On Point | Podcast The Jackpod: Action Completed This Day
Jul 25, 2025
Jack Beatty, an On Point news analyst, blends history, literature, and politics to shed light on current events. He critiques FEMA's inefficiencies, particularly its costly administrative spending during Vermont's flooding response. The conversation explores the agency's evolving challenges under new leadership and the pressing need for nonpartisan reform. Beatty also addresses the impact of political ideologies on disaster management and shares personal stories highlighting the fears immigrant communities face amid stringent policies and governmental practices.
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Vermont Flood FEMA Delay
- Vermont flood survivors faced extreme delays and bureaucracy with FEMA buyout applications.\n- Only 8 of 264 applications were paid out, with none of the houses demolished after two years.
FEMA's Administrative Bloat Issue
- FEMA spent twice as much administering disaster aid than giving money to survivors in Vermont.\n- Administrative bloat and complicated forms hinder timely disaster recovery assistance.
FEMA's Inefficient Field Operations
- FEMA deployed excessive staff to Vermont floods, with eight people surveying buildings instead of one.\n- Employees reportedly took long breaks and inefficient routes, wasting resources.
