NBC News reports:
FEMA administrator Brock Long Sunday questioned the relevance of independent studies tying thousands of deaths to the aftermath of last September’s hurricane in Puerto Rico, echoing President Donald Trump’s criticism of those findings as Florence continues to batter the Carolinas.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Long defended the president for his response to Hurricane Maria last year and argued that findings from multiple academic studies were “all over the place.”
“I think the president is being taken out of context there,” Long said. “I mean, I talked to the president every day this week, and the secretary of Homeland Security, and we discuss what we’re trying to do as a result of last year.”
The Washington Post reports:
FEMA Administrator William “Brock” Long is said to be resisting an effort by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen to replace him over his alleged misuse of government vehicles. The feud among senior Trump administration officials surfaced publicly in recent days as FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security raced to prepare for the arrival of Hurricane Florence.
Long, a veteran emergency manager whom staffers described as highly respected throughout the agency, is under investigation by the DHS inspector general for his use of government vehicles during weekend travel between Washington and his home in North Carolina to see his wife and young children.
Investigators have surveilled Long during those trips, which were said to include other FEMA staffers, raising questions internally about his use of government resources, a senior administration official said Saturday.
Does FEMA accept the number of deaths reported from Puerto Rico? @FEMA_Brock: “The numbers are all over the place. FEMA doesn’t count deaths… the deaths that are verified by the local county coroners are the ones that we take” #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 16, 2018
.@chucktodd: “The president went off and sort of didn’t accept the premise that there were lessons to be learned from Puerto Rico. Were there lessons to be learned from Puerto Rico for you, sir?”@FEMA_Brock: “I think the president is being taken out of context there.” #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 16, 2018
.@FEMA_Brock on why Trump is disputing the death count from Puerto Rico in the George Washington University study: “I think he’s defensive because he knows how hard these guys behind me work day in and day out for a very complex situation. And it’s frustrating” #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 16, 2018
“Secretary Nielsen has never asked me to resign. We have a very functional and professional relationship. We talk every day. We are both solely focused on Florence,” @FEMA_Brock responds to reports that the White House considered replacing him before the hurricane. #MTP
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 16, 2018
WATCH: FEMA Administrator Brock Long calls Puerto Rico studies “frustrating” #MTP@FEMA_Brock: “You might see more deaths indirectly as time goes on… Spousal abuse goes through the roof. You can’t blame spousal abuse after a disaster on anyone” pic.twitter.com/PcDGCiJyGd
— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) September 16, 2018