Fema's acting chief reportedly could not be reached during deadly Texas floods

"The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema)'s acting administrator was largely unreachable after deadly flooding swept through Texas in July, according to a new report. That meant the agency could not deploy search-and-rescue resources as quickly as possible. The federal agency had already faced criticism for its slow response to the disaster in which more than 130 people died. Fema reportedly did not answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance hotline after the flooding,"

"The agency relief efforts were also affected by a policy instituted by the homeland security secretary, Kristi Noem, weeks before the floods requiring that she personally sign off on any expenditure over $100,000 before funds could be allocated. As such, Richardson needed to quickly submit requests for assistance to Noem, but instead, nobody could get a hold of him for hours and hours,"

FEMA's acting administrator was largely unreachable following deadly July flooding in Texas, delaying deployment of search-and-rescue resources. FEMA did not answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance hotline after the flooding. A policy instituted by homeland security secretary Kristi Noem weeks before the floods required her personal sign-off on any expenditure over $100,000, slowing allocation of funds. Richardson needed to submit requests for assistance to Noem but was unreachable for hours, complicating coordination. A spokesperson defended Richardson while some lawmakers and staff called for his resignation. The floods washed away a youth Christian summer camp and killed at least 138 people.

Read at www.theguardian.com