Highlights:
- Donald Trump’s failure to act harmed Hurricane Maria recovery efforts and may have contributed to thousands of excess deaths.
- Hurricane Maria caused immense damage in Puerto Rico and was responsible for the deaths of thousands.
- The Trump administration failed to help Puerto Rico in an effective and timely manner.
- Trump refused to give Puerto Rico necessary relief funds and Trump’s FEMA was responsible for the botched relief effort.
- Trump diminished Puerto Rico’s suffering, claiming that the hurricane was not a “real catastrophe like Katrina.”
- Following Hurricane Harvey, Donald Trump’s response lacked empathy.
- Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas and caused $130 billion worth of damage.
- In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Trump’s response was criticized for lacking empathy and cracked jokes about the state of Texas following Hurricane Harvey.
- Donald Trump may have created chaos in the southern United States after falsely claiming that Hurricane Dorian would impact Alabama.
- Amid the deadliest wildfires in California history, Donald Trump threatened to withhold aid and sought to exploit the disaster for industry allies.
- In 2018, California experienced the deadliest wildfire in the state’s modern history.
- Trump responded to the first by threatening to withhold federal aid and insulting the state’s leadership.
- The Trump administration exploited the California wildfires to promote the logging industry’s agenda.
¶ Trump’s Failure To Act Harmed Hurricane Maria Recovery Efforts And May Have Contributed To Thousands Of Excess Deaths
¶ Hurricane Maria Caused Immense Damage In Puerto Rico And Was Responsible For The Deaths of thousands
¶ September 20, 2017: Hurricane Maria Made Landfall In Puerto Rico Causing Immense Damage
September 20, 2017: Hurricane Maria Made Landfall In Puerto Rico Causing Immense Damage To The U.S. Territory. According to NPR, “After devastating parts of the Caribbean, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico early Wednesday as a Category 4 storm packing powerful sustained winds of 155 mph, according to the hurricane center. It is the strongest storm to have hit the U.S. territory in decades.” [NPR, 9/20/17]
¶ The Damage Caused By Hurricane Maria Was Long-Term And Devastating
Puerto Rico Incurred Roughly $100 Billion In Damages From Hurricane Maria. According to NBC New York, “On Sept. 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico wreaking havoc across its terrain to such great proportions that very few storms throughout United States history provoked the level of widespread destruction and disorganization experienced during and in the aftermath of Maria. So severe was the impact of the massive storm that the island incurred roughly $100 billion in damages and the effects are still being felt a year later.” [NBC New York, 9/19/18]
It Took Almost One Year For Power To Be Restored To The Entire Island. According to NBC New York, “The government-owned electric power company in Puerto Rico announced Tuesday that it officially restored power to the entire island — almost a year after the power grid was severely impacted by Hurricane Maria. According to a tweet by the Puerto Rico Power Authority, or Autoridad de Energia Electrica (AEE) as it is known is Spanish, the utility restored power to its final client in Bo Real Anon in the municipality of Ponce. This final power restoration marks an uphill climb for residents of the island, who faced the longest recorded power outage in United States history — the second worst world-wide.” [NBC New York, 9/19/18]
Census Bureau: 130,000 Left Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria Nearly 4% Of The Population. According to CNN, “An estimated 130,000 people -- almost 4% of the population -- left the island of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria, according to data released Wednesday by the US Census Bureau. ‘It's a really large number -- and it's a number that's well above what we've seen in the past,’ Alexis Santos, a demographer a Penn State University, said of the population decrease. ‘Here, what you're looking at is double -- double the displacement we would have expected’ in a normal year.” [CNN, 12/19/18]
¶ Two University Studies Attributed Thousands Of Excess Deaths To The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria
A George Washington University Study Revealed That Hurricane Maria Led To A Spike In Mortality, With An Estimated 2,975 Excess Deaths Six Months After The Storm Made Landfall, Attributing Them To Power Outages, Water Insecurity, And Inadequate Infrastructure. According to the Washington Post, “Hurricane Maria’s devastation in Puerto Rico led to a spike in mortality across the U.S. territory, with an estimated 2,975 excess deaths in the six months after the storm made landfall in September 2017, according to a sweeping report from George Washington University released Tuesday. The government of Puerto Rico on Tuesday embraced the GWU estimate as the official death toll, ranking Maria among the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history […] The spike in mortality came as the territory dealt with widespread and lengthy power outages, a lack of access to adequate health care, water insecurity and diseases related to the crisis.” [Washington Post, 8/28/18]
A Harvard T.H. Chan School Of Public Health Study Estimated That There Had Been Between 800 And 8,500 Excess Deaths Related To Hurricane Maria. According to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, “After Hurricane Maria slammed into Puerto Rico in September 2017, officials initially said that there had been only 16-storm related deaths. But Harvard Chan researchers, along with colleagues in Puerto Rico, estimated that there had actually been between 800 and 8,500 excess deaths related to the hurricane through the end of December 2017.” [Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Accessed 2/28/20]
¶ The Trump Administration Disputed The Studies And Alleged That Democrats Were Inflating The Death Toll
Trump Disputed Official Findings That Nearly 3,000 People Died In Puerto Rico. According to BBC, “US President Donald Trump is disputing official findings that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of last year's storms. ‘3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico,’ Mr Trump wrote on Twitter, without offering evidence for the claim. He accused Democrats of inflating the official death toll to ‘make me look as bad as possible.’ The official figure was released last month after an independent study. On Thursday, Mr Trump tweeted that Democrats were attacking him ‘when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico.’” [BBC, 9/13/18]
Trump Claimed That The Democrats Were Inflating The Death Toll To “Make Me Look As Bad As Possible.” According to BBC, “US President Donald Trump is disputing official findings that nearly 3,000 people died in Puerto Rico as a result of last year's storms. ‘3000 people did not die in the two hurricanes that hit Puerto Rico,’ Mr Trump wrote on Twitter, without offering evidence for the claim. He accused Democrats of inflating the official death toll to ‘make me look as bad as possible.’ The official figure was released last month after an independent study. On Thursday, Mr Trump tweeted that Democrats were attacking him ‘when I was successfully raising Billions of Dollars to help rebuild Puerto Rico.’” [BBC, 9/13/18]
¶ A White House Spokesperson Said Trump Was Responding To “A Constant Stream Of Misinformation And False Accusations”
White House Spokesman Hogan Gidley: Trump’s Tweets Were Responding To The “Liberal Media And The San Juan Mayor.” According to the Wall Street Journal, “Nearly 12 hours after Mr. Trump’s tweets, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley issued a statement praising the administration’s ‘unprecedented support’ for Puerto Rico. Mr. Gidley said the president’s tweets were ‘responding to the liberal media and the San Juan mayor, who sadly have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.’” [Wall Street Journal, 9/13/18]
