How a city damaged by the tornadoes of Arkansas has become a case of test for Trump’s Fema

Veda Rose Knappenberger lost everything in March when a tornado torn his house with Cave City, Ark., Leaving it bruised and shaken in the heart.

A neighbor, Kathy McLeod, invited Ms. Knappenberger, 78, sleeping on her sofa until the arrival of the help. But at that time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had provided surprising news: it refused help to the residents of the nine counties affected by the storm system, claiming that the damage seemed to be sufficiently contained for state officials and local and volunteers to manage.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, a Republican who was President Trump’s press secretary during his first mandate, called on refusal. Another month has passed. Governor Sanders made a personal call during a telephone call with his former boss. Shortly after, on May 13, Trump announced that he had approved a disaster declaration for Arkansas, allowing residents to request a type of fema assistance known as individual assistance.

“They should not have deny it – they should at least have said:” We work there “,” said McLeod, learning that federal aid was coming after all. “In this way, people would not have thought they were just forgotten.” She would say to Mrs. Knappenberger the news when she came to physiotherapy, which she needed in part for injuries she suffered during the storm.