WATCH: Pete Buttigieg Restricts Civilian Drone Pilots From Aiding Hurricane Helene Relief Efforts As Death Toll Climbs Over 200

After the devastating Category 4 Hurricane Helene struck the southeastern United States last week, civilians have been working overtime to rescue their fellow Americans in the most impacted areas, such as western North Carolina, eastern Tennessee, and Georgia. Those efforts, however, are being handicapped after Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ordered drone pilots to no longer fly their aerial vehicles over some areas impacted by the storm.

"Drone pilots: Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene. Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground," the US Department of Transportation wrote on X. Buttigieg reiterated the demand that there will be flight restrictions for civilian pilots wishing to deliver supplies to those in need. "Our goal is to make sure that funding is no obstacle to very quickly getting people the relief they need and deserve. There's also some safety issues that come up. For example, temporary flight restrictions to make sure the airspace is clear for any flights or drone activity that might be involved in helping to allow those emergency responders to do their job," Buttigieg said.

The announcement comes as the federal government has slow-walked recovery efforts in the region. Vice President Kamala Harris visited the impacted area nearly a week after the storm made landfall. During her trip, the Democratic presidential candidate announced that those impacted could apply for $750 in emergency assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

"The federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met such as food, baby formula, and the like," the vice president said while reading from prepared remarks during a news conference. "You can apply now for anyone who is watching this that has been affected. There are FEMA personnel who are going door-to-door to interact personally with folks, especially those who do not have electricity. But also that aid, if you have electricity, can be applied for online, and I encourage people to do that."

In addition to providing some support for victims of the storm, Harris announced that the federal government would fully reimburse state governments for the costs associated with providing food, water, and shelter to impacted residents and the costs associated with debris removal. "The assessment of the damage is being done across the board, and of course, the highest priority is to locate and determine individuals, people who are in need and making sure that we are getting to them as quickly as possible," Harris said, as reported by The Telegraph. "There's a lot of work that's going to need to happen over the coming days, weeks, and months, and the coordination that we have dedicated ourselves to will be long-lasting to get families, residents, and neighborhoods back up and running."

Making matters even worse for the people of western North Carolina, Georgia, and eastern Tennessee who were most heavily impacted, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Wednesday that FEMA doesn't have enough funds to make it through hurricane season because the agency has spent over a billion dollars aiding illegal immigrants.

"FEMA is set up to help Americans during natural disasters. Kamala & Biden used the money to house illegal immigrants. FEMA's now saying they are broke & can't help suffering Americans," Sen. Eric Schmitt wrote (R-MO). This is worse than Katrina yet the media is covering for the Admin because of the election."

🚨 Drone pilots: Do not fly your drone near or around rescue and recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.

Interfering with emergency response operations impacts search and rescue operations on the ground. For more information on temporary flight restrictions follow: @FAADroneZone pic.twitter.com/muxHefL1sH

— U.S. Department of Transportation (@USDOT) October 2, 2024

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