Gidley: The Liberal Democrats And The San Juan Mayor “Have Tried To Exploit The Devastation By Pushing Out A Constant Stream Of Misinformation And False Accusations.” According to the Wall Street Journal, “Nearly 12 hours after Mr. Trump’s tweets, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley issued a statement praising the administration’s ‘unprecedented support’ for Puerto Rico. Mr. Gidley said the president’s tweets were ‘responding to the liberal media and the San Juan mayor, who sadly have tried to exploit the devastation by pushing out a constant stream of misinformation and false accusations.’” [Wall Street Journal, 9/13/18]
¶ The Trump Administration Failed To Help Puerto Rico In An Effective And timely Manner
Trump Pumped His Fists After He Arrived In Storm-Ravaged Puerto Rico. [Washington Post, 10/3/17]
¶ Trump Claimed That Puerto Rico’s Relief Was Hampered By “Big Water, Ocean Water”
During A Speech On His Tax Plan, Trump Claimed That Puerto Rico’s Disaster Relief Was Hampered By “Big Water, Ocean Water.” According to the Hill, “President Trump on Friday said the disaster relief effort in Puerto Rico is complicated because it is ‘surrounded by water.’ ‘This is an island, surrounded by water. Big water. Ocean water,’ the president said during a speech in Washington on his tax plan. The comments come as Trump has come under fire for his administration’s response to Hurricane Maria. Trump has repeatedly cited Puerto Rico’s location as a hurdle toward a speedier recovery. The storm devastated much of the island and left many of its citizens without food, water and electricity. Critics have said the administration provided quicker and more effective disaster relief to Texas, Florida and other mainland states hit by hurricanes Harvey and Irma, a charge officials deny.” [The Hill, 9/29/17]
¶ Government Records Revealed That The Trump Administration Exerted More Effort Towards Disaster Relief In Texas Compared To Those In Puerto Rico After Maria
Government Records Revealed That The Trump Administration Exerted More Effort Towards Disaster Relief In Texas Compared To Those In Puerto Rico. According to Politico, “No two hurricanes are alike, and Harvey and Maria were vastly different storms that struck areas with vastly different financial, geographic and political situations. But a comparison of government statistics relating to the two recovery efforts strongly supports the views of disaster-recovery experts that FEMA and the Trump administration exerted a faster, and initially greater, effort in Texas, even though the damage in Puerto Rico exceeded that in Houston.” [Politico, 3/27/18]
¶ FEMA Approved Considerably More Relief Aid For People In Texas Than Those In Puerto Rico
Nine Days After Hurricane Harvey, FEMA Approved $141.8 Million In Assistance, Compared To Just $6.2 Million In Assistance For Hurricane Maria Victims. According to Politico, “Nine days after the respective hurricanes, FEMA had approved $141.8 million in individual assistance to Harvey victims, versus just $6.2 million for Maria victims.” [Politico, 3/27/18]
¶ FEMA Delivered Fewer Supplies To Puerto Rico Than Texas In The Same Time Period
FEMA Delivered Few Supplies To Puerto Rico In The First Nine Days Following Maria And Failed To Approve Permanent Disaster Relief Work In Puerto Rico In A Timely Manner. According to Politico, “During the first nine days after Harvey, FEMA provided 5.1 million meals, 4.5 million liters of water and over 20,000 tarps to Houston; but in the same period, it delivered just 1.6 million meals, 2.8 million liters of water and roughly 5,000 tarps to Puerto Rico […] It took just 10 days for FEMA to approve permanent disaster work for Texas, compared with 43 days for Puerto Rico.” [Politico, 3/27/18]
¶ It Took Weeks For FEMA And The Department Of Defense To Increase Their Forces In Puerto Rico
It Took Weeks For FEMA And The Defense Department To Increase Forces In Puerto Rico Even Though The Airports And Ports Were Open. According to Politico, “But it still took weeks for FEMA and the Department of Defense to increase their forces in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, even though the main airports and ports were opened within a few days. Disaster-recovery experts also faulted the government for failing to direct the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships, which have their own fleets of helicopters and were deployed off the coast for Florida to help with Hurricane Irma in early September, to help with the response efforts to Hurricane Maria. The Lincoln began to position itself to help with Irma two days before the storm hit Florida. FEMA never requested that the Department of Defense send the Lincoln to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” [Politico, 3/27/20]
¶ Trump Waffled On Providing A Waiver To Help Get Emergency Relief To Puerto Rico
¶ September 26, 2017: Trump Failed To Waive Shipping Restriction to Aid Puerto Rico’s Recovery Efforts
September 26, 2017: The Trump Administration Failed To Waive Shipping Restrictions To Help Get Fuel And Supplies To Puerto Rico. According to Reuters, “The Trump administration on Tuesday said there was no need to waive shipping restrictions to help get fuel and supplies to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico, because it would do nothing to address the island’s main impediment to shipping, damaged ports. The Jones Act limits shipping between coasts to U.S. flagged vessels. However, in the wake of brutal storms, the government has occasionally issued temporary waivers to allow the use of cheaper, tax free or more readily available foreign-flagged ships. The Department of Homeland Security, which waived the act after hurricanes Harvey and Irma, did not agree an exemption would help this time.” [Reuters, 9/26/17]
¶ The Jones Act Was A Shipping Regulation, Often Waived In Disasters, That Made Essentials More Expensive For Puerto Rico
The Jones Act Was An Obscure Shipping Regulation That Made The Shipment Of Basic Essentials Needed For Disaster Recovery More Expensive For Puerto Rico. According to Reuters, “Puerto Rico has long railed against the Jones Act, saying it makes the cost of imported basic commodities, such as food, clothing and fuel, more expensive […] ‘It is unacceptable to force the people of Puerto Rico to pay at least twice as much for food, clean drinking water, supplies and infrastructure due to Jones Act requirements as they work to recover from this disaster,’ [Senator John] McCain said in the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters.” [Reuters, 9/26/17]
The Jones Act Is Often Waived In A Disaster. According to Vox, “But the executive branch has the authority to waive the act in special circumstances, as it has done in the past whenever the downside of making it excessively expensive to ship American goods from one place in America to another becomes a high-profile issue. The Bush administration issued Jones Act waivers after Hurricanes Katrina and Hurricane to speed the shipment of fuel to the Gulf Coast. The Obama administration issued a more limited waiver after Hurricane Sandy, again to speed the shipment of fuel. On September 8, the Trump administration issued Jones Act waivers for areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.” [Vox, 9/27/17]
¶ Two Days Later, Trump Changed His Mind And Waived The Jones Act
September 28, 2017: Trump Waived The Jones Act For Puerto Rico, Easing Hurricane Aid Shipments. According to the New York Times, “The Trump administration said on Thursday that it would temporarily waive a century-old shipping law for Puerto Rico that officials there said was hindering disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Maria. The waiver of the law, known as the Jones Act, comes as federal and local officials report more supplies trickling onto the increasingly desperate island. But the Trump administration remains under pressure to step up the recovery effort.” [New York Times, 9/28/17]
