The Biden admin does the bare minimum to help Americans in need. It’s almost as if they couldn’t care less about the citizens they serve.
And Pete Buttigieg’s response to hurricane victims will leave you sick to your stomach.
Drone Ban in Hurricane Helene Rescue Efforts Sparks Public Outcry
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s decision to halt private drone flights in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina has ignited a wave of criticism, as frustrated residents grapple with what they see as an ineffective government response to the disaster.
On Tuesday, nearly a week after the historic storm unleashed catastrophic flooding across the state’s mountainous region, the Department of Transportation (DOT) posted an announcement on its official X account:
“Drone pilots: Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene,” the message read.
“Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground,” the statement continued, emphasizing that private drone activity was hindering ongoing rescue missions.
🚨 Drone pilots: Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) October 2, 2024
Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground. For more information on temporary flight restrictions follow: @FAADroneZone pic.twitter.com/muxHefL1sH
But the timing of the ban, coupled with the sheer devastation left by the storm, has only deepened public resentment. North Carolina has borne the brunt of Hurricane Helene’s deadly toll, with the western part of the state accounting for 94 of the more than 200 fatalities confirmed so far. Hundreds remain unaccounted for, and as rescue efforts lag, emotions are running high.
Adding fuel to the fire is the perception that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has dropped the ball. The agency, already stretched thin after spending $640 million on the migrant crisis, is on the verge of running out of funds. For many, FEMA’s slow pace of action has only heightened the sense of abandonment.
Buttigieg’s directive to halt private drone use in the area, urging people to rely on the very agencies they feel have failed them, has left many incensed.
“You would think more eyes in the sky would be a good thing when there are people that need to be rescued but what do i know,” commented one X user in response to the ban.
“Your ‘help’ is worse than doing nothing,” another responded angrily.
Beyond just aiding with search and rescue, private drones have played a crucial role in delivering vital supplies, such as insulin and baby formula, to those isolated by the disaster, especially in remote areas where access is severely limited. Many people pointed out that these citizen efforts have filled a gap left by delayed government action.
“Private citizen drones and helicopters have been saving lives for days, and still are. You should be ashamed,” another user posted.
Some critics went a step further, accusing the government of trying to control the narrative by preventing citizens from documenting the true extent of the destruction.
“You’re hiding something,” a commenter said bluntly.
This public backlash comes as Buttigieg faces an ongoing credibility crisis. His time as transportation secretary has been marred by a series of high-profile challenges, including the Boeing safety scandals, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and widespread supply chain disruptions that hit the US West Coast and beyond. In light of this history, many are questioning his handling of the current disaster and the ban on private drone flights has only added to that skepticism.
As the recovery efforts continue, North Carolinians are left to wonder whether the government’s response will improve or if, once again, they’ll be left to fend for themselves.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.