Florida
Florida AG sues FEMA over ‘damning’ revelations agency deliberately ignored homes of Trump supporters: ‘Swift legal action’
FEMA’s disaster of its own making keeps getting worse.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing current and former Federal Emergency Management Agency officials, claiming they “conspired to interfere with the civil rights of Trump voters” in the state by withholding aid in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
The bombshell lawsuit follows alarming revelations its workers were given orders to avoid dozens of homes of Trump supporters in Lake Placid in a shocking display of political favoritism.
The scandal came to light after FEMA fired agency supervisor Marn’i Washington, who later claimed that systemic discrimination at the disaster relief agency was “colossal” both in Florida and beyond and alleged she’s been made a “scapegoat” by the agency.
“Hurricane season is not over, and the federal agency in charge of emergency response is embroiled in scandal – caught withholding aid from storm victims in Florida who support President Trump,” Moody said in a press release announcing the suits.
“I am taking swift legal action to find out how far this political discrimination reaches and to make sure all Americans who fall victim to devastating storms are served, regardless of their political affiliation.”
Highlands County, where Lake Placid is located, went 70% for President-elect Trump in the election.
A FEMA official backed up Washington’s claims, telling The Post the agency’s practice of skipping Trump-supporting houses — or avoiding “white or conservative-dominated” disaster zones altogether — is an open secret at the agency that has been going on for years.
In her announcement of Washington’s termination, FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, who is named as a litigant in the legal action, called the directive to skip homes based on political affiliation violated the agency’s “core values and principles,” and vowed to do everything she could to ensure it never happens again.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, incensed by FEMA playing politics with disaster victims in the state, also blasted the federal agency in announcing his support for the legal action.
“It’s unacceptable for the federal government to discriminate against Floridians who voted for Trump, and especially egregious in the aftermath of a hurricane,” the governor said in a press release.
“I’m supportive of this legal action by the Attorney General’s Office, and I have instructed state agencies to likewise take any action necessary to investigate and ensure those who engaged in this behavior are held accountable.”
Congressional Republicans said they plan to launch multiple investigations into whether FEMA abdicated its duty to the American people.
“This will be investigated,” promised North Carolina GOP Sen. Ted Budd on Tuesday in an X post.
“Anyone who abuses the power of the federal government to hurt North Carolinians in need will be held accountable,” Budd added. “I will personally see to it.”
AG Moody’s complaint outlines what the office calls “the terrible facts of the civil rights violations” in the aftermath of the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in September and October.
The legal document names both Washington and Criswell, and is seeking both nominal and punitive damages on behalf of affected Florida homeowners, includin legal fees.
A FEMA spokesperson told the Post Thursday that the agency “does not comment on pending litigation” and included a link to the agency’s website on employee conduct.
Florida
Area to watch for tropical development in Gulf to bring downpours to drought-stricken Florida | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather
Area to watch for tropical development in Gulf to bring downpours to drought-stricken Florida
While this area to watch for tropical development may not actually become tropical, it will definitely bring rain to Florida, which desperately needs it. The system is likely to bring the most significant rain to the Florida panhandle down south to Tampa, but the entire state can expect some moisture through midweek next week.
Florida
Will Florida see its next named storm this weekend?
Gulf system to bring downpours to Florida
FOX 13 Meteorologist Jim Weber is continuing to watch an area in the Gulf that is expected to bring much-needed rain to Florida this weekend. He said the system will likely drift to the north and northwest and will linger before heading to the northeast. He said to get a tropical depression, or a tropical storm there needs to be winds and a closed low and he is not seeing that in the models yet. Weber is also tracking a system off the coast of Africa that has a 10% chance of developing over the next week. He says it will likely enter a hostile environment and dissipate.
TAMPA, Fla. – Forecasters are tracking a broad disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast that could bring much-needed rain to parched communities this weekend.
Gulf tropical development potential
What we know:
Models continue to indicate there is a potential for an area of low pressure to form over the northeast Gulf off the west coast of Florida over the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center says an area in the Gulf has a 30% chance of tropical development over the next seven days.
Models a shifting away from the forecast of the system moving over the state and off the coast of the Carolinas. Models are now indicating a more likely scenario that it lingers in the Gulf over the weekend and may drift more to the northwest near the Florida Panhandle or Louisiana coast. Early next week conditions look like they will become less conducive and may prohibit much development. Regardless of whether it organizes, the system will bring tropical downpours and increased moisture across Florida and parts of the Southeast.
FOX 13 Meteorologist Jim Weber states we are close to 7.50″ below average on our rainfall in Tampa for the year. A weak area of low pressure or tropical system can be beneficial in helping to make up for the rainfall deficit we have been experiencing. Drought conditions continue over much of the state of Florida. If this system ends up drifting more westward, it would limit the total amount of rainfall and the highest totals would be along the immediate west coast.
Atlantic tropical development potential
A tropical wave southeast of the Cabo Verde Islands remains disorganized.
It is moving west-northwest and, according to the NHC, there is a chance for slow development over the next day or two. By the weekend it is expected to move into less conducive conditions and Saharan dust will begin to affect this wave, limiting its moisture. The time for this system to develop is very limited and will not develop after the weekend.
The NHC is giving it a 10% chance of developing.
Weather factors and storm names
What we don’t know:
Officials cannot yet confirm if the disturbance will overcome environmental hurdles like land interaction, wind shear and dry air. Computer models remain uncertain on how much this system will develop over the waters of the Gulf. If it stays over the warm waters of the Gulf longer, it may give it additional time to organize. Interactions with land and wind shear will likely pose obstacles in further development.
To become a tropical system, it must develop a defined circulation with organized thunderstorms. If it reaches maximum sustained winds of 39 mph, it will become a tropical storm and be named Bertha.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13Meteorologist Jim Weber, the National Hurricane Center tropical weather outlooks, as well as forecast computer models.
Florida
Florida TODAY: Homes get expensive, license to blush, fuzzy invader
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How long does it take to save for a first home, Florida?
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There’s a lot more going on across the Sunshine State:
License to blush: A South Florida retiree was taken aback by her new license plate. Her family thinks she should keep it. Would you?
Tiny terror: Florida is racing to stop a fuzzy new invasive pest that can wipe out a field in weeks. It has a taste for everything from grass to corn to sugarcane.
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