mph winds, approaches Tampa, FL; Compared to 25% availability in previous years. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The Federal Emergency Management Agency Headquarters in Washington is photographed on October 8, 2024 in Washington, DC. FEMA is running low on personnel, with only 9% of staff available as Hurricane Milton, with 175 mph winds, approaches Tampa, FL; Compared to 25% availability in previous years. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
10:50 AM – Saturday, November 9, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/fema-official-removed-from-role-after-telling-hurricane-milton-relief-workers-to-skip-homes-with-trump-signs/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) official has been removed from her role after reportedly telling workers to skip houses with Trump signs during Hurricane Milton relief.

According to a report by the Daily Wire, a FEMA official, whose identity has not been disclosed by the agency, reportedly directed workers canvassing Lake Placid, Florida, to “avoid homes advertising Trump” while assessing residents for eligibility for federal aid.

The Daily Wire stated that government employees informed the outlet that at least 20 homes displaying Trump signs or flags were skipped over between late October and early November due to official’s “best practices” instructions.

Workers noted the exclusion in government systems, with messages like: “Trump signs no entry per leadership.”

A FEMA spokesperson told Fox News that it is “deeply disturbed” by the employee’s actions and says it is an “isolated incident.”

“FEMA helps all survivors regardless of their political preference or affiliation,” the spokesperson said via a statement. “While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again.”

It is currently unclear if the agent was fired from the agency altogether.

“The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may not have been reached as a result of this incident,” the spokesperson said. “The agency has helped more than 365,000 households impacted by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton in Florida and provided nearly $900 million in direct assistance to survivors.”

“We are horrified that this took place and therefore have taken extreme action to correct the situation and have ensured that the matter was addressed at all levels,” they said.

FEMA agents were reportedly instructed not to assist homes displaying Trump signs in Highlands County, a strongly conservative region in south-central Florida, which was severely impacted by tornadoes, heavy rain, and flooding after Hurricane Ian struck in October.

President-elect Trump won nearly 70% of the vote in the area.

Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) criticized the federal agency on Friday after learning about the directive, and announced that his administration would launch an investigation into FEMA’s actions.

“The blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy is yet another reason why the Biden-Harris administration is in its final days,” DeSantis wrote on X. “At my direction, the Division of Emergency Management is launching an investigation into the federal government’s targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump. New leadership is on the way to D.C., and I’m optimistic that these partisan bureaucrats will be fired.”

The U.S. House Oversight Committee, led by Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), also criticized FEMA for failing to dismiss the officials responsible.

Comer pointed out the contrast, noting that while FEMA has not taken action, the IRS has reportedly tried to force out whistleblower Gary Shapley. Shapley, an IRS supervisory special agent, along with IRS criminal investigator Joseph Ziegler, brought allegations of political interference in the Hunter Biden investigation to Congress.

“FEMA hasn’t fired this person… But the IRS has been trying to force IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley out for blowing the whistle! We must hold these unelected bureaucrats accountable,” Comer wrote on X. “FEMA admits this happened but won't say if the bureaucrat responsible has been fired,” the House Oversight Committee wrote on X. “Democrats relentlessly defend the rules that insulate unelected bureaucrats from accountability and make it nearly impossible to fire bad employees. This is why we need President Trump’s reforms to make bureaucrats accountable.”

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Time To Leave Florida? Beaches Destroyed! Why Stay Here In This Mess?~HORRIFIC Devastation in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, NC from Hurricane Helene

What I Saw: HORRIFIC Devastation in Swannanoa, Black Mountain, NC from Hurricane Helene

Scenes I captured of Black Mountain's Swannanoa Valley in ruins. Witness the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Black Mountain, NC. Once a serene and picturesque town, Black Mountain has been left in ruins by the storm's destructive force. Homes, landscapes, and communities were shattered. It will take years to rebuild, but the beauty of Appalachia remains, and Mother Nature's fury will never be forgotten.

Hurricane Milton: The latest on the aftermath of the storm in Florida

Here's at look at what the Tampa Bay area looks like after Hurricane Milton moved through Florida.

DESTRUCTIVE Aftermath of Hurricane MILTON - Venice to Fort Myers Beach, Florida

'GET TO HIGHER GROUND': Rising floodwaters prompt voluntary evacuations in Pasco County

Blaze Media DOCUMENTS Hurricane Milton Rescue Efforts

Fort Myers Beach After Hurricane Milton Today Live Cam October 10, 2024

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Gives Update On Response To Hurricane Milton

DeSantis Details Damage, Fatalities, & Early Response After Hurricane Milton Hits Florida

Picking Up The Pieces! Mission Update #hurricanehelene

In this video, we’re taking you through the next phase of our efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. After completing the Search and Rescue, Recovery, and Logistics stages, we are now deep into community rebuilding. Power has been restored at the community hub, but most of the town remains without power. We’ve been working tirelessly to deliver crucial supplies and generators to those still in need, helping the community rebuild stronger than ever. You’ll get an inside look at the on-the-ground efforts to bring people together, maintain morale, and provide resources to keep everyone safe and resilient. Join us as we continue to make an impact, while keeping true to the Prepper mindset of preparedness, self-reliance, and survival. Thank you for your ongoing support—your contribution is helping us make a difference! Stay tuned for more updates on how you can help and what we’re doing next in our mission to rebuild.

