In early September, a hurricane storm system was detected within the Atlantic Ocean. With it’s westward trajectory, it was forecasted to make landfall upon the east coast of the US. On September 14th, the dreaded hurricane, which had a maximum projection of Category 4, made landfall on North Carolina. According to CBS, due to the width of the storm system, the hurricane has been continually able to source moisture from the ocean, sustaining its havoc. Within the three days of this hurricane, rainfall has been measured to reach up to 4.5 feet in some areas. Without even considering the power outages or death tolls, the associated flooding itself will incur a plethora of threats to the local environment and public health. All of this damage, as stated by the Guardian and CBS, is currently being assessed by local officials and FEMA. Looking back to the lackluster governmental response for Hurricane Maria, we can only wait and see what will be done in the wake of Florence’s destruction.
Recent federal budget documents report that the Trump administration has moved $10 million dollars away from FEMA in order to increase the budget of ICE. With Trump’s continual efforts to control immigration, do you think this budget plan is justified?
Evan M Chan, Block 3
Do you think this is the most destructive hurricane that hit United States? Did they move $10 million dollars away from FEMA before the hurricane hit the east coast?
ReplyDelete-Allica Santos
I don't have any meaningful or valuable feedback but I have to comment anyway.
ReplyDeleteThe stories you told were very eye-opening. It gives a better understanding to have records of first hand experiences in situations like this. Overall great presentation.
ReplyDeleteWhat were some of the reasons for the federal government's lackluster response to Hurricane Maria, and do you think they have been resolved in time for Hurricane Florence?
ReplyDeleteI think that the budget plan is not justified because the focus should be on the natural disasters and clean up in the United States instead of ruining families by tearing them apart. I know that there are still damages from the last hurricane in places like Louisiana, and after hearing about this hurricane it reinforces my thoughts that the Government is not putting enough funding or effort into fixing the lives that were affected by past/present natural disasters.
ReplyDelete-caleb
ReplyDeleteNo I don't think the budget plan is justified because the government has an obligation to help when there is a natural disaster such as this. Trump should have learned from the past Hurricane Maria, where there was a weak response from our government. He should have stepped up the government's response, instead of taking money away and giving the money to ICE.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was interesting to bring up as one of my mom's friend was part of this evacuation. This is interesting that you talked about the various stories of people as some people believed they were safe at home and decided to stay home during the hurricane. I think it is interesting that Trump has decided to take away from disaster relief systems and will be curious on how the people living in North Carolina will react when there's little money to help with recovery. - Kaitlyn
ReplyDeleteI personally do not think that the budget cuts are justified. Although I understand that controlling immigration is an important part of our country's current controversy, I do not believe that money from FEMA should go to ICE. This is because at some point in time in the future there will be some short of disaster and we will need some aid. So, if Trump is using the money from FEMA now, he will always get away with taking disaster relief money. Soon enough, when something bad does happen and we need the government, there will be no way for the Trump administration to help. That is why I believe this action is not justified. It is similar to taking out your rainy day money from your cookie jar, like that is not a good idea because then on a bad day, you are not going to have support.
ReplyDeleteI think this budget plan should be changed because this hurricane has caused millions of dollars in damages. Many have evacuated but without proper reconstruction and money to rebuild structures, how are they expected to return home after?
ReplyDelete-Alex S. B3
I don't think that Trump's moving of $10 million dollars away from FEMA was a good idea. I don't know the budget of ICE, and it may be underfunded, but I personally think that removing funds from something that is so important right now (with hurricane Florence tearing through the east coast, and other hurricanes on the way) is going to impact the people greatly. I can imagine the backlash will be large from the people directly impacted by the hurricane,and it will be interesting to see how Trump will reply.
ReplyDeleteI think that the budget plan is not justifiable. Trump's efforts to keep immigration under control are greater than of those who are undergoing a natural disaster. I think it's unreasonable to maintain focus on those outside of the US rather than those struggling at the moment within the US.
ReplyDeleteI never quite realized this perspective until you mentioned it. Trump has always mentioned that he wants to protect this country and its people, but that does not really get shown when he takes away million of dollars away from emergency funds.
DeleteWith all due respect, in my opinion, I don't think Trump's budget plan of transferring $10 million dollars from FEMA to increase ICE's budget is justified. First off, Trump's reasonings for ICE alone is unreasonable and now he wants to increase immigration control even more when a hurricane is about to hit. With $10 million dollars being removed from FEMA, there would not be enough to support the damages and effects of Hurricane Florence on people and communities. In addition, the support that the hurricane victims will not be as effective as it could be if FEMA had more funding/ money wasn't removed.
