OUR VOICES: Relief Efforts Are Happening In Florida And Other States Despite What The Former President Says

By James B. Ewers Jr. Ed.D.

Negative people manage to show up during the worst of times. They tear down and do not build up. They create bad impressions and perceptions. Their goal is always to create doubt and deception.

Ego and self-interests take the place of understanding and compassion for others. There are some qualities and traits that you can’t teach. You either have them or you don’t. You keep thinking they will change but they never do.

Donald Trump, the former president lacks empathy and compassion. Even when he tries, it comes across as disingenuous. These are my opinions.

Within the past three weeks, two major storms have hit the Sunshine State. One of them, Hurricane Helene also ripped through the states of North Carolina and Tennessee. At the last count more than 120 lives were lost, injured and unaccounted for in this hurricane. According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Helene packed winds of more than 110 mph.

Both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton along with the tornadoes that followed caused life-changing events for these residents. For many residents affected by these storms, they were first time occurrences. They were simply not prepared for the winds and for the storm surges.

Many of us who live on the Gulf Coast have experienced these events and know first-hand the power and punch that these storms have. Unfortunately, some residents did not heed the warning to evacuate the area. They were left stranded and became victims.

With these hurricanes having now dissipated, what are the next steps? What do residents do who have lost everything? Relief efforts in the form of food, clothing and shelter have already begun. Local, state and national efforts have given these citizens help and hope.

National organizations like the American Red Cross are doing their part. One of their initiatives is to establish blood centers for those who have been injured in these hurricanes. They are also helping with places to stay and with food.

According to confirmed reports and a direct quote, “The Administration has already helped thousands of Hurricane Helene survivors jumpstart their recoveries with more than $137 million in Federal assistance with more to come. The Administration has contacted nearly 450 state, city and county officials in impacted states to ensure they have the support and resources they need.” Similar statements have been made about those affected by Hurricane Milton.

While these documented efforts are happening in real time, there are some in the GOP who are spreading untruths about what is not happening. Of course, this nonsense is being led by Trump and his running mate.

Others have joined them in promulgating these lies. Republican lawmaker, Marjorie Taylor Greene has created controversy because of her mean and mindless remarks. She has suggested that the Democrats in some way can control the weather.

President Joe Biden said, “Her comments are beyond ridiculous, and it’s got to stop.” Hugh Willoughby, a Florida International professor who worked at NOAA’s Hurricane Research Division for over 20 years said, “We’re all trying to prevent human suffering and if somebody were deliberately doing the sort of things they imagine, we’d blow the whistle on it.”

Another Republican with ill will is Scott Jennings. He served in the George W. Bush administration as a special assistant  to the president. By his baseless and tasteless remarks on CNN, he must have been promised a position if Trump becomes president.

What is rather sickening and shameful is that some Republicans have made these hurricanes into some type of political gain. Smugly and spitefully, they are intimating that the Biden-Harris administration is not providing the recovery assistance that is needed. Those of us with good sense know better.

The facts and figures say otherwise. This is why you and I must vote for Kamala Harris in November to be president of the United States of America. If not, we’ll get a steady dose of lies and misrepresentations.

Dr. James B. Ewers, Jr. is a longtime educator who hails from Winston Salem, N.C. Ewers is a life member of the NAACP and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.