logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2024
1h 13m

Brian Trascher: Has FEMA failed North Ca...

Reason
About this episode

What should the federal government do in a disaster?

Two major hurricanes made landfall within two weeks, devastating the southeast. Hurricane Helene has killed more than 200 people, and more than 90 are still missing in North Carolina, where overflowing rivers and tributaries flooded the western part of the state. More than 9,000 remain without power.

Hurricane Milton grew to Category 5 status in the Gulf before hitting Florida's west coast just south of Tampa Bay as a Category 3. It caused at least 23 deaths, and both storms are likely to cause over $100 billion in economic damage.

Today's guest is part of an organization that's been on the ground in both places helping with disaster relief. Brian Trascher is the vice president of the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer organization that started in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina.

Trascher discusses the origins of the Cajun Navy after Hurricane Katrina, conditions on the ground in North Carolina and Florida, the federal government's response, growing distrust of FEMA, and how to better prepare for disaster.

Sources Referenced:
Chapters
  • 00:00 Coming up…
  • 00:10 Introduction
  • 01:28 Documentary clip about the United Cajun Navy
  • 02:25 What's the status of North Carolina?
  • 05:29 United Cajun Navy's origin story
  • 10:36 Comparing Hurricanes Helene and Milton
  • 15:12 How are resources allocated properly?
  • 18:25 When to evacuate and why some people don't
  • 23:08 What's it like to deal with FEMA on the ground?
  • 29:23 Did a national guard helicopter purposefully sabotage volunteer efforts?
  • 38:23 Do government workers get defensive about volunteer help?
  • 43:04 Why do people distrust FEMA?
  • 57:38 FEMA's budgeting problems
  • 1:02:42 The Stafford Act
  • 1:08:26 How should people prepare for disaster?
  • 1:10:24 What question should people be asking?

Photo credit: Travis Long/TNS/Newscom

The post Brian Trascher: Has FEMA failed North Carolina? appeared first on Reason.com.

Up next
Aug 21
Megan McArdle: Trump's D.C. Takeover Is Just the Beginning
The Washington Post columnist joins the show to discuss crime in D.C. and Trump's deployment of federal troops. 
1h 14m
Aug 14
Deb Fillman: Why Do We Send Kids to School?
Education writer and entrepreneur Deb Fillman joins Just Asking Questions to discuss the tenuous relationship between school and education. 
1h 34m
Aug 7
Rob Henderson: Why Elites Still Worship Socialism
The author and psychologist joins the show to breakdown the Zohran Mamdani campaign, among other fads. 
1h 28m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2024
Biden Taps Out. Harris Taps In.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden ended his bid for re-election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris. Annie Linskey reports on Biden’s big decision and what lies ahead for Harris and the Democratic Party.  Further Listening: - Takeaways from the RNC: Trump Is in Control  - Will ... Show More
19m 43s
Jul 2024
Biden Passes the Torch to Kamala
In a historic moment in what was already a norm-shattering campaign, Joe Biden withdraws from the presidential race and endorses Kamala Harris. As the rest of the party moves to unite behind the VP, Jon, Lovett, Dan, and Tommy talk how Biden arrived at his decision, the particula ... Show More
55m 48s
Aug 2024
The DNC Says Farewell To Biden, Hello To Harris
On Monday night, President Joe Biden kicked off the Democratic National Convention. In his speech, a political swan song, Biden looked back on his major accomplishments during his term as president. And, somewhat awkwardly, many people clapping and cheering on Monday were the sam ... Show More
22m 42s
Jul 2024
Joe Biden Drops Out
President Biden has dropped out of the 2024 presidential race and endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, as his replacement.Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, discusses how the race for the White House has suddenly been turned upside dow ... Show More
29m 3s
Jul 2024
Will Biden fight on?
US President Joe Biden has admitted he "screwed up" in the first presidential debate against Donald Trump, but has vowed to fight on until the US election in November.   Donald Trump has told reporters Mr Biden is quitting, while prominent Democrat figures, including Barack Obama ... Show More
17m 44s
Jul 2024
The Atlantic's Frank Foer and Elaina Plott Calabro on Harris and Biden
This past week, we saw President Joe Biden drop out of the Presidential race and VP Kamala Harris emerge as the new nominee for the Democratic Party. The Atlantic's Frank Foer wrote the book "The Last Politician" about Joe Biden's consequential first term and Elaina Plott Calabro ... Show More
39m 37s
Jul 2024
Biden quits US presidential race - what happens next?
Joe Biden has withdrawn from the US presidential race, saying it is in the best interest of his party and country. He has now endorsed his vice-president Kamala Harris to be the Democratic candidate - as have a growing number of senior members of the party.    On the Sky News Dai ... Show More
20m 53s
Jul 2024
Biden Exits The Race, Kamala Harris Races To Replace Him
President Joe Biden announced Sunday he is ending his re-election bid and is throwing his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris to be the Democratic Party’s nominee in November. It’s the latest bombshell shakeup to this year’s presidential race. Biden said in a statement, “ ... Show More
21m 44s
Jul 2024
Where Democrats Go After Biden
When it finally happened, it felt both inevitable, and unfathomable.President Biden was out of the 2024 presidential race.Shortly after making that announcement, he threw his support behind his vice president, Kamala Harris, to be the next Democratic nominee.Mr. Biden had finally ... Show More
26m 34s
Jul 2024
President Biden Drops Out of 2024 Race
Special Edition for July 21. President Biden has ended his 2024 re-election campaign after failing to quell a Democratic rebellion against his candidacy. Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to take over at the top of the ticket. Harris said she will fight to earn the nomi ... Show More
14m 40s