¶ Trump Refused To Give The U.S. Territory Necessary Relief Funds until 2019
¶ June 6, 2019: Trump Signed $19 Billion Disaster Relief Bill After A Long Delay
June 6, 2019: Trump Signed $19 Billion Disaster Relief Bill After A Long Delay, Sending Billions In Aid To Puerto Rico And Several Other States Battered By Storms. According to CNBC, “President Donald Trump said he signed a long-awaited $19 billion disaster relief bill on Thursday to give aid to states and territories ravaged by storms. The delayed legislation will send funds to the hurricane-battered island of Puerto Rico and to states damaged by hurricanes, flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. The recipients include California, Florida, Georgia and Iowa.” [CNBC, 6/6/19]
Trump Claimed That “Puerto Rico Should Love President Trump” After He Signed The Bill Even Though Trump Initially Did Not Want To Give More Relief Funds To The Territory. According to CNBC, “‘Just signed Disaster Aid Bill to help Americans who have been hit by recent catastrophic storms,’ Trump tweeted on Thursday along with a photo of him holding a signed document. ‘So important for our GREAT American farmers and ranchers.’ He also contended that ‘Puerto Rico should love President Trump.’ The president claimed the island ‘would have been shut out’ without him. Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September 2017. The storm knocked out power for 1.5 million people and it took 11 months to restore it. The island’s government estimated the hurricane caused nearly 3,000 deaths. Trump’s response to the devastation on the island has been widely criticized. Congress failed to approve the aid money quickly in no small part because Trump did not want to give more relief funds to the U.S. territory.” [CNBC, 6/6/19]
¶ Trump Privately Vented About Federal Aid To Puerto Rico
Trump Sought To Find Ways To Limit Federal Support From Going To Puerto Rico With A Senior Administration Official Claim That “He Doesn’t Want Another Single Dollar Going To The Island.” According to the Washington Post, “After initially vowing to reject the food-stamp funding, President Trump has agreed to the emergency request to help Senate Republicans pass a broader disaster-relief package, which may be taken up for a vote this week. But at an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 22, Trump asked top advisers for ways to limit federal support from going to Puerto Rico, believing it is taking money that should be going to the mainland, according to senior administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details of the president’s private remarks […] Trump has also privately signaled he will not approve any additional help for Puerto Rico beyond the food-stamp money, setting up a congressional showdown with Democrats who have pushed for more expansive help for the island. A senior administration official with direct knowledge of the meeting described Trump’s stance: ‘He doesn’t want another single dollar going to the island.’” [Washington Post, 3/25/19]
¶ January 15, 2020: Trump Imposed Severe Restrictions On Aid Including Blocking Spending On The Islands Electrical Grid
The Trump Administration Imposed Severe Restrictions On The $16 Billion In Funding Going To Puerto Rico. According to the New York Times, “The Trump administration imposed severe restrictions on Wednesday on billions of dollars in emergency relief to Puerto Rico, including blocking spending on the island’s electrical grid and suspending its $15-an-hour minimum wage for federally funded relief work. The nearly $16 billion in funding, released while Puerto Ricans still sleep on the streets for fear of aftershocks from last week’s earthquake, is part of $20 billion that Congress allocated for disaster recovery and preparation more than a year ago, in response to the commonwealth being hit by back-to-back hurricanes in 2017.” [New York Times, 1/15/20]
¶ Amid Rolling Blackouts, Trump Placed Restrictions On Funding Towards Puerto Rico’s Electrical Grid
Although Puerto Rico Continued To Be Plagued By Rolling Blackouts, Trump Imposed A Restriction That Barred The Territory From Using The Funds On The Electrical Grid. According to the New York Times, “Puerto Rico will be barred from paying its $15-an-hour minimum wage to workers on federally funded projects. And none of the funds can be used on the electrical grid, although the Department of Housing and Urban Development has yet to release nearly $2 billion that was allocated for Puerto Rico’s electrical system. White House officials acknowledged that rolling blackouts continue in Puerto Rico but insisted there was no need for new money […] A congressional aide involved in the issue said the White House and its budget office appeared to have chosen restrictions that would be politically difficult for Puerto Rican officials to carry out. That way, the aide suggested, the federal government would not appear responsible for withholding the aid.” [New York Times, 1/15/20]
Congress Approved Separate Funds For The Electrical Grid That Had Not Been Allocated. According to the New York Times, “The restriction relating to the electrical grid may just be a practical one: Congress has already appropriated a separate tranche of money specifically for the electrical grid, though it has yet to be allocated.” [New York Times, 1/15/20]
¶ The Washington Post Reported That Two Years Prior, A Power Company With “Just Two Full-Time Employees” Tied To Then Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke “Signed A $300 Million Contract With The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority”
Washington Post: A Power Company With “Just Two Full-Time Employees” That Was Based Out Of Ryan Zinke’s Hometown Of Whitefish, Montana “Signed A $300 Million Contract With The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority.” According to the Washington Post, “For the sprawling effort to restore Puerto Rico’s crippled electrical grid, the territory’s state-owned utility has turned to a two-year-old company from Montana that had just two full-time employees on the day Hurricane Maria made landfall. The company, Whitefish Energy, said last week that it had signed a $300 million contract with the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority to repair and reconstruct large portions of the island’s electrical infrastructure. The contract is the biggest yet issued in the troubled relief effort. […] Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Mont., the home town of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.” [Washington Post, 10/23/17]
¶ Zinke’s Office Said He Had No Role In Whitefish Securing The Contract
Zinke’s Office Said He Had No Role In Whitefish Securing The Contract. According to the Washington Post, “Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Mont., the home town of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Its chief executive, Andy Techmanski, and Zinke acknowledge knowing one another — but only, Zinke’s office said in an email, because Whitefish is a small town where ‘everybody knows everybody.’ One of Zinke’s sons ‘joined a friend who worked a summer job’ at one of Techmanski’s construction sites, the email said. Whitefish said he worked as a ‘flagger.’ Zinke’s office said he had no role in Whitefish securing the contract for work in Puerto Rico. Techmanski also said Zinke was not involved.” [Washington Post, 10/23/17]
Zinke: “I Welcome All Investigations Into The Allegations.” According to a tweet by Secretary Ryan Zinke accessed via the Wayback Machine, “I had absolutely nothing to do with Whitefish Energy receiving a contract in Puerto Rico. I welcome all investigations into the allegations[.]” [Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @SecretaryZinke, 10/27/17]
Screenshot Of Zinke’s Tweet.
