Fact Check: FEMA did not answer nearly two-thirds of disaster assistance calls after Texas floods.

Fact Check: "FEMA did not answer nearly two-thirds of disaster assistance calls after Texas floods."

What We Know

Following catastrophic floods in Texas in July 2025, it was reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) failed to answer nearly two-thirds of calls to its disaster assistance line. According to documents reviewed by The New York Times, on July 6, FEMA received 2,363 calls but only answered 846, which equates to approximately 35.8% of the calls. The situation worsened on July 7, when FEMA received 16,419 calls and answered only 2,613, or around 15.9% of the calls. This drastic drop in responsiveness was attributed to the agency's decision to terminate contracts with call center contractors just before the floods, leading to a significant reduction in available staff to handle calls (source-4, source-6).

Analysis

The claim that FEMA did not answer nearly two-thirds of disaster assistance calls is supported by multiple credible sources. The New York Times detailed the timeline of events, indicating that FEMA's call center was overwhelmed due to the termination of contracts with call center companies, which resulted in hundreds of contractors being laid off just before the flood response (source-4). This decision was made by Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, who did not renew the contracts until several days later, exacerbating the situation (source-4).

The reliability of the sources is high, as they include direct documentation from FEMA and reports from established news organizations like The New York Times and CNN. These sources provided detailed accounts of the events, including internal communications from FEMA officials expressing frustration over the lack of staffing to handle the surge in calls (source-4, source-8). Additionally, experts in disaster preparedness, such as Jeffrey Schlegelmilch from Columbia University, criticized FEMA's performance during this crisis, emphasizing the importance of timely communication for disaster survivors (source-4).

While FEMA's spokesperson claimed that the agency responded "swiftly and efficiently," this assertion contradicts the documented evidence of the call response rates, which clearly indicate a significant failure in service (source-4).

Conclusion

The claim that FEMA did not answer nearly two-thirds of disaster assistance calls after the Texas floods is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that FEMA's response was severely hampered by staffing issues stemming from the termination of contracts with call center contractors, leading to a dramatic decline in the agency's ability to assist disaster survivors.

Sources

1. Texas Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding
2. President Donald J. Trump Approves Major Disaster Declaration for Texas
3. July 11, 2025 Mr. David Richardson Senior Official
4. FEMA Didn't Answer Thousands of Calls From Flood Survivors
5. As FEMA aids Texas flood victims, Noem urges eliminating the agency
6. After Texas Disaster, Trump Shifts His Tone on FEMA
7. Budget limits at DHS delayed FEMA's Texas deployment
8. In Texas flood response, FEMA slowed by Noem's cost controls