Special report: Hurricane Milton tears across Florida

Hours after Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm, residents in Florida are now assessing the damage just weeks after Hurricane Helene struck many of the same areas. NBC News' Tom Llamas and Dylan Dreyer report from Florida, and Al Roker gives the latest on the storm's path.

Huge Hurricane Milton Storm Surge Fury Coming In Early

Raw and Unedited. Bonita Beach By Docs - This Storm Surge Was Increasing Right Before Our Eyes. Barefoot Beach 5 to 20 Million Dollar Houses All Swamped and Flooded. Imperial River Is Backed Up To Tarpon. Watch the Full Video and Join Our Community and Subscribe.

 

Musk, T-Mobile Team Up To Provide Victims Of Hurricane Milton Free Starlink Direct-To-Cell Service

Elon Musk attends the Men's Singles Final match between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
Elon Musk attends the Men’s Singles Final match between Taylor Fritz of the United States and Jannik Sinner of Italy on Day Fourteen of the 2024 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2024 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
10:30 AM – Wednesday, October 9, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/musk-t-mobile-team-up-to-provide-victims-of-hurricane-milton-free-starlink-direct-to-cell-service/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

Tesla CEO and owner Elon Musk has teamed up with T-Mobile to provide Starlink’s direct-to-cell service to victims impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. 

On Tuesday, Musk posted on Twitter that over 10,000 Starlink satellite kits have already been deployed to provide basic texting functionality.

“We have accelerated the rollout of Starlink directly to cell phone connectivity for areas affected by the hurricanes,” Musk wrote. “This is being provided free of charge by SpaceX and [T-Mobile] to help those in need.” 

They continued, explaining that the satellites will provide emergency alerts and texts for all phones and carriers. T-Mobile phones have already been sent a notification to let customers know that they can additionally “text loved ones” and 9-1-1.

“The FCC has also rapidly approved emergency special temporary authority for coverage in Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton,” the company said.

To identify whether a phone is connected to a Starlink satellite, SpaceX will have one to two bars of signal and show “T-Mobile SpaceX” in the network name.

“Users may have to manually retry text messages if they don’t go through at first, as this is being delivered on a best-effort basis,” SpaceX also wrote on X. “The service works best outdoors, and occasionally works indoors near a window.”

On Wednesday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a warning regarding Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall later in the day. 

“A large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 feet or greater, is expected along a portion of the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula,” they said.

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Hurricane Helene 2024 | The rescue of an 11 day old baby | Aerial Recovery

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, our team was in the right place at the right time. From a premature baby running out of oxygen to an elderly woman with just a day’s worth of life support left, we joined forces with incredible individuals and organizations that care, to make a difference. Without this private helicopter, these lives would have been lost.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Claims Harris Has ‘No Role’ In Hurricane Response

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 8, 2024. DeSantis awarded Miami-Dade County with an $8 million grant to help with the construction of their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a news conference at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on August 8, 2024. DeSantis awarded Miami-Dade County with an $8 million grant to help with the construction of their new stadium, Miami Freedom Park. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
12:07 PM – Tuesday, October 8, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/desantis-claims-harris-has-no-role-in-hurricane-response/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called out Vice President Kamala Harris saying she has “no role” in the hurricane response.

On Monday, DeSantis (R-Fla.) accused Harris of having “no role” in helping the state recover from Hurricane Helene or prepare for Hurricane Milton.

“For Kamala Harris to try to say my sole focus on the people of Florida is somehow selfish is delusional,” DeSantis said. “She has no role in this, in fact, she’s been vice president for three and a half years, I’ve dealt with a number of storms under this administration, she’s never contributed anything to any of these efforts.” 

According to NBC News, DeSantis was not taking calls from the Democratic presidential nominee regarding storm recovery efforts, citing unnamed aides to the governor who said the calls seemed political in nature.

However, when DeSantis was asked by Fox News' Sean Hannity if she has ever called before while preparing for hurricanes, he answered “no.”

“She has no role in this process. I’m in contact with the President of the United States. "I'm in contact with the FEMA director, I’m obviously managing all of our state agencies, we’re supporting all our local governments,” he added. 

Harris responded to the Florida governor’s accusations, stating he was “playing politics.” 