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @SecretaryZinke, 10/27/17]
¶ Zinke And Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski Knew Each Other
Zinke And Whitefish CEO Andy Techmanski Knew Each Other. According to the Huffington Post, “The Interior Department told The Washington Post on Monday that Zinke and Whitefish Energy CEO Andy Techmanski know one another, and that Zinke’s son worked a summer job at one of Techmanski’s construction sites. Asked Tuesday about the two men’s relationship, Ken Luce, a spokesman for Whitefish Energy, acknowledged that Techmanski and Zinke know each other. He pointed out that Whitefish only has a population of about 7,000.” [Huffington Post, 10/24/17]
¶ Whitefish’s Contract Charged At High Rates, Including $227 Per Hour For Linemen
NPR: Whitefish’s Contract Showed “Pricey” Labor Rates Of $240 Per Hour For Foremen And $227 Per Hour For Linemen. According to NPR, “Much of the controversy that has surrounded the contract has focused on the high rates Whitefish is charging for labor. The contract shows those labor rates are pricey indeed: $240 an hour for a general foreman and $227 for a lineman.” [NPR, 10/27/17]
The Contract Included Per Diems Of $80 Per Day For Food And $332 Per Day For Lodging. According to NPR, “The per diems are also expensive: almost $80 a day for meals, and $332 a day for lodging.” [NPR, 10/27/17]
NPR: “Employee Flights Are Billed At $1,000 Each Way.” According to NPR, “Employee flights are billed at $1,000 each way.” [NPR, 10/27/17]
¶ Trump’s FEMA Was Responsible For The Botched Relief Effort
¶ FEMA Deployed Workers To Puerto Rico That Were Known To Be Unqualified For Jobs They Were Doing
GAO Report Revealed That An Overwhelmed FEMA Deployed “Bottom Of The Barrel” Staff To Puerto Rico. According to CNN, “The Federal Emergency Management Agency was so overwhelmed with other storms by the time Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico last year that more than half of the workers it was deploying to disasters were known to be unqualified for the jobs they were doing in the field […] ‘By the time Maria hit Puerto Rico, they were down to the bottom of the barrel,’ Chris Currie, director of emergency management issues at the GAO told reporters in a conference call Tuesday. ‘They were having a struggle getting people there -- and not just people, but qualified people.’ ‘The effect of this,’ Currie added, ‘is that during the response phase -- and especially during recovery -- these are the folks that are working with the territory and the state governments -- and they're not fully trained on FEMA's programs.’” [CNN, 9/4/18]
¶ FEMA Gave A $156 Million Contract To An Entrepreneur With No Experience In Disaster Relief To Provide 30 Million Meals, She Delivered 50,000
FEMA Gave An Entrepreneur With No Experience In Disaster Relief And At Least Five Canceled Government Contracts A $156 Million Contract To Provide 30 Million Meals To Puerto Rico. According to the New York Times, “The mission for the Federal Emergency Management Agency was clear: Hurricane Maria had torn through Puerto Rico, and hungry people needed food. Thirty million meals needed to be delivered as soon as possible. For this huge task, FEMA tapped Tiffany Brown, an Atlanta entrepreneur with no experience in large-scale disaster relief and at least five canceled government contracts in her past. FEMA awarded her $156 million for the job, and Ms. Brown, who is the sole owner and employee of her company, Tribute Contracting LLC, set out to find some help.” [New York Times, 2/6/18]
When 18.5 Million Meals Were Due, Brown Had Delivered Only 50,000. According to the New York Times, “By the time 18.5 million meals were due, Tribute had delivered only 50,000. And FEMA inspectors discovered a problem: The food had been packaged separately from the pouches used to heat them. FEMA’s solicitation required ‘self-heating meals.’ ‘Do not ship another meal. Your contract is terminated,’ Carolyn Ward, the FEMA contracting officer who handled Tribute’s agreement, wrote to Ms. Brown in an email dated Oct. 19 that Ms. Brown provided to The New York Times. ‘This is a logistical nightmare.’” [New York Times, 2/6/18]
¶ Puerto Rico Has Struggled With Access To Food
In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico Struggled With Access To Food. According to the New York Times, “FEMA insists no Puerto Ricans missed a meal as a result of the failed agreement with Tribute. FEMA relied on other suppliers that provided ‘ample’ food and water for distribution, said William Booher, an agency spokesman. But there is little doubt that in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Puerto Ricans struggled with access to food. The storm shut down ports on an island that imports about 85 percent of its food supply. Farms were flattened. Supermarkets lost electricity and could not find diesel to run their generators. The stores that opened using generator power could not offer much from their understocked shelves. Puerto Ricans depended heavily on emergency aid dispatched by FEMA.” [New York Times, 2/6/18]
¶ FEMA Gave A $30 Million Contract For Tarps, But The Tarps Never Arrived In Puerto Rico
After Hurricane Maria Damaged Thousands Of Homes In Puerto Rico, The Federal Emergency Management Agency Awarded A Company With A $30 Million Contract To Provide Emergency Tarps And Plastic Sheeting – The Tarps Never Arrived. According to the Guardian, “After Hurricane Maria damaged tens of thousands of homes in Puerto Rico, a newly created Florida company with an unproven record won more than $30m in contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency tarps and plastic sheeting for repairs. Bronze Star LLC never delivered those urgently needed supplies, which even months later remain in demand by hurricane victims on the island.” [Guardian, 11/28/17]
¶ Bronze Star LLC Had An Unproven Record And It Was Not Clear How Thoroughly FEMA Vetted Them
The Company, Bronze Star LLC, Had An Unproven Record And It Was Not Clear How Thoroughly FEMA Investigated Bronze Star’s Ability To Fulfill The Contracts. According to the Guardian, “It is not clear how thoroughly Fema investigated Bronze Star or its ability to fulfill the contracts. Formed by two brothers in August, Bronze Star had never before won a government contract or delivered tarps or plastic sheeting. The address listed for the business is a single-family home in a residential subdivision in St Cloud, Florida. One of the brothers, Kayon Jones, said manufacturers he contacted before bidding on the contracts assured him they could provide the tarps but later said they could not meet the government’s requirements.” [Guardian, 11/28/17]
¶ FEMA Acknowledged The Contracting Problems Delayed The Delivery Of Tarps To Puerto Rico
FEMA Canceled The Bronze Star Contract And Reassigned It. According to the Guardian, “Fema canceled the contracts on 6 November, Jones said. The government notified him and his brother a few days later that it would seek $9.3mi in damages unless they signed a waiver releasing the US from any liability. The brothers agreed […] The day after Fema canceled the Bronze Star contract, it awarded a contract to OSC Solutions Inc for plastic sheeting for Hurricane Maria victims. The West Palm Beach, Florida-based company has roughly two decades of federal contracting experience and has produced such supplies multiple times.” [Guardian, 11/28/17]
FEMA Acknowledged The Contracting Problems Delayed The Delivery Of Tarps To Puerto Rico. According to the Guardian, “The Fema spokesman, Roth, acknowledged the contract problems delayed delivery of tarps to Puerto Rico but said anyone who needs a tarp should now be able to get one.” [Guardian, 11/28/17]
