Recently, a person who holds an office within our federal government mandated that FEMA be phased out. FEMA stands for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This agency warns, rescues, and assists when a state or national emergency is imminent. This agency aids state efforts in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Their early warning system has saved countless lives over the last forty-five years.

FEMA was created under President Jimmy Carter‘s Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 3 of 1978, and it was implemented by two Executive Orders on April 1, 1979.

Sadly, on this day, in my state, FEMA was not there to warn, not there to respond, not there to help. Why? Why, you ask? One word…Trump.

This person chose to dismantle and take away an agency that stands guard, warns of possible dangers before they happen, and is ready to go and help people evacuate if necessary. This person took away this emergency system, stating it was not necessary. He actually laughed and scoffed at the need of such an agency.

Today, my heart breaks because children and adults are missing, and children and adults have died. Why? How? The answer… NO FEMA… no one there to sound the cry, no one there to warn, no one there to help rescue.

Beautiful, young lives lost. Families devastated. At what risk… Late last night, early morning, the Guadalupe River rose washing away sleeping campers… children and adults unaware of the danger. Others, awoken by screams, arose  to an imminent threat of danger.

FEMA, had they been available, would have sent out warnings to phones and cell phones, broadcast warnings on the radio, on television, and on the internet. The camp counselors would have been notified and aware of what was coming and protected those children and themselves.

Yet, here we are. The death toll at the moment stands at fifty-nine. It is estimated to go up much higher.

I do not want to write this post. I do not want to share it with you. However, the cost of not knowing, not understanding what a careless plan the sitting president of the United States chose to put into action is too great not to explain.

With FEMA gone, all of these necessary early, critical warnings for tornados, hurricanes, flash floods, and fires are gone… all gone.

Please, if you pray, pray for the families, pray for the counselors, pray for the children. Pray for Texas and for all in our United States. Sadly, at the time I am writing, fifty-nine deaths have been counted, and there are still many more missing.

This tragedy could have been avoided had FEMA been active and able to send out a necessary early warning.

As you rest your head on your pillow tonight, please, say a prayer for these families, for these children. And, please, please, please write to your state and local representatives and tell them to reinstate FEMA immediately.

Please continue to pray for these families, and please pray for the state of Texas.

SKE