The Federal Emergency Management Agency did not answer thousands of calls made to its disaster assistance line after deadly flooding in Texas, documents reviewed by the New York Times show. A person “briefed on the matter” who spoke to the Times anonymously said this was because the agency fired hundreds of contractors at call centers.
FEMA laid off these contractors on July 5, after their companies’ contracts expired. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t renew the contracts until Thursday, July 10 — which the Times noted was five days after their expiration.
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At least 129 people died in flash flooding along the Guadalupe River that started on July 4. Search operations continue for those who are still missing.
According to the New York Times, on July 5, there were 3,027 calls into FEMA from disaster survivors, of which the agency answered 3,018. It was mainly contractors from four call center companies who answered the calls.
The day after these contractors were fired, though, on July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls, and only answered 846 (35.8%). Then, on Monday, July 7, the agency answered 2,613 of the 16,419 calls it got. That’s around 15.9%.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security said in an email to the Times that “when a natural disaster strikes, phone calls surge and wait times can subsequently increase.”
“Despite this expected influx, FEMA’s disaster call center responded to every caller swiftly and efficiently, ensuring no one was left without assistance,” the spokesperson said.
Trump visits Texas after flooding
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump on Friday, July 11, was in Texas to visit affected areas, where he met with state and local officials, including Gov. Greg Abbott, first responders and victims’ families, NPR reported.
“As a nation, we mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood, and we pray for the families that are left behind. It’s amazing, the incredible spirit from those families. I don’t know, I don’t even know how they do it,” Trump was quoted by NPR as saying.
At a roundtable event, Trump was asked about locals’ concerns that they were not properly notified before the floods. Trump responded by saying that “everyone did an incredible job under the circumstances,” and criticized the reporter who asked the question.
“Only a very evil person would ask a question like that,” Trump said.
Texas updates
As of Saturday, July 12, there have been 103 deaths in Kerr County; nine in Travis County; eight in Kendall County; five in Burnet County; three in Williamson County and one in Tom Green County, USA Today reported. The deceased include at least 27 campers and counselors from an all-girls Christian camp called Camp Mystic.
Abbott said on X California, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, North Dakota had been aiding in ongoing search and rescue missions.
The city of Kerrville’s police department said on Facebook Saturday morning that it is “overwhelmed by the generosity and support of the community,” and asked people to stop bringing food as their needs have been met. It also asked law enforcement not to show up unannounced “without a clear purpose or assignment.”