¶ Trump’s FEMA Director: FEMA Is Not A First Responder
Brock Long, Trump’s Director Of FEMA, Wrote An Op-Ed Declaring That The Agency Was Not A First Responder. According to a USA Today op-ed by Brock Long, “FEMA is not a first responder; disasters are state managed, locally executed and federally supported. Our role is to support local governments following a disaster only after their capacity to respond has been exceeded.” [USA Today – Op-Ed – Brock Long, 5/31/18]
¶ Trump Diminished Puerto Rico’s Suffering, Claiming that The Hurricane Was Not A “Real Catastrophe”
¶ September 25, 2017: When Trump Finally Acknowledged The Disaster In Puerto Rico, In A Continuation Of Tweets, He Blamed The Territory’s Hurricane Damage On Its Debt Crisis
Trump Said Puerto Rico Was “Already Suffering From Broken Infrastructure & Massive Debt.” According to Trump’s twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble..” [Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/25/17]
Screenshot Of Trump’s Tweet Saying Puerto Rico Was “Already Suffering From Broken Infrastructure & Massive Debt.”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/25/17]
Trump Said Puerto Rico’s Electrical Grid Was “Old” And “In Terrible Shape.” According to Trump’s Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “...It's old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars....”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/25/17]
Trump Claimed Puerto Rico Owed Billions Of Dollars To “Wall Street And The Banks” Which “Must Be Dealt With.” According to Trump’s twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “...owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with. Food, water and medical are top priorities - and doing well. #FEMA”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/25/17]
¶ October 3, 2017: Two Weeks After Hurricane Maria, Trump Visited Puerto Rico And Downplayed The Horrific Damage
October 3, 2017: During His Visit To Puerto Rico, Trump Suggested That Hurricane Maria Was Not “A Real Catastrophe Like Katrina.” According to the Huffington Post, “President Donald Trump visited local officials and residents in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, congratulating them and boasting almost two weeks after Hurricane Maria left many of the island’s 3.4 million people without power, water or food. At his first stop, a briefing with federal and local officials, Trump lavishly praised them. He then repeatedly turned to individuals around the table and invited them to offer their own praise — while insisting, ‘It’s not about me.’ When Puerto Rico’s governor told Trump that 16 people so far had been reported dead, the president lauded officials and minimized the hurricane’s damage, suggesting it was not ‘a real catastrophe like Katrina.’” [Huffington Post, 10/3/17]
¶ Trump Congratulated Puerto Rico, Seeming To Boast That Only 16 People Were Reported Dead At The Time
Trump Seemed To Boast About The Fact That Only “16 People Versus Literally Thousands” Had Been Reported Dead In Puerto Rico Following The Hurricane. According to the Huffington Post, “‘Sixteen people versus in the thousands,’ Trump said. ‘You can be very proud of all of your people and all of our people working together. Sixteen versus literally thousands of people. You can be very proud. Everyone around this table, and everyone watching, can be very proud of what’s taking place in Puerto Rico.’ While Trump bragged about the official number of dead, the final death toll will likely turn out to be higher. Poor communication services have hindered reporting, and current living conditions on the island could jeopardize more lives, especially those of the sick and the elderly.” [Huffington Post, 10/3/17]
¶ Trump Cracked Jokes About The Cost Of The Storm Damage
During His Visit To Puerto Rico, Trump Joked About The Cost Of The Storm Damage. According to the Huffington Post, “Trump also appeared to joke about the cost of the storm damage. ‘I hate to tell you, Puerto Rico, but you’ve thrown our budget a little out of whack,’ he said.” [Huffington Post, 10/3/17]
¶ Trump Once Again Praised Officials For Doing A “Fantastic Job” And Threw Rolls Of Paper Towels Into The Crowd
Trump Praised Officials For Doing “A Fantastic Job” And Threw Supplies Into Crowds. According to the Huffington Post, “Following the briefing with federal and local officials on Tuesday, Trump visited with storm victims. He again praised officials for doing ‘a fantastic job,’ as people showed him the storm’s damage to their homes, pointing out broken windows and noting power outages. ‘We’re going to help you out,’ he told them. ‘Have a good time.’ During a stop at a church, he threw rolls of paper towels into a crowd.” [Huffington Post, 10/3/17]
¶ Following Hurricane Harvey, Trump's Response Lacked Empathy
¶ Hurricane Harvey Devastated Texas
¶ Hurricane Harvey Was Directly Or Indirectly Responsible For The Deaths Of At Least 88 Texans
Hurricane Harvey Directly Or Indirectly Resulted In The Deaths Of At Least 88 Texans. According to the Texas Tribune, “Hurricane Harvey has directly or indirectly taken the lives of as least 88 Texans, according to preliminary numbers released Friday by the Department of State Health Services. The majority of deaths – 62 – were caused by wind, rain and floods, which led to drownings or trees falling on people. Meanwhile, 26 deaths were caused by ‘unsafe or unhealthy conditions’ related to the loss or disruption of services such as utilities, transportation and medical care. The state health agency found deaths caused by medical conditions, electrocution, traffic accidents, flood water-related infections, fires and burns.” [Texas Tribune, 10/13/17]
¶ Hurricane Harvey Caused $130 Billion In Damage
Hurricane Harvey Caused $130 Billion In Damage, Only Second To Katrina. [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Accessed 3/6/20]
¶ A Record Breaking 60 Inches Of Rain Fell From Hurricane Harvey In Texas
60 Inches Of Rain Fell From Hurricane Harvey In Texas, Shattering U.S. Storm Records. According to the Washington Post, “New data from the National Weather Service shows that a weather station near Nederland, Tex. about 10 miles north of Port Arthur received 60.58 inches of rain from Hurricane Harvey. Another weather station, about five miles to the southeast of Nederland near Groves, Tex. registered 60.54 inches during the storm. All rainfalls totals from this storm are still preliminary and require review. But, if verified, these observations would mark the two greatest single-storm rainfall totals on record in the U.S., including Hawaii.” [Washington Post, 8/29/17]
¶ In The Aftermath Of Hurricane Harvey, Trump’s Response Was Criticized As Lacking Empathy
Kenneth T. Walsh: Trump’s Response To Hurricane Harvey Revealed An “Empathy Gap.” According to U.S. News and World Report, “[Trump] is showing an empathy gap […] But so far he hasn't provided the emotional connection that many Americans would like to see, such as personally comforting people at their moment of need and citing some of the many cases of heroism by first responders and everyday people helping each other. On Tuesday, the president visited two crisis centers in Texas and talked with federal, state and local officials about making the rescue, relief and recovery efforts as effective as possible. He didn't meet, at least publicly, with hurricane victims as other presidents have done under similar circumstances but emphasized how well things were going overall. In Corpus Christi, he said, ‘We want to do it better than ever before.’ He addressed a crowd outside a firehouse where he had been briefed as if he were attending a rally. ‘What a crowd!’ he declared. ‘What a turnout!’” [U.S. News And World Report – Op-Ed – Kenneth T. Walsh, 9/1/17]
