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FEMA Fires Employee Who Instructed Florida Relief Workers to Avoid Trump Supporters

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) confirmed on Saturday that it has terminated an employee who reportedly told relief workers in Florida to avoid assisting homes displaying yard signs in support of Donald Trump, then a presidential candidate. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell issued a statement condemning the employee’s actions as a violation of the agency’s core values, which prioritize providing aid regardless of political affiliation. “This was reprehensible,” Criswell stated, emphasizing FEMA’s commitment to unbiased assistance.

According to the initial report from The Daily Wire on Friday, the fired FEMA supervisor had directed her team to exclude Trump-supporting homes from disaster recovery operations. Criswell affirmed FEMA’s dedication to impartial relief efforts, adding that the incident has been referred to the Office of Special Counsel for further investigation. “I will continue to do everything I can to make sure this never happens again,” she asserted.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis strongly criticized the incident, calling it “targeted discrimination of Floridians who support Donald Trump.” He also ordered Florida’s Division of Emergency Management to launch an investigation. In a post on social media platform X, DeSantis denounced what he termed the “blatant weaponization of government by partisan activists in the federal bureaucracy,” adding that such incidents underscore the need for a change in federal leadership.

This incident follows just days after Trump’s recent presidential victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, and during ongoing recovery efforts for Hurricane Milton, which caused significant damage to Florida’s Gulf Coast. During the storm response, Criswell had previously criticized Trump, accusing him of spreading misinformation about FEMA’s disaster relief funding status.

 

Hurricane Milton Spawns Tornadoes and Leaves Millions Without Power in Florida

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Hurricane Milton tore through Florida on Thursday, leaving behind a trail of destruction, including deadly tornadoes, damaged homes, and widespread power outages affecting over 3 million residents. Despite fears of catastrophic flooding in the Tampa Bay area, the region narrowly avoided severe inundation, with water levels remaining below what was seen during Hurricane Helene just two weeks earlier.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor expressed relief, stating, “We’ll have storm surge damage but nothing like it could have been.” While the storm brought significant challenges, it spared the city from the devastating flooding that many had feared.

Initially making landfall on Florida’s west coast as a Category 3 hurricane with winds reaching 120 mph (205 kph), Milton weakened to a Category 1 storm by Thursday morning as it crossed the peninsula, exiting Florida’s east coast. The storm’s eye hit Siesta Key, a small barrier island near Sarasota, with significant damage occurring throughout the state.

Tornadoes and Fatalities Reported

Milton’s fury triggered at least 19 tornadoes across various counties, causing widespread destruction, particularly to mobile homes. In Fort Pierce, two deaths were reported in a retirement community after a suspected tornado, according to local authorities. Other areas saw similar devastation, including St. Lucie County, where Sheriff Keith Pearson estimated that around 100 homes were destroyed.

In Fort Myers, Connor Ferin recounted how a tornado obliterated his home. “All this happened instantaneous, like these windows blew out,” he said. “I grabbed the two dogs and ran under my bed, and that was it.” In just moments, his house was reduced to wreckage, exposing the interior to the elements.

Widespread Power Outages and Flight Cancellations

As of Thursday morning, over 3 million Florida homes and businesses were without power. The storm also led to the cancellation of more than 2,200 flights, primarily affecting airports in Orlando, Tampa, and southwest Florida.

Governor Ron DeSantis confirmed that around 125 homes had been destroyed by the tornadoes, and authorities were still assessing the full extent of the damage across the state. He assured that search-and-rescue teams were ready to operate overnight, with 9,000 National Guard personnel and 50,000 utility workers mobilized to assist in recovery efforts.

Zoo Animals and Gasoline Shortages

While human evacuees clogged highways and gas stations faced shortages, animals at Tampa’s zoo, including elephants and flamingos, were sheltered in safe enclosures. Nearly a quarter of Florida’s gas stations were out of fuel by Wednesday afternoon, causing further panic as residents fled or prepared to ride out the storm.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had already mobilized millions of gallons of water, meals, and emergency supplies in anticipation of Milton’s impact, ensuring that recovery efforts would not be hindered by the ongoing restoration following Hurricane Helene.

Economic Impact

With much of Florida and the southeastern U.S. still grappling with the aftermath of Helene, Milton is expected to add billions of dollars in damage to the region. Both hurricanes have devastated communities and infrastructures, leaving millions in need of assistance.

Governor DeSantis emphasized that search-and-rescue teams would be on the front lines as soon as the storm passed, and recovery efforts would begin immediately. “It’s going to mean pretty much all the rescues are going to be done in the dark,” he noted, but assured that crews were fully prepared for the challenge.

 

Floridians Rush to Evacuate as Category 5 Hurricane Milton Approaches

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Floridians are scrambling to escape the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, barrels towards the state, threatening catastrophic damage. More than one million people in coastal areas have been ordered to evacuate, with residents clogging highways and gas stations running dry as the storm’s landfall approaches late Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The storm is targeting the Tampa Bay region, home to over 3 million people, but forecasters caution that its path could shift slightly.

Hurricane Milton, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 kph), is one of the most powerful storms ever to threaten the Gulf Coast. The National Hurricane Center warned of a deadly storm surge of over 10 feet along much of the coast, posing grave risks to the region already battered by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.

Officials, including President Joe Biden and Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, have urged residents in evacuation zones to flee immediately. Michael Tylenda, visiting his son in Tampa, echoed their concern. “When you don’t evacuate when you’re ordered to, you can pretty much die,” Tylenda said, recalling the deadly aftermath of past hurricanes. “The house can be replaced. The stuff can be replaced. So it’s just better to get out of town.”

Milton has intensified rapidly, becoming the third-fastest storm to grow from a Category 1 to a Category 5 in the Atlantic within 24 hours. Climate experts, like Daniel Gilford of Climate Central, attribute the rapid intensification to unusually warm sea temperatures fueled by climate change, warning that storms like Milton could become more frequent and destructive in the future.

At 10 p.m. CDT, the storm’s eye was located 405 miles southwest of Tampa, moving northeast at 12 mph. While Milton’s winds may weaken as it approaches land, its massive size poses a continued threat not only to Florida’s Gulf Coast but also to the state’s Atlantic side.

In response to the storm, Florida’s economy, which represents about 2.8% of the U.S. GDP, faces disruptions. Airlines, energy companies, and major attractions like Universal Studios have begun halting operations, bracing for the storm’s impact.

With mandatory evacuations issued for more than a dozen coastal counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas, over 500,000 residents in St. Petersburg alone have been ordered to evacuate. Mobile homes, nursing facilities, and assisted living centers are also under mandatory evacuation.

Fort Myers resident Jamie Watts, who lost his mobile home during Hurricane Ian in 2022, has taken shelter in a hotel with his wife this time. “We stayed during Ian and literally watched my roof tear off my house,” Watts said. “This time I’m going to be a little safer.”

As of Tuesday, traffic snarls and fuel shortages worsened the evacuation efforts. Around 17% of Florida’s nearly 8,000 gas stations had run out of fuel, according to GasBuddy.

The nation watches nervously as Hurricane Milton approaches, with hopes that Floridians in its path will find safety before the storm strikes.