“People are in desperate need of support right now and playing political games at this moment in these crisis situations … is just utterly irresponsible, and it is selfish,” Harris said to reporters on Monday. “It is about political gamesmanship, instead of doing the job that you took an oath to do, which is to put the people first.”

DeSantis claimed good relations with both the Trump and Biden administrations regarding hurricane preparation and response before Harris. 

“She’s the first one who’s trying to politicize the storm, and she’s doing that just because of her campaign,” DeSantis said. “I don’t have time for political games. I’ve got people whose lives are on the line, I’ve got people whose homes and possessions are on the line, and we are focused 100% on that mission.”

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Hurricane Milton Evacuation CHAOS Gas Lines, Last Minute Scramble!

Hurricane Helene's wrath is fresh, but a new storm, Milton, threatens! With no time to rest, THOUSANDS scramble to evacuate Tampa Bay. I take you inside the evacuations, the gas shortages and tell you some stories of people caught in the cross hairs. Meet some determined residents - a few who choose to stay behind, even on sailboats, while others fight to save their homes with sandbags. The tough decisions I have to make as my home is a dead center in the projected path of Hurricane Milton.

Florida Issues Largest Evacuation Warning In Almost A Decade As ‘Life-Threatening’ Hurricane Milton Strengthens To Cat. 4 Storm

Dane Grifford describes the damage and debris left by Hurricane Helene ahead of Hurricane Milton's expected landfall in the middle of this week in Treasure Island, Florida on October 7, 2024. Florida's governor has declared a state of emergency on Saturday as forecasters warned that Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall later this week. (Photo by Bryan R. SMITH / AFP) (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)
Dane Grifford describes the damage and debris left by Hurricane Helene ahead of Hurricane Milton’s expected landfall in the middle of this week in Treasure Island, Florida, on October 7, 2024. Florida’s governor has declared a state of emergency on Saturday as forecasters warned that Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall later this week. (Photo by BRYAN R. SMITH/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff James Meyers
9:07 AM – Monday, October 7, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/fla-issues-largest-evacuation-warning-in-almost-a-decade-as-life-threatening-hurricane-milton-strengthens-to-cat-4-storm/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

Floridians have been issued urgent warnings to begin the largest evacuation in almost a decade as Hurricane Milton rapidly grew to a “life threatening” Category 4 storm containing 150 mph winds Monday, placing hundreds of thousands of residents still recovering from Helene at risk. 

Meanwhile, Milton is projected to hit Wednesday as a major hurricane in the Tampa Bay area, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center. 

Additionally, storm surge and hurricane watches were issued for Florida’s Gulf Coast as Milton “rapidly intensified” into a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph, according to the hurricane center.

Kevin Guthrie, the director of Florida’s emergency management division, urged residents to be prepared for the “largest evacuation that we have seen most likely since 2017 Hurricane Irma.” “I highly encourage you to evacuate,” Guthrie said during a press conference.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) said it was clear the state was going to be hit hard. 

“You have time to prepare … be sure your hurricane preparedness plan is in place,” DeSantis said Sunday.

“If you’re on that west coast of Florida, barrier islands, just assume you’ll be asked to leave.”

Furthermore, the hurricane center had warned that the hurricane posed “an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge from Milton for portions of the west coast of the Florida Peninsula beginning Tuesday night or early Wednesday,”

“Residents should follow any advice given by local officials and evacuate if told to do so,” the federal agency warned.

“I’m just gonna distill it down and put it in some plain speak — everybody’s just got to get out,” warned Sheriff Bob Gualtieri of Pinellas County, which includes Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

“This is going to be bad. That’s all you need to know,” he said of warnings the storm surge could top 8 feet along his county’s coastal regions.

“There’s going to reach a point where you are on your own, because we are not going to get our people killed because you don’t want to listen to what we’re saying.”

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STEPHEN GARDNER: BREAKING NEWS: They are LYING about Hurricane Helene DISASTER!!

I have some breaking news coming out of Washington DC regarding Kamala Harris, The White house, the pentagon and hurricane Helene. Thank you for joining me. According to Starlink CEO Elon Musk, his people on the ground are being told that aid is being blocked and so is the starlink satellite help President Donald Trump arrange. Elon Musk posted that one of his SpaceX engineers on the ground in North Carolina is reporting that FEMA is blocking and seizing shipments of aid, including Starlink receivers. The engineer reports that all Starlink shipments are on hold until they can get an escort from local first responders to protect them from FEMA enforcers. Why is FEMA blocking aid shipments? Why is FEMA blocking deliveries of Starlink recipients? This is insane. Government out of money says Biden, Kamala Harris and DHS' Alejandro Mayorkas Because of Kamala…. Now Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the US is the most generous provider of humanitarian aid and commits $157 million to citizens in Lebanon. Not Lebanon, North Carolina, but Lebanon in the Middle East. Photo General Flynn and the Conservative podcaster Benny Johnson. There are thousands dead and the government is covering it up.

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