*Somebody’s lying! Let’s just start there. Well, Marn’i Washington, a former Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employee says it ain’t her. Washington has come forward to express concerns regarding the agency’s approach to disaster response in politically charged environments.
Speaking on Roland Martin Unfiltered, Washington disclosed that the agency had implemented an “avoidance” policy not only in Florida but also extended these practices to the Carolinas in the wake of recent hurricanes.
Washington’s dismissal from FEMA followed her instruction to her team to steer clear of homes belonging to supporters of then-President-elect Donald Trump. She emphasized that this practice of avoidance was systematic during deployments in politically hostile areas.
“FEMA always preaches avoidance first and then de-escalation. So, this is not isolated,” Washington told host Roland Martin. “This is a colossal event of avoidance. Not just in the state of Florida, but you will find avoidance in the Carolinas.”
Marn’i Washington added that people who showed “political hostility” to her teams often had campaign signs for Trump. However, her statement about the agency’s systemic “avoidance,” practice raises troubling questions about the agency’s commitment to impartial disaster response.
The claim sparked considerable backlash, prompting FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell to publicly denounce Washington’s actions as a violation of FEMA’s core values.
“This is a clear violation of FEMA’s core values and principles to help people regardless of their political affiliation,” the statement reads. “This was reprehensible.” “I want to be clear to all of my employees and the American people, this type of behavior and action will not be tolerated at FEMA and we will hold people accountable if they violate these standards of conduct,” Criswell continued.
Washington, however, has indicated that the avoidance practices are more widespread than just the incident in Florida. During her segments, she noted a trend of encountering hostility from communities that displayed Trump campaign signage, which further fueled the claims that the avoidance strategy is politically motivated. She urged FEMA to offer transparency through incident reports to validate her experiences and the conditions faced by teams on the ground.
As the debate continues, observers are calling for an investigation into the implications of such avoidance policies. The focus is not just on the potential biases within FEMA’s practices but also on how these policies affect the recovery efforts in areas prone to disaster.
This developing story will likely have significant ramifications for FEMA’s reputation and operations, as the agency navigates the complexities of providing equitable disaster assistance in a politically divided landscape.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: FEMA Employee Fired After Telling Relief Team to Skip Houses with Trump Signs Following Florida Hurricane | WATCH
