I heard a radio story about cyclones heading toward Hawaii. I saw some pictures of the horrendous flooding. Thoughts and prayers offered. That was all. Out of the headlines, out of mind. Not much more.
Then I heard a radio story about the differences in emergency recovery in Gary, IN vs surrounding areas. The majority-Black town of Gary was far worse off and further behind their neighbors. People were suffering while FEMA was assessing. And I had no idea that a power outage in near record-breaking heat was occurring anywhere. Terrible. Thoughts and prayers.
Soon after, I heard of a water shortage in Puerto Rico. Infrastructure, I discovered with a little curiosity-inspired research, has been abyssmally failing for some time. In the span of 48 hours, however, the clean water shortage exploded. No external support. I actually know people in and from Puerto Rico. But still, thoughts and prayers.
All three stories came into my awareness much later than their initial occurrences, yet I had heard nothing in a timely manner. And I am generally engaged in, at the very least, headline scanning of multiple news organizations.
Why only thoughts and prayers? Because I believed that my government structures, paid for by my taxes and yours, were functioning as the forefront guard to enable our nation to support our cities, states and territories; because I believed that our federal body politic functioned on the belief that mutual aid enables a stronger union; because I believed that even if I did not vote for the current administration, it would function with equity… you know, one united state for all states united.
I keep believing in something I was taught in elementary school but which has been dismantled in my older age, in something I’ve heard no longer exists but a dismantling which I would like to dismiss as partisan propaganda toward getting votes.
Then the meme popped up. It wasn’t “action.” It was a piece with some fact-based reality. It was truth. And slightly dated, earlier, than when I shared it, and thus without the updated minimal actions of FEMA reflected. Light research shows FEMA has assessment teams moving into those locations, and even some water trucks. So something is shifting in each place.
That same research showed a chart and investigative piece that documents the slow and lengthy road to FEMA approvals in blue states that voted for Harris vs those red states which voted for Trump. Guess who gets aid faster.
And another report about both sides of the political spectrum suing the administration for slow or no relief from FEMA. And the FEMA director who was fired is being re-nominated, apparently because his replacement was more horribly incapable than the previous head was,oppositional to the president in his advocacy for FEMA.
FEMA is failing to be any kind of immediate, spot-on, emergency-engaged, responsive disaster support good answer to our thoughts and prayers. It is not staffed enough, and funding has been cut. And it is failing the test regarding non-partisan national disaster response.
We can do better. We can do more. Awareness of the problem is a first step to reconstructing an agency that once enabled people to pick up the pieces and put their lives back together. Once, it was the agency that demonstrated the best of American unity in adversity.
So, would I share the meme again? Yep. Because it witnesses to the truth that old trusted ideals are not being lived up to, because thoughts and prayers for the helpers are useless when there are none, and because even if it is quickly out of date, it took 3 news stories to make me pay attention and think about what I could do. Maybe my tiny contribution to awareness is the third piece that moves another person to action as well.
Links to a few stories from my reading:
Puerto Rico- water crisis–
Congress Acts on Puerto Rico Water Crisis – PUERTO RICO REPORT https://share.google/pfZGeNTLliD0bAKMK ;
Gary, IN power outage:
Hawaii power outages
Hawaiian Electric focused on restoring customers on Hawaii Island ahead of Tropical Storm Moke | Hawaiian Electric https://share.google/PcqQHquYB9n265cSd ;
FEMA Responses:
In all locations,s FEMA reports it is assessing the situation.
PR=FEMA says it’s providing water trailers to Puerto Rico amid water crisis – ABC News https://share.google/EhQXNR7AzAAIvJ5Ey ;
Thousands in northwest Indiana still don’t have power after storms. Here’s what to know. – Chicago Sun-Times https://share.google/Qvq5DUb8n0ArkOdWt ;
Lawsuits against DHS regarding FEMA funding being withheld: https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/video/2026/08/18/nashville-other-cities-sue-dhs-withholding-fema-funding-over-election-security
bevfriedlander 