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ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, in my opinion, I don't think Trump's budget plan of transferring $10 million dollars from FEMA to increase ICE's budget is justified. First off, Trump's reasonings for ICE alone is unreasonable and now he wants to increase immigration control even more when a hurricane is about to hit. With $10 million dollars being removed from FEMA, there would not be enough to support the damages and effects of Hurricane Florence on people and communities. In addition, the support that the hurricane victims will not be as effective as it could be if FEMA had more funding/ money wasn't removed.
- Nhi Nguyen (repost bc i forgot to add my name)
I don't think this budget plan is justified because the money will be needed after the hurricane hits. As you mentioned in class, there are people whose homes are flooded and sustained significant damages to their homes. I think they will need help from the government to rebuild their lives/homes. -Michelle
ReplyDeleteThe movement of money from FEMA towards deportation is not justified. FEMA is in need of money now to protect its current citizens. There is no reason to use the money to focus on something that is not of immediate danger. If Trump truly wants the best for citizens, he would not take out money from FEMA.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this budget plan is justified because need for money from the destruction of the hurricane is urgent. Even if a hurricane did not just hit, I believe that FEMA would be in need of the money later on for future incidents.
ReplyDeleteI think the budget plan to move 10 million or more from FEMA to ICE is bad. With the hurricane coming to the US FEMA will need all the money and resources they can get to help citizens. Trump should find another way to get money to support ICE and maybe help out people affected by the hurricane in a different way.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably the worst time to reduce the funding for FEMA. There really shouldn't be an increase in funding for ICE at the moment because the U.S. needs to focus on the destruction that would be caused by the flooding from the hurricane. $10 million can provide a lot of resources to help repair the damages, and removing it from FEMA could be detrimental for the many families that would be affected by Hurricane Florence. The US should care more about immediate problems rather than problems that could be dealt with in the future.
ReplyDeleteTrump's plan to use $10 million dollars for the ICE is unjustified. There are people living in North Carolina whose lives are in danger but instead of helping those people Trump would rather spend that budget to accomplish his own agenda.
ReplyDeleteI think this is not justified because that $20 million came from the citizens's taxes and should be used to save the citizens of the U.S rather than spending it off to destroy/separate families
ReplyDeleteThe budget plan is not justified because there are victims of the hurricane, lives at stake, that are in need of shelter, food, and water, whereas immigration doesn't pose as much as a threat (in my opinion). I don't see why ICE is prioritized when there's people who are in desperate need of help against something they can't control.
ReplyDeleteImmigration is a important issue that Trump is currently dealing with. However, I do not believe that moving $10 million dollars away from FEMA in order to increase the budget of ICE should be justified in our current situation. The hurricane has hit North Carolina and there is a definite need for funds to ensure the future safety of the residents. The safety of the citizens should always be prioritized before anything else, and funds to maintain the safety should not be transferred elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteTrump transferring money from FEMA towards deportation is unreasonable. Since there are all these hurricanes and floods that are about to happen, FEMA need all the money that they have to help the people after the hurricanes hit.
ReplyDeleteIn my honest opinion, retracting $10 million dollars away from FEMA, an organization rooted for relief when natural disasters strikes, is not the smartest idea at the moment, especially when there's is currently a category 4 hurricane in the east coast. Right now, there will be countless of damages due to the hurricane and FEMA is needed now more than ever. Taking away the $10 million will lead to a shortage of help that FEMA could have offered to the people's well being, houses and schools that may have sustained any damage.
ReplyDeleteI personally agree with your opinion. Even though we could arguably benefit from immigration control, I do believe that the hundreds of thousands of people affected by hurricanes a year deserve as much help as they could feasibly obtain - which starts with a healthy budget.
DeleteThe Trump administration's decision to put millions of dollars toward ICE is not justified. The money should be put towards helping those affected by Hurricane Florence, and not on controlling immigration. The Trump administration needs to reevaluate their priorities--Hurricane Florence should be at the top of their list.
ReplyDeleteI do not think Trump's plan is justified because natural disasters are in progress right now, and current citizens are in danger. I don't know how he could consider immigration a bigger issue than hurricane Florence, for example. 10 million dollars could make such a huge difference in the rebuilding of communities hurt by these disasters that is now being taken away.
ReplyDeleteMoney should immediately go to FEMA right now instead of immigration, because people's homes are being wrecked. The flooding has to be controlled before it gets even worse. It is more important to take care of the safety of Americans instead of the economic stress illegal immigrants are supposedly bringing to the U.S.
ReplyDeleteTrump moving 10 million dollars from FEMA into ICE is a perfect demonstration of Trump showing his priorities. I believe that his budget plan is justified only for his voters. He seems to be trying to keep his promises from his campaign for POTUS. Everyone else will see his budget plan as absurd as we do not share the same values and priories.
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