politics
Rescuers respond to deadly tornadoes without tornado-tracking tool because Kristi Noem’s team hasn’t renewed the contract
As deadly tornadoes tore through the Midwest and Plains last weekend, state and local search-and-rescue crews rushed to the devastated areas to look for survivors. It wasn’t until the teams deployed that they realized they were operating without a critical tornado-tracking tool typically provided by FEMA.
TL;DR
- State and local search-and-rescue teams lacked a critical tornado-tracking tool during recent deadly storms.
- The tool, typically provided by FEMA, was unavailable because its contract expired in February and renewal is pending approval.
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's spending-approval process is cited as the reason for the contract delay.
- Responders were reportedly 'flying blind,' relying on less precise methods to identify areas of impact.
- Similar delays in spending approvals previously affected FEMA's ability to pre-position teams and share data during Texas floods.
- A partial DHS shutdown led to directives for FEMA to scale back to 'bare-minimum, life-saving operations,' causing some workers to be idled.
- FEMA insiders warn that Noem's policies are hindering operations and disaster response capabilities.
- Noem is scheduled to leave her DHS position at the end of March, with a replacement tapped by President Trump.