Administration has leaned on local partners in GOP-led states to rapidly scale up immigration detention system

WASHINGTON D.C., DC — After the devastating Fourth of July flooding in Kerr County that claimed the lives of 137 people, FEMA is under intense scrutiny from members of Congress over its response to the disaster, including claims that thousands of calls from survivors went unanswered in the critical days that followed.

Former FEMA official Jeremy Edwards joined Morning Joe after the resignation of the agency’s Urban Search and Rescue chief, who reportedly quit over the Trump administration’s delayed response to deadly flooding in Texas.

Ingram officials have been waiting to hear from Kerr County’s emergency management coordinator after feeling as if they were on their own during the devastating July 4 flooding.

Several states and two Native American tribes waited months for disaster aid, while hundreds of requests for critical emergency services remain on hold.

Donald Trump’s administration has denied Maryland’s request for FEMA aid to deal with the fallout of devastating floods in May, continuing the administration’s disturbing trend of denying disaster aid to states led by Democrats.

Testimony will be heard from those in charge of managing rivers as well as emergency managers and first responders about the flash flooding that killed at least 135 people.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, said Wednesday that it will keep its Disaster Outreach Center open through Friday.