Current and former Federal Emergency Administration (FEMA) officials are concerned about a new agency rule that requires disaster victims to have an email address to apply for federal aid.
Policy changes, First reported on Wired Jeremy Edwards, a former FEMA spokesman for Joe Biden, the White House spokesman for the presidency, said the Guardian’s confirmation was confirmed by FEMA officials, “at least it’s disturbing.”
Email is an optional means to contact FEMA with previous administrations, but will now be essential for those seeking relief in a disaster. The change comes after the March executive order suspended the travel order to pay on federal documents-based payments, which could be a major obstacle for victims in need of financial assistance, especially for those with limited internet access.
“It’s a person without problems for most people, but it seems like a very arbitrary thing for people who choose not to email or for any reason, without email, without help,” said Craig Fugate, a former International Bureau administrator during the Obama administration. “It sounds like the clerk is just making his job easier.”
In the United States, 12% live in homes If there is no internet connection for 2023. Disasters can also make it difficult or inaccessible for victims to access the Internet in libraries or other public places.
“My question is why we don’t focus on meeting the survivors they are in, rather than making them suitable for our plans,” Fuger said.
A FEMA official with a person familiar with the new plan said that communicating emails with help is not necessarily a bad thing.
“This makes it easier to communicate via email and send back and forth the files people may need, sometimes even more efficient,” the worker said. “For people who do have email addresses and know how to work, it will make their lives easier than having to call and dial the call center right after a disaster, so you can call for a few hours at a time and give only a series of calls.”
However, this requirement can be difficult for those with internet access and older people and disabled people who are more vulnerable to attack in the event of a disaster and may be unlikely to have an email address.
The person said the policy change is particularly worrying, as it was also ended by FEMA Canvas from door to door during disaster and Some on-site offices have been closed nationwide. This will mean agent staff will have less face-to-face time with disaster victims, browsing email servers for those who are not familiar with them.
“If we were to make this request, but then construct the ability to check and help people get email addresses that they might not have, that would be different…but we shouldn’t do that either,” the official said. “We are calling everything we’re trying to make sure we are capturing those people who are mostly left behind in getting FEMA assistance.”
This change could constitute those seeking immediate assistance through FEMA’s Critical Needs Assistance Program, which can provide victims with $750 in cash within 24 hours of the disaster to meet immediate needs for hotel accommodation, food and other basic needs.
“Any step you take will create a little friction, which can be a day when the person isn’t getting that money,” Edwards said. “It’s serious when you need something like baby formula or something that needs to be given to your child.”
Other recently implemented FEMA policies, such as new requirements from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who personally approved all contracts that could further delay assistance to the community before payment of funds, said anonymous officials.
“It’s bureaucracy to bureaucracy that has never been seen in the early stages,” the person said. “So there is a huge focus on timing.”
The guardian has contacted FEMA for comment.
this Trump administration Since Trump re-removed the White House in January, 2,000 full-time employees have been dismissed as more than a dozen other leaders in their leadership positions voluntarily resigned. Edwards said political leaders “try to create solutions to the problems they create by shrinking their workforce.
“When they fired 6,000 of the permanent workforce, 2,000 may have put a lot of restrictions on their ability to provide assistance effectively,” he said. He added that the issue is not only immoral, but may be “politically shortsighted” because it could delay aid from Trump voters in the community with technology restrictions.
FEMA has long been working hard to provide disaster assistance effectively. Edwards said the Biden administration has taken steps to address the issue and “make aid easier and harder.” But under Trump, “the most uncharitable view is that they try to prevent people from getting disaster assistance.”
“I don’t understand how you see what they are doing and draw any other conclusions,” Edwards said.
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