FACT CHECK: Does FEMA Have A ‘White People Last’ Disaster Relief Policy?
A post shared on Threads claims the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) purportedly has a “white people last” policy when administering disaster relief.
Post by @njbay3030View on Threads
Verdict: False
The claim is neither referenced on FEMA’s website nor its verified social media accounts, and there is no other evidence to support the claim.
Fact Check:
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA has the resources to handle Hurricane Milton, according to The Hill. Mayorkas previously said FEMA did not have the funding needed to make it through hurricane season following Hurricane Helene, The Associated Press reported.
The Threads post, which has garnered over 100 likes as of writing, claims FEMA purportedly has a “white people last” policy when administering disaster relief.
“Friendly reminder: under the Biden-Harris administration, FEMA is supposed to help out white people last for the purpose of ‘equity.’ Don’t believe me? It’s literally on the FEMA website,” the post reads. A comment shared on the Threads post links to FEMA’s Strategic Plan, specifically Goal 1, which involves equity.
The claim is false. While Goal 1 of FEMA’s Strategic Plan discusses equitable administration of disaster relief, it does not contain any explicit language stating white people are to receive aid last. Instead, Goal 1 of FEMA’s Strategic Plan states, “The importance of equity in emergency management is not a new concept. The Stafford Act requires FEMA assistance be delivered in an equitable manner without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, language accessibility, or economic status.”
Likewise, the claim alleging FEMA has a “white people last” policy is neither referenced on the federal agency’s website nor on its verified social media accounts. (RELATED: Video Of Horse Being Rescued From Flood Predates Hurricane Helene)
In addition, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On October 7, Lead Stories reported the claim was false. Furthermore, the White House, President Joe Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris have not publicly commented on the claim.
Check Your Fact has contacted FEMA for comment.
