#TrumpCheck
Welcome back to the second installment of our #TrumpCheck series, where we hold Donald Trump and his minions accountable for their role in derailing our democracy.
Every week, the LACDP will provide updates and fact-checks on actions or claims made by the Trump administration. This week, we're here to set the record straight on disaster relief and the California wildfires.
- Trump claimed that fire hydrants were running dry in Los Angeles due to a lack of water, and that that FEMA had no money available due to actions by President Biden.
FACT: Fire hydrant issues were caused by low water pressure, not due to a lack of water. The FEMA Disaster Relief Fund had a balance of $27 billion as of January 8th, when the claims about the balance were made.
FACT: "There is absolutely no connection between this water and the water needed for firefighting in L.A.," said a climate and hydrology expert Peter Gleick. "There's no physical connection. There's no way to move the water from where it is to the Los Angeles basin." The water released was in the reservoir as a backup for farmers during the summer months. It now will likely go to complete waste.
FACT: There has been an overwhelming response of support from around the planet for Los Angeles. Firefighting crews from Texas, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington joined the fight, as well as crews from Canada, Mexico, and Ukraine. Local community support was at an all-time high, as individuals in areas that were untouched by flames showed up to care for their neighbors.
Correcting misinformation distributed by the United States government is a job for us all. We will keep it up here, and on our social media accounts, linked below.