Kamala Harris didn’t say only $750 was available to Hurricane Helene victims. Video omits other aid

A week after Hurricane Helene wrought destruction to multiple southeastern U.S. states, people are confronting the immense costs of rebuilding their homes and recovering their losses. 

On social media, some are criticizing the federal government for what they consider a meager sum to hurricane victims. Social media users shared a clip of Vice President Harris saying, "And the federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met."

"Oh hell no! These people are sick!" said the caption of one Oct. 2 Instagram post sharing the video. An Oct. 3 Instagram post read, "Kamala is on the ground in Georgia two days after President Trump’s visit to offer those who’ve lost everything $750. Don’t spend it all at once."

(Screenshot from Instagram)

These posts were flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

The clips are from Harris’ Oct. 2 remarks in Augusta, Georgia. They show her citing one type of federal aid available to hurricane victims, and omit her remarks on other aid that the Biden administration is providing. PolitiFact reached out to Harris’ office and did not receive an on-the-record response.

Jayce Genco, deputy press secretary for FEMA, told PolitiFact the $750 was under the Serious Needs Assistance program, which is designed for immediate needs after a disaster. 

FEMA addressed the claim Oct. 3 in its "Hurricane Helene: Rumor Response" page, saying the rumor that "FEMA will only provide $750 to disaster survivors to support their recovery" is false. The agency said the $750 under Serious Needs Assistance is often approved quickly to help people pay for needs such as "food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies." 

People could be eligible for more assistance, Genco said. The FEMA site said this includes funding for home repair costs and temporary housing and is available to victims regardless of whether they have received FEMA funds from previous disasters. 

In the same speech, Harris said, "FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel costs."

Featured Fact-check

Facebook posts

stated on October 31, 2024 in a Facebook post

Video shows floods in Valencia, Spain.

Harris also announced that President Joe Biden approved Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s request for 100% federal reimbursement of local costs. That includes debris removal, emergency services, food, water and shelter, she said.

As of Oct. 4, FEMA said the Biden administration provided more than $45 million "in flexible, upfront funding" to Hurricane Helene survivors. The agency said it has provided more than 11.5 million meals, 12.6 million liters of water, 150 generators and 400,000 tarps to the affected region.

The White House said in an Oct. 2 fact sheet that through the Serious Needs Assistance program, FEMA had paid out more than $1 million to more than 1,400 North Carolina households within 24 hours. It outlined other actions that the Biden administration has taken to support affected communities, including:

• Deploying 1,000 active duty soldiers for delivery of food, water and other commodities.

• Declaring public health emergencies for South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia and North Carolina to better accommodate Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ emergency health needs.

• Providing 50 Starlink satellite systems and 65 satellite phones to help with communications.

• Starting a 14-day period of emergency regulatory relief, allowing vehicles more maximum driving time for supply delivery.

• Imposing a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of certain mortgages.

• Approving major disaster declarations for Georgia and Virginia — in addition to Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina — allowing residents in 41 Georgia counties and six Virginia counties to apply for FEMA assistance.

We rate the claim that Harris said the Biden administration is providing only $750 to Hurricane Helene victims False.