Trump Was Criticized For Calling Hurricane Harvey An “Epic” Storm While Having No Idea What Damage Was Incurred. According to U.S. News and World Report, “This didn't sit well with Trump critics. ‘It's not a time for crowing about crowds,’ Alyssa Mastromonaco, former deputy chief of staff for President Barack Obama, told The Washington Post. ‘This weather event isn't even over yet. They have no idea the damage that's been incurred and how many people will need a place to live when this is over. It's catastrophic, not epic,’ a reference to a word Trump used to describe the storm.” [U.S. News And World Report – Op-Ed – Kenneth T. Walsh, 9/1/17]
Former Bush White House Press Secretary Faulted Trump For Omitting Demonstrations Of Compassion. According to U.S. News and World Report, “Ari Fleischer, former Bush White House press secretary, faulted Trump for omitting expressions or demonstrations of compassion. Fleischer told Fox News, ‘I was with President Bush when he went to see the devastation caused by fires in Missouri and Arizona and tornadoes in Missouri. There was something missing from what President Trump said. That's the empathy for the people who suffer.’ Trump aides say he is being careful to avoid diverting resources from where they are needed most, and that's why he didn't go to Houston, where the worst damage has occurred.” [U.S. News And World Report – Op-Ed – Kenneth T. Walsh, 9/1/17]
¶ Trump Cracked Jokes About The STate Of Texas Following Hurricane Harvey
¶ Trump Said The Coast Guard Rescued People Who “Went Out On Their Boats To Watch” Harvey
Trump Said The Coast Guard Rescued People Who “Went Out On Their Boats To Watch” Harvey. According to CNN, “President Donald Trump suggested Wednesday that a main reason the US Coast Guard was so busy rescuing people during Hurricane Harvey was that people were watching the storm on boats. But local officials -- including the state's Republican governor -- have no idea what he's talking about The Coast Guard ‘saved 16,000 people, many of them in Texas, for whatever reason that is,’ Trump said during a visit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters for a briefing on hurricane season. He added, ‘People went out in their boats to watch the hurricane. That didn't work out too well.’” [CNN, 6/7/18]
¶ Trump: Texas Made A “Fortune” After Hurricane Harvey
Trump Joked That Texas Made A “Fortune” After Hurricane Harvey. According to Dallas News, “When President Donald Trump took the stage at American Airlines Center on Thursday, he rattled off a long list of how he thought Texas was better since he took office — including a big payout after Hurricane Harvey. ‘You made a fortune on the hurricane!’ Trump said, referring to the federal aid the state received after the Category 4 hurricane in 2017 killed more than 100 and left catastrophic flooding from southeast Texas into Central Texas. It caused more than $125 billion in damage.” [Dallas News, 10/18/19]
Texas Lawmaker Garnet Coleman: “I Didn’t Know Disasters Made Money For People.” According to Dallas News, “Trump meant it as a joke. But one Houston state lawmaker is not laughing. ‘I didn’t know disasters made money for people,’ said Rep. Garnet Coleman, a Democrat. ‘It’s insensitive to think there is a silver lining in a disaster when people still cannot get back in their homes.’ Coleman went further and said the money is not enough and is not getting to Texas fast enough. ‘The pledge of those dollars from the federal government, it’s late,’ he said.” [Dallas News, 10/18/19]
¶ Trump May Have Created Chaos In The Southern United States After Falsely Claiming That Hurricane Dorian Would Impact Alabama
¶ Trump Claimed That Alabama Would Be Hit By Hurricane Dorian “(Much) Harder than anticipated”
¶ Trump Tweeted That Alabama Would Be Hit By Hurricane Dorian
September 1, 2019: Trump Tweeted That Alabama Would Be Hit By Hurricane Dorian “(Much)Harder Than Anticipated.” According to Trump’s twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “In addition to Florida - South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated. Looking like one of the largest hurricanes ever. Already category 5. BE CAREFUL! GOD BLESS EVERYONE!”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/1/19]
The National Weather Service In Birmingham Corrected Trump, Tweeting That Alabama Would “Not See Any Impacts From Dorian.”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 9/1/19]
¶ Trump Used A Marker To Falsely Exaggerate The Path Of Hurricane Dorian
Trump Used A Marker To Exaggerate The Path Of Hurricane Dorian. According to Vox, “President Donald Trump, after being criticized for his untrue statements that Alabama was in the path of Hurricane Dorian, displayed an altered version of an official government map of the storm’s path — promoting what appears to have been someone in the White House’s casual violation of federal law. Weather reporters and experts noticed the alteration on a White House video of Trump discussing the storm, which has killed seven people in the Bahamas and is likely to cost the Caribbean country billions of dollars. In it, the black marker half-circle extends the actual forecast of the storm’s path into the southeastern corner of Alabama. Weather.com’s Kait Parker noted this was also a ‘very outdated’ graphic.” [Vox, 9/4/19]
¶ Trump Sought Support For His Statement Even Though It Contradicted The National Weather Service
The NOAA Released A Statement Supporting Trump And Contracting The National Weather Service Claim That Alabama Would Not Be Impacted. According to the Guardian, “But the president has been adamant throughout the week that he was correct, and the White House has deployed government resources and staff to back him. The latest defense came out on Friday evening, when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a statement from an unidentified spokesman stating that information provided by Noaa and the National Hurricane Center to the president had demonstrated that ‘tropical-storm-force winds from Hurricane Dorian could impact Alabama.’ The advisories were dated from last Wednesday, 28 August, through Monday, the statement read. The statement also said the Birmingham NWS tweet on Sunday morning ‘spoke in absolute terms that were inconsistent with probabilities from the best forecast products available at the time.’ The statement from Noaa contrasts with comments the agency’s spokesman, Chris Vaccaro, made last Sunday. ‘The current forecast path of Dorian does not include Alabama,’ Vaccaro said at the time.” [Guardian, 9/7/19]
Industry Experts Called The NOAA Statement “So Disappointing” And “Utterly Disgusting.” According to the Guardian, “The former National Hurricane Center director Bill Read blasted Noaa leadership on Friday night on his Facebook page calling the situation ‘so disappointing’ and saying he would comment because Noaa employees were ordered to be quiet. ‘Either NOAA Leadership truly agrees with what they posted or they were ordered to do it. If it is the former, the statement shows a lack of understanding of how to use probabilistic forecasts in conjunction with other forecast information. Embarrassing. If it is the latter, the statement shows a lack of courage on their part by not supporting the people in the field who are actually doing the work. Heartbreaking,’ Read wrote. Dan Sobien, president of the union representing weather service employees, tweeted on Friday: ‘Let me assure you the hard working employees of the NWS had nothing to do with the utterly disgusting and disingenuous tweet sent out by NOAA management tonight.’” [Guardian, 9/7/19]
