In the past few weeks, current events have grabbed my attention and taken me away from the topic of demands for more civics education in schools. In an August post, “Civics Advocate, Heal Thyself,” I argued much of the research on which this movement is based asked the wrong questions. To understand the Constitution and governance based on that document, the names of certain office holders are temporal and therefore less important than the processes by which these office holders make decisions.
Just as current events took me away from this topic, a current event, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene brings it back in focus. Response to a natural disaster is the perfect opportunity to educate people how government works. And whereas I often turn to experts and their research to bolster an argument, today I will speak from experience.
In April 1983, Texas Governor Mark White approved my appointment as state director of housing and community development. My team’s primary responsibilities included distributing $41 million/year in HUD block grants and tracking Section 8 housing expenditures. In December of that same year, Texans experienced the most severe cold snap in the Lone Star State’s history. The citrus and produce industry along the Rio Grande border was devastated when the high temperature on December 18 was less than the previous all-time low for the same date.
The next morning Governor White invited program directors from several agencies to his office to discuss a recovery plan. The common denominator among the invitees was each “controlled” a significant amount of discretionary funds. After being briefed on the economic stress in South Texas including 27 percent unemployment in Starr County, the governor then asked us “to start writing checks” so impacted residents could purchase essentials during the recovery period. My counterparts in other agencies and I had to remind Governor White that our programs, authorized by federal or state law, restricted both the uses and recipients of the legislatively appropriated funds.
For programs my team administered, eligible recipients were local governments and qualified expenses were limited to public improvements or services. Within hours we were on the phone with mayors and county judges (Texas’ equivalent to county commissioners who also have some judicial responsibilities). We were able to identify qualified projects and activities for which displaced farmworkers could be hired and paid at prevailing wage rates. One example was removal of freeze-damaged trees along U.S. Highway 83, which parallels the Rio Grande River from Brownsville to El Paso. The State Transportation Commission had federal funds under a “transportation enhancement” program which could be used to purchase trees and other flora to reduce soil erosion or beautify highway corridors. Therefore, we were able to provide additional income to workers who helped with reforestation of the most impacted areas.
Concurrently, FEMA brought in trailers and heated tents to house residents with inadequate home heating to counter the arctic-like temperatures. No one person or agency had all the answers or resources. But many of us could pick a niche and did what we could. To coordinate the effort of so many agencies (federal, state and local), a control center was established at the National Guard Armory in McAllen, Texas where progress was monitored and lingering problems could be addressed.
Equally important, the only two phrases I ever heard from elected officials in the region were, “Thank you,” and “What else can we do to help?” If Donald Trump understood what it takes to respond to an unprecedented natural disaster he would be ashamed of his rhetoric since Helene uprooted communities, business and families in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee. But he has no shame. Nor do his enablers who have repeated and amplified his lies.
Which is why I am grateful for the few Republicans such as Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, North Carolina Senator Tom Tillis, and Georgia Governor Brian Kemp who have all shared stories about the effective involvement of a host of public and private responders, including FEMA. The most damning description of Trump’s irresponsible behavior comes from the editorial board of the Charlotte Observer.
This is not a situation to capitalize on for political gain. But former President Donald Trump has politicized the situation at every turn, spreading falsehoods and conspiracies that fracture the community instead of bringing it together…There’s no evidence to support any of those ridiculous claims. And by every indication, state and federal agencies have been working to help people in need.
One more reminder to voters they have a choice on November 5. On one side a candidate who understands that government, more than at any other time, can and should help Americans when they face hardship which is no fault of their own. On the other, a candidate who when informed of an imminent pandemic declares, “It is only one or two cases and will be over soon.” Who when told his own vice-president is in danger of harm says, “So what?” And this week falsely accuses immigrants of syphoning life-saving resources being sent to disaster zones.
What better civics lesson than one you can see unfold in real time.
For what it’s worth.
Dr. ESP