Quick Hit:

Vice President Kamala Harris once suggested in 2022 that disaster relief should prioritize "equity" in distribution, with a focus on communities of color.

Key Details:

• In a September 2022 event, Harris proposed disaster relief should be distributed based on equity, especially benefiting those hardest hit by natural disasters, including low-income and minority communities.

• Harris stated, "We have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity," stressing that addressing inequality is crucial when determining aid.

• FEMA’s 2022-2026 strategic plan aligns with Harris’ comments, with its primary goal being to “instill equity as a foundation of emergency management.”

Diving Deeper:

At a September 30th, 2022 event hosted by actress Priyanka Chopra, Vice President Kamala Harris laid out her approach to disaster relief, focusing on the concept of equity rather than equality. Responding to a question about how the U.S. should handle future hurricane devastation, Harris emphasized the importance of allocating resources to those most affected, particularly low-income communities and communities of color.

“It is our lowest income communities and our communities of color that are most impacted by these extreme conditions and impacted by issues that are not of their own making,” she said. “And so we have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity.”

Harris claimed that equity considers the different starting points people have in life, and that true equality requires addressing disparities. This philosophy fits into the Biden administration's broader agenda, particularly with FEMA, which has emphasized the need for equity in its emergency management strategy.

FEMA’s 2022-2026 strategic plan echoes Harris’ stance, listing equity as a core priority. The agency's first goal is to "instill equity as a foundation of emergency management," followed by leading climate resilience efforts and ensuring a prepared nation.

In the wake of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, which devastated parts of Florida and North Carolina, some media have questioned the administration's response. Critics have pointed out that while parts of Florida were nearly destroyed and North Carolina faced severe flooding, President Joe Biden spent time at his Delaware beach house, and Harris attended campaign fundraisers.