I would like to see more national coverage of the Derecho storm that tore through Iowa and Illinois on August 9. It had sustained winds between 85 and 140 mph according to recent measurements - that is up to the speed of an F3 tornado - and traveled for hundreds of miles doing damage over a 50 mile wide swath the whole way. It got mentio…
I would like to see more national coverage of the Derecho storm that tore through Iowa and Illinois on August 9. It had sustained winds between 85 and 140 mph according to recent measurements - that is up to the speed of an F3 tornado - and traveled for hundreds of miles doing damage over a 50 mile wide swath the whole way. It got mentioned then dropped. It has done over 4 Billion dollars in damage in Iowa to corn crops, homes, businesses, and infrastructure while people were left without power (some still don't have power or potable drinking water) for a week or more. Cedar Rapids, a metro area of 150,000 people is still in desperate condition. the president was in Iowa one day, did NOT tour the area and promised help claiming he approved the full amount of federal aid asked for. As of yet, he has NOT. One highway patrolman told me it was like having 100 F2 tornadoes lined up a half mile apart causing damage 50 miles wide and running west to east for 250 miles. The destruction here is unimaginable and the long term effects are yet to be known. There was coverage for a few hours, then nothing. Iowans would like to have the storm receive the same ongoing coverage that hurricanes get - the damage is MORE than comparable - and also political ramifications of the late request for aid by our Governor and the failure of our president to approve in timely fashion the much needed federal assistance...all while claiming that he did. We are lucky to be here. This storms most likely related to climate change and it ,most likely will not be the last.
The key is that FEMA has become ineffective in addressing disasters. At first it was blatantly politically motivated - Puerto Rico still hasn't recovered - but what this indicates is that it has just become so poorly managed that it can't even address red area needs.
That is very true, but here in Iowa it goes a bit deeper. Our republican governor waited 5 days to file a disaster relief request, the president claimed he had already signed in full but he had not. There are multiple failures with FEMA at the fore as you correctly state. My belief is that the lack of response relates to the faded media coverage related to a storm that is every bit as devastating as damage done by hurricanes but apparently isn't as glamorous. As I see it, the best way to kickstart a better relief response is to put it back in front of the public. I would be delighted to read a comprehensive investigation of just how FEMA figures in to the storm related problem Iowa currently faces.
Another contributing factor is Trump's ability to hijack the media by Tweet combined with his inability to focus or hold a thought for more than a day means that the headlines and reporting move on just as quickly as he does.
Here is an update from Iowa. Our Governor asked for 3.99 Billion in relief for 27 counties. So far 21 days out only ONE COUNTY has received full aid. The rest have not. Our so-called governor said - the day right after appearing at the RNC where she praised the president for everything he's done for Iowa - that full federal aid most likely will not come. We are hurting; our corn crop is 60% destroyed, homes and businesses in the 26 counties which will not receive Federal aid may be left unrepaired, there is still an incredible amount of tree and limb damage that needs removal...all this while the Trump inspired COVID-19 response in Iowa has lead to horrific increases in cases while schools are being forced by our governor to reopen in person. I asked Judd to do a story, but honestly, I feel like I should rescind that request. It is simply too dangerous to send anyone here. Your likelihood of getting sick is the greatest in the nation right now, and in three of our counties, it is greater than anywhere in the world. Iowa is not safe.
I watched the weather reports very closely the past couple weeks... yet your info was news to me. But then I’m in Central FL and we pretty much have swivelhead from the conga line of storms lately...
I would like to see more national coverage of the Derecho storm that tore through Iowa and Illinois on August 9. It had sustained winds between 85 and 140 mph according to recent measurements - that is up to the speed of an F3 tornado - and traveled for hundreds of miles doing damage over a 50 mile wide swath the whole way. It got mentioned then dropped. It has done over 4 Billion dollars in damage in Iowa to corn crops, homes, businesses, and infrastructure while people were left without power (some still don't have power or potable drinking water) for a week or more. Cedar Rapids, a metro area of 150,000 people is still in desperate condition. the president was in Iowa one day, did NOT tour the area and promised help claiming he approved the full amount of federal aid asked for. As of yet, he has NOT. One highway patrolman told me it was like having 100 F2 tornadoes lined up a half mile apart causing damage 50 miles wide and running west to east for 250 miles. The destruction here is unimaginable and the long term effects are yet to be known. There was coverage for a few hours, then nothing. Iowans would like to have the storm receive the same ongoing coverage that hurricanes get - the damage is MORE than comparable - and also political ramifications of the late request for aid by our Governor and the failure of our president to approve in timely fashion the much needed federal assistance...all while claiming that he did. We are lucky to be here. This storms most likely related to climate change and it ,most likely will not be the last.
I was texting with a friend about this yesterday. It's been a devastating storm.
The key is that FEMA has become ineffective in addressing disasters. At first it was blatantly politically motivated - Puerto Rico still hasn't recovered - but what this indicates is that it has just become so poorly managed that it can't even address red area needs.
That is very true, but here in Iowa it goes a bit deeper. Our republican governor waited 5 days to file a disaster relief request, the president claimed he had already signed in full but he had not. There are multiple failures with FEMA at the fore as you correctly state. My belief is that the lack of response relates to the faded media coverage related to a storm that is every bit as devastating as damage done by hurricanes but apparently isn't as glamorous. As I see it, the best way to kickstart a better relief response is to put it back in front of the public. I would be delighted to read a comprehensive investigation of just how FEMA figures in to the storm related problem Iowa currently faces.
Yes.. our Repug leaders tend to.... LIE!!! There are hundreds in Florida STILL WAITING ON PAYMENTS NOT RECEIVED SINCE MARCH!!!
Another contributing factor is Trump's ability to hijack the media by Tweet combined with his inability to focus or hold a thought for more than a day means that the headlines and reporting move on just as quickly as he does.
Here is an update from Iowa. Our Governor asked for 3.99 Billion in relief for 27 counties. So far 21 days out only ONE COUNTY has received full aid. The rest have not. Our so-called governor said - the day right after appearing at the RNC where she praised the president for everything he's done for Iowa - that full federal aid most likely will not come. We are hurting; our corn crop is 60% destroyed, homes and businesses in the 26 counties which will not receive Federal aid may be left unrepaired, there is still an incredible amount of tree and limb damage that needs removal...all this while the Trump inspired COVID-19 response in Iowa has lead to horrific increases in cases while schools are being forced by our governor to reopen in person. I asked Judd to do a story, but honestly, I feel like I should rescind that request. It is simply too dangerous to send anyone here. Your likelihood of getting sick is the greatest in the nation right now, and in three of our counties, it is greater than anywhere in the world. Iowa is not safe.
I watched the weather reports very closely the past couple weeks... yet your info was news to me. But then I’m in Central FL and we pretty much have swivelhead from the conga line of storms lately...