Steve King contrasts New Orleans to Iowa on disaster response: ‘Iowans take care of each other’

Republican Rep. Steve King (Iowa) contrasted Iowans as being willing to help one another compared to victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

“Here’s what FEMA tells me: We go to a place like New Orleans and everybody’s looking around saying ‘who’s gonna help me?’ ” King said at a town hall event in a video posted to his Facebook page.

He said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) told him that an Iowan, however, would say “wait a minute, let me get my boots, it’s Joe that needs help. Let’s go down to his place and help him.”

{mosads}”They’re just always gratified when they come and see how Iowans take care of each other,” he added. 

Iowa is among many Midwestern states affected by severe flooding. At least three people in Nebraska and Iowa have been killed. 

FEMA spokesperson Lizzie Litzow on Friday called King’s comments “inaccurate.” 