¶ Alabama Was Spared By Hurricane Dorian
Alabama Was Spared By Hurricane Dorian. According to Politico, “Alabama was spared, but Dorian could still wreak havoc. As of midafternoon Thursday, the center of Dorian was located about 60 miles south of Myrtle Beach, S.C., or 110 miles south-southeast of Wilmington, N.C. The center of Dorian has thus far remained just offshore, but the storm is still lashing the Southeastern coast with dangerous storm surge, damaging winds, heavy rain and tornadoes. Dorian is now headed toward the vulnerable Outer Banks of North Carolina, which are sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pamlico and Albermarle sounds to the west.” [Politico, 9/5/19]
¶ It Was A Federal Crime To Provide False Weather Forecasts
It Was A Federal Crime To Provide False Weather Forecasts, But Trump Enjoyed Protections As President. According to Politico, “And as part of that role, Congress passed a law that makes it illegal to pass along a false forecast as an official Weather Service project. According to federal law, ‘Whoever knowingly issues or publishes any counterfeit weather forecast or warning of weather conditions falsely representing such forecast or warning to have been issued or published by the Weather Bureau, United States Signal Service, or other branch of the Government service, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.’ The Justice Department says the president can’t be indicted for violating federal law, and it’s unlikely a doctored weather map would result in the kind of special counsel investigation that dogged Trump’s presidency over Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.” [Politico, 9/5/19]
¶ Amid The Deadliest Wildfires In California History, Trump Threatened To Withhold Aid And Sought To Exploit The Disaster For Industry Allies
¶ In 2018, California Experienced The Deadliest Wildfire In The STate’s Modern History
¶ 2018: California Experienced The Deadliest Wildfire In Its Modern History
In 2018, California Experienced The Deadliest Wildfire In Its Modern History. According to the New York Times, “The inferno that ravaged the wooded town of Paradise in northern California became the deadliest wildfire in the state’s modern history on Monday when officials said they had discovered the remains of 13 more people, bringing the death toll to 42. The Butte County sheriff, Kory L. Honea, has said more than 200 people remain missing in and around the town, which sits in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and was popular with retirees.” [New York Times, 11/12/18]
¶ The Death Toll From The November 2018 Camp Fire Reached 86
2018 Camp Fire Death Toll Reached 86. According to the Sacramento Bee, “The official death toll from November’s Camp Fire has risen to 86, the Butte County Sheriff’s Department said Thursday.” [Sacramento Bee, 8/8/19]
¶ 2018 Woolsey Fire: The Fire Destroyed Nearly 1,600 Homes And Other Buildings And Caused The Deaths Of Three People
¶ The Death Toll From The November 2018 Woolsey Fire Reached 3
2018 Woolsey Fire Death Toll Reached Three. According to the Associated Press, “Authorities have finally surrounded a Southern California wildfire that destroyed some 1,600 homes and other buildings and left three people dead. Fire officials announced Wednesday evening that the Woolsey Fire is 100 percent contained. The wind-whipped blaze erupted on Nov. 8 and spread destruction from Thousand Oaks to Malibu, west of Los Angeles.” [Associated Press, 11/22/18]
¶ Trump Responded To The Fires By Threatening To Withhold Federal Aid And Insulting The sTate’s leadership
¶ Trump Stated That California Needed “Better Get Their Act Together”
Trump: California “Better Get Their Act Together” On Wildfires. According to the Hill, “President Trump on Wednesday seemed to threaten to withhold funding to fight wildfires in California if the state doesn’t remove more ‘old trees’ from forests. ‘California’s a mess. We’re giving billions and billions of dollars for forest fires in California’ Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, shortly after Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue told him about the Forest Service’s efforts to prevent fires.” [The Hill, 10/17/18]
¶ Trump Threatened To Withhold Aid From California As It Suffered The Worst Fires In Its History
Trump Tweeted That He Would Withhold Federal Aid From California If They Did Not Improve Their Forest Management. According to Trump’s twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “There is no reason for these massive, deadly and costly forest fires in California except that forest management is so poor. Billions of dollars are given each year, with so many lives lost, all because of gross mismanagement of the forests. Remedy now, or no more Fed payments!”
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 11/10/18]
The “Fed Payments” May Have Referred To The Federal Firefighting Assistance Funds. According to Vox, “It’s not clear if ‘Fed payments’ refer to federal firefighting assistance funds, via the US Forest Service, to which the federal government recently directed additional funds for the purpose of fighting fires, to disaster relief funds promised by the White House as part of Friday’s state of emergency declaration, or to both.” [Vox, 11/10/18]
¶ Trump’s Tweet On California Wildfires Angered California Officials And Those Battling To Contain The Fires
California State Senator Henry Stern: Fires Do Not Respect Politics, The President Should Not Make This A Political Incident. According to CNN, “State Sen. Henry Stern, a Democrat from Los Angeles, said fires aren't about politics or jurisdictions. ‘Fires do not respect politics, though, so I would beg the President to pursue a major disaster declaration and not make this a political incident,’ Stern said. ‘We have many parties, many views out here, and it's really not about politics, it is about people.’” [CNN, 11/11/18]
Trump’s Tweet On California Wildfires Angered Firefighters. According to CNN, “‘His comments are reckless and insulting to the firefighters and people being affected,’ said Harold Schaitberger, president of the International Association of Fire Fighters. The president of the California Professional Firefighters said the message is an attack on some of the people fighting the devastating fires. ‘The President's message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines,’ Brian K. Rice said. ‘In my view, this shameful attack on California is an attack on all our courageous men and women on the front lines.’ Rice also said Trump's assertion that California's forest management policies are to blame ‘is dangerously wrong.’ ‘Wildfires are sparked and spread not only in forested areas but in populated areas and open fields fueled by parched vegetation, high winds, low humidity and geography,’ he said.” [CNN, 11/11/18]
¶ The Trump Administration Exploited The California Wildfires To Promote Logging Industry Agenda
¶ During The 2018 Wildfires, Trump Repeatedly Called For Clearing Out The California Forests
¶ Trump Claimed That The California Forests Should Be Cleared To Prevent Fires
Trump Claimed That The California Forests Should Be Cleared To Prevent Fires. According to Trump’s twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, “California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire from spreading!” [Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 8/6/18]
Screenshot Of Trump’s Tweet.
