Fact Check: Biden told FEMA there was no money for Americans in palestine Ohio

Fact Check: "Biden told FEMA there was no money for Americans in Palestine, Ohio"

What We Know

The claim that "Biden told FEMA there was no money for Americans in Palestine, Ohio" appears to stem from a misunderstanding of the federal response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, which occurred on February 3, 2023. Following this incident, President Biden's administration mobilized a comprehensive response involving multiple federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (Executive Order, FACT SHEET).

While it is true that FEMA did not provide direct financial aid to individuals affected by the derailment, this was not a reflection of a lack of resources but rather a result of the specific nature of the disaster and the eligibility criteria for federal assistance. FEMA typically does not provide individual assistance for environmental disasters unless they meet certain criteria, which in this case, were not met (Multiple Federal Agencies).

Moreover, President Biden has consistently stated his commitment to supporting the people of East Palestine and has directed federal agencies to ensure that Norfolk Southern is held accountable for the cleanup and any long-term effects of the disaster (Executive Order, FACT SHEET).

Analysis

The assertion that Biden told FEMA there was "no money" for Americans in East Palestine is misleading. The context of FEMA's involvement in the disaster response indicates that while direct financial aid was not provided, this was due to the nature of the incident rather than a lack of resources or concern for the affected residents.

FEMA's role in this situation has been to coordinate with state and local agencies, providing incident management and support rather than direct financial assistance (FACT SHEET). The White House clarified that the agency was not the best suited to handle the crisis, which involved environmental cleanup rather than traditional disaster relief (White House explains).

Furthermore, the claim lacks credible sourcing and appears to be based on a misinterpretation of the federal response framework. The sources that discuss FEMA's actions in East Palestine emphasize the ongoing support and coordination efforts rather than a denial of funds (Multiple Federal Agencies, Governor DeWine Requests).

Conclusion

Verdict: False. The claim that "Biden told FEMA there was no money for Americans in Palestine, Ohio" is misleading. While FEMA did not provide direct financial assistance to individuals affected by the train derailment, this was due to the nature of the disaster and the eligibility criteria for federal aid, not a lack of resources or concern from the Biden administration. The federal government has been actively involved in supporting the recovery efforts in East Palestine through various agencies.