Hurricane News:
This hurricane season alone, four hurricanes have hit the United States. In the southern states, there has been an immense amount of damage done by the hurricanes. The most recent hurricane that made landfall in America was hurricane Helene. The National Environmental Satellite Data, and Information Service reported that Helene made landfall on Sept. 26th in Perry, Florida. Helene caused massive destruction in western North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida. Not only did the hurricane destroy homes and buildings, but there were about 230 deaths due to the circumstances. There are so many people that are struggling due to not only their homes being destroyed, but their lives.
The damage done holds a big price for repairs. FEMA, (The Federal Emergency Management Agency), helps people recover and gives them protection in many different ways depending on the situation. FEMA has provided many different forms of relief to people and places that have been affected by the hurricane. Some of these include $137 million to help the six states in the southeast. They have donated nearly 15 million meals, 14 million liters of water, 157 generators, and 500,000 tarps. However, in the eyes of some, this is not enough. More specifically, former president Donald Trump has stated his opinion on what FEMA is doing to aid those affected by the hurricane. An NPR article, written by Stephen Fowler, reports the former president’s stance.
“They’re offering $750 to the people whose homes have been washed away. And yet we send ten billion dollars to foreign countries that most people have never heard of. They’re offering them $750. They’ve been destroyed. These people have been destroyed”.
Not only did this get a lot of people to rally behind Trump, but it is not correct. What the $750 is for is what is called, “Serious Needs Assistance”. Serious Needs Assistance is not the only relief that FEMA gives. The $750 is only an initial relief payment so that people are able to buy the things that they need and that are emergencies. Due to all the misinformation that is being spread through the nation, FEMA has created their own team to fact check and debunk ongoing statements made about the hurricanes. FEMA continued to send relief and not soon after, prepared for Hurricane Milton. Hurricane Milton made landfall on the night of Oct. 9th.
Election News Brief:
The upcoming 2024 presidential election will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 5th, 2024. The pressure is getting high for the two candidates, former president Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris. In the months past, Americans have witnessed important decisions made from people on both sides of the party. For example, President Joe Biden, Nikki Haley, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have all dropped out of the race. Both Harris and Trump have been hard at work for their respective parties. The country has seen the debates and rally’s held by the two and the occurrences have definitely been eventful.
An important goal for both candidates is to get the attention and support of young voters. Both have made efforts to persuade the youth. Alex Cooper, podcaster, had Harris on her podcast, “Call Her Daddy”. Cooper’s podcast attracts a lot of young people, especially women. The podcast has been structured around lifestyle and anything girl talk, so it was surprising for viewers when a politician had an episode. There were mixed reviews on the podcast, but it does show Harris’s effort to connect with the youth. Similarly, Trump was on the podcast of a young individual as well. Logan Paul’s podcast, “Impaulsive” featured an episode with the former president. The podcast episode caught the attention of a lot of viewers and overall, had good feedback.
At GHS, many students in the senior class will have the opportunity to vote for the first time upon turning 18. This election is a tight race and as always, every vote counts. Senior Jenna Slates recently turned 18 and will be voting for the first time ever in the election. Slates believes that younger generations can make a big impact on the election due to differing views from older generations. Along with differing views, young voters may need to have a better understanding of what is happening during the election. “There are many false and biased news channels and I feel like young people should learn what’s happening on both sides and not believe the first thing they see before making their decision”.
All things considered, making an informed and educated vote can greatly impact the results of the election. Whether it’s younger or older generations, every vote counts and matters. Though the election is very eventful this year, it is important for all Americans to understand what is going on and how it can impact the U.S.