[Twitter accessed via the Wayback Machine, @realDonaldTrump, 8/6/18]
Trump Claimed That Finland Raked And Cleaned Their Forests And ‘They Don’t Have Any Problem’ With Forests Fires. According to the Guardian, “The people of Finland have reacted with bemusement on social media at Donald Trump’s assertions that the country rakes its forests to help prevent forest fires. Speaking on Saturday in Paradise, California, about the role of forest management in stemming wildfires, Trump said: ‘I was with the president of Finland and he said: ‘We have, much different, we are a forest nation.’ He called it a forest nation. And they spend a lot of time on raking and cleaning and doing things, and they don’t have any problem.’” [Guardian, 11/19/18]
¶ Trump Administration Sought To Expand Logging In California
The Trump Administration Used The Wildfires To Push To Reopen And Log In Public Lands Including The Los Padres National Forest North Of Los Angeles, Claiming That Logging Would Reduce Fire Risk. According to the Los Angeles Times, “Logging has long been among California’s most divisive environmental issues — and the controversy shows little chance of cooling as the Trump administration pushes new efforts to thin forests. The federal government is moving to allow commercial logging of healthy green pine trees for the first time in decades in the Los Padres National Forest north of Los Angeles, a tactic the U.S. Forest Services says will reduce fire risk. It’s an idea President Trump appeared to endorse in tweets inaccurately linking wildfire to state water management […] The Trump administration is seeking to reopen some of the most sensitive and sought-after public lands in the state not just for timber production, but also for potential solar, wind, broadband infrastructure, mining, off-road vehicle and grazing uses. When it comes to timber, the justification is fire prevention. Environmental groups have long argued that the logging industry has used fire as an excuse to plunder forests, cutting big trees and leaving behind only small, unmarketable timber.” [Los Angeles Times, 8/7/18]
¶ December 21, 2018: Trump Signed An Executive Order Calling For Expanding Logging On Federal Forest Lands
December 21, 2018: Trump Signed An Executive Order Calling For Expanding Logging On Federal Forest Lands, Something He Claimed Would Reduce Wildfire Risks. According to the Sacramento Bee, “President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday that calls for expanding logging on millions of acres of federal forest lands as part of a plan to reduce wildfire risks […] Trump’s order calls for easing regulatory burdens that would allow for the harvest of least 3.8 billion board feet of timber from lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service and another 600 million board feet of timber on Bureau of Land Management property.” [Sacramento Bee, 12/21/18]
Critics Argued That His Executive Order Was An Administration Gift To The Logging Industry. According to the Sacramento Bee, “Environmental groups blasted Trump’s order. Denise Boggs of the the Northern California environmental group Conservation Congress said it ignored climate change, and didn’t address the need to thin areas directly around communities to prevent them from catching fire. ‘It won’t work, and we know that ... All the fire ecologists are saying the same thing: You can’t log your way out of this situation,’ Boggs said. ‘Logging in the back country is just a gift to the timber industry.’ Boggs said environmentalists will certainly sue if Trump tries to ramp up logging. Since taking office, the Trump administration has advocated for more aggressive timber management to boost struggling rural economies and to proactively fight fires. This year, Northern California’s devastating Carr and Camp fires became the backdrop as Trump and administration officials made their case.” [Sacramento Bee, 12/21/18]
¶ Emails Revealed That The Trump Administration Exploited Wildfire Science To Promote Logging
Interior Department Emails Obtained By The Guardian Revealed That Political Appointees Sought To Play Up Climate Pollution From California Wildfires As A Way To Promote More Logging In The Nation’s Forests. According to the Guardian, “Political appointees at the interior department have sought to play up climate pollution from California wildfires while downplaying emissions from fossil fuels as a way of promoting more logging in the nation’s forests, internal emails obtained by the Guardian reveal. The messaging plan was crafted in support of Donald Trump’s pro-industry arguments for harvesting more timber in California, which he says would thin forests and prevent fires – a point experts refute. The emails show officials seeking to estimate the carbon emissions from devastating 2018 fires in California so they could compare them to the carbon footprint of the state’s electricity sector and then publish statements encouraging cutting down trees.” [Guardian, 1/24/20]
¶ Political Appointee Asked Government Scientists To “Gin Up” Emissions Figures For Him To Promote “A Good Story”
Trump Political Appointee Asked Government Scientists To “Gin Up” Emissions Figures In Order To Promote A Narrative Supportive Of Expanded Logging. According to the Guardian, “James Reilly, a former petroleum geologist and astronaut who is the director of the US Geological Survey, in a series of emails in 2018 asked scientists to ‘gin up’ emissions figures for him. He also said the numbers would make a ‘decent sound bite,’ and acknowledged that wildfire emissions estimates could vary based on what kind of trees were burning but picked the ones that he said would make ‘a good story.’ Scientists who reviewed the exchanges said that at best Reilly used unfortunate language and the department cherry-picked data to help achieve their pro-industry policy goals; at worst he and others exploited a disaster and manipulated the data.”[Guardian, 1/24/20]
¶ Jayson O’Neill Deputy Director Of The Western Values Project: You Can’t Log Or Even “Rake Your Way Out Of This Mess”
Jayson O’Neill Deputy Director Of The Western Values Project: You Cannot Log Or Even “Rake Your Way Out Of This Mess.” According to the Guardian, “Jayson O’Neill, the deputy director of the Western Values Project, said the emails are another example of the administration ‘trying to find ways to tell a story to achieve industry goals.’ ‘As wildfire experts have repeatedly explained, you can’t log or even ‘rake’ our way out of this mess,’ O’Neill said. ‘The Trump administration and the interior department are pushing mystical theories that are false in order to justify gutting public land protections to advance their pro-industry and lobbyist dominated agenda.’” [Guardian, 1/24/20]