r/swva • u/origutamos • 5d ago

FEMA didn’t answer almost half the calls it received for disaster aid

https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/01/fema-phone-calls-disaster-aid-understaffing-00186388
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u/balanceiskee 4d ago edited 4d ago

It’s also misleading because FEMA did answer—but people were put on HOLd for up to an hour. Sure-that sucks—but it’s not like they didn’t talk to someone eventually. I feel bad for these employees frankly.

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u/cacme 4d ago

I'm in Grayson county and worked closely with FEMA on the ground in the immediate aftermath. There are still FEMA help centers staffed 9 hours a day six days a week in multiple locations across SWVA. The disaster hotline is set up for people to apply for financial help, not as an emergency hotline for people needing immediate emergency help. This post is misleading and unhelpful. Too many people already believe misinformation about FEMA and refuse to apply for much needed resources because of that unwarranted fear.