Fema official orders storm crews not to help Trump voters

A man in a bright orange jacket tosses a plank of wood onto a pile during hurricane cleanup. Behind him is an American flag at half-staff, as is an orange building with a damaged roof and a sign on top. — Hurricane Milton hit Florida last month, two weeks after Hurricane Helene (Reuters)

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) administrator has been fired for telling staff who helped hurricane survivors escape homes with signs supporting Donald Trump.

The agency’s chief executive, Deanne Criswell, called the auditor’s actions “reprehensible” and said Fema took its mission “to help everyone before, during and after disasters” seriously.

Although Criswell’s statement about X did not specify when and where the incident occurred, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the Emergency Management Division would launch an investigation on his behalf.

DeSantis called the situation “targeted discrimination” against Trump supporters in Florida.

Fema staff helped residents recover from Hurricane Milton in Florida last month, and they had to survey damage to homes to determine who qualified to apply for federal aid.

The Daily Wire reported Friday that while Fema staff were checking homes in Lake Placid, they were ordered to bypass properties with yard signs supporting the Republican candidate.

“Trump signed no entries per leadership,” internal messages in a government system said. According to the Daily Wire.

“When we got there we were told to discriminate against people,” one tipster said. “It’s almost incredible to think that anyone in the federal government would think this is OK.”

Fema executive Criswell concluded his statement by saying he would “continue to do everything in my power to ensure this never happens again.”

A devastated house after the hurricane, with fallen trees in the foreground. — Hurricane Milton left more than two million homes and businesses without power (EPA)

Congressman James Comer said he would urge Criswell to appear at the House Oversight Committee hearing on November 19.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley also published a letter calling for those involved to be prosecuted if necessary.

Florida has been hit by two major hurricanes in the last few months.

At least 24 people died in Milton, which left millions of homes and workplaces without electricity.

Two weeks before Milton, Hurricane Helene made landfall, becoming the deadliest storm on the U.S. mainland since Katrina.

More than 200 people were killed; more than half of them were in North Carolina, where entire communities were devastated.

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