(DailyAnswer.org) – United States Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, announced new flight restrictions on Wednesday. These restrictions apply to areas affected by Hurricane Helene. Buttigieg said the goal of these measures is to make sure airspace stays clear for emergency responders working in rescue and recovery efforts.
“Our goal is to make sure that funding is no obstacle to very quickly get people the relief that they need and deserve,” he stated.
He also mentioned safety concerns, explaining that flight restrictions are necessary to keep airspace open for emergency flights and drones helping with search and rescue. The Department of Transportation posted a video of Buttigieg’s comments, reminding drone pilots not to fly near rescue operations, as it could interfere with the important work being done on the ground.
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the federal government is running low on funds to fully respond to the disaster. He explained that while they are meeting the immediate needs, they are concerned about another possible hurricane. The government currently does not have enough money to handle another major storm.
Many people are frustrated with the federal government’s response to Hurricane Helene. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp criticized the administration for not helping Americans fast enough. He said that when emergency declarations were made, only 11 counties were included, even though many more were affected. Kemp and others have urged the government to pay more attention to rural areas that were hit the hardest by the storm.
At least 200 people have died from the storm, and many communities are still struggling. Tim Kennedy, the co-founder of Save Our Allies, said his team is facing obstacles in their rescue efforts. He blamed FEMA for interfering with their work, saying it is slowing them down.
Kennedy described the damage from Hurricane Helene as “apocalyptic,” with widespread destruction and challenges to recovery efforts. He also mentioned that federal employees had taken up hotel rooms that were needed for rescuers and survivors.
Copyright 2024, DailyAnswer.org
