Blood Sport - Weak Not My Jobs Crushed

Ah, the wonderful world of disaster management and politics, where the response to hurricanes often seems less about the storm and more about who gets caught in the crosswinds of blame. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is finding herself in a familiar place, facing the wrath of critics in much the same way as her predecessor, the female Director under George W. Bush, did during Hurricane Katrina. Back then, the Democrats were sharpening their pitchforks over perceived failures. Now, it’s the Republicans who are taking their turn in expressing their dissatisfaction with FEMA’s response to Hurricane Helene. Same complaints, different decade—welcome to the political merry-go-round.

Let’s start with the Katrina era. During Hurricane Katrina, Democrats were quick to criticize FEMA’s then-leader, Michael Brown (not a woman, though the head of the Department of Homeland Security at the time was Michael Chertoff, often paired with Brownie in critiques). He was, shall we say, “encouraged” to exit after FEMA’s chaotic response to the disaster. It was a classic example of political opportunism, with Democrats using the failure as a cudgel to bash the Bush administration. The criticism wasn’t entirely unwarranted—Katrina’s devastation was magnified by slow and ineffective responses, and FEMA became the punching bag for everyone’s frustration.

Fast forward to Hurricane Helene, and Deanne Criswell is now the target of Republican fury. This time, it’s accusations of FEMA neglecting Republican areas and funneling money to migrants or foreign wars (false claims, Criswell notes). Ah, the joys of bipartisan finger-pointing—what a tradition. Criswell, like her predecessors, faces the classic FEMA conundrum: while she’s orchestrating a massive response with thousands of federal workers, private sector volunteers, and even active-duty troops, some folks are busy concocting conspiracy theories about FEMA’s motives. Never mind the fact that North Carolina and other affected states are swarming with rescue teams, helicopters, and FEMA funds—the rumors are too juicy to pass up.

In contrast to the Katrina fallout, however, Criswell is getting some public defense, and it’s not just from her own party. It seems many are quick to remind everyone how hard it is to manage a natural disaster. FEMA has gone out of its way to provide real-time information, debunking false claims, and offering help to survivors—assuming they apply for it. Because if they don’t, well, that’s not on FEMA. As Criswell said, she can’t give them aid if they don’t come forward. It’s a clear parallel to the “blame the government, ignore the instructions” attitude that often clouds disaster relief efforts. And let’s not forget the accusations about FEMA confiscating property if aid isn’t repaid—because apparently, wild theories are more exciting than reality.

So, what have we learned from comparing these two events? That politics is politics, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. FEMA directors will always be under fire, no matter how robust their responses are, and conspiracy theories will thrive in the wake of tragedy. Katrina or Helene, it’s all a political blood sport, where the real disaster is often just the starting point for the blame game.