“...WHY FEMA is unwelcome and being bypassed.”
Not unwelcome, just not figured into doing their job. With hurricanes being a major situation in Florida for many decades during which time starting in 1979 FEMA has responded. Some responses have been, shall we say, better than others. And they don’t have a history of product failure, just mis-management. Their communication and coordiation hasn’t had any real adequacy since 2017 when the people found out the agency is undermanned, underfunded, and mis-managed.
FEMA is an excuse for trying to throw feel good programs to try to make the feds look better than they are. And their faiolure to run it properly and trying to do things they have no control over makes them baffoons. DeSantos has been consistent with his determination that relief should be locally handled and was started in 2013 when he voted against sending funds in comgress calling it a pork project.
But he is on the ball in Florida as he had the national guard and other services in operation before Helene and is still deploying for safety and security. And dedicated funds are being used. They were the ants in the grasshopper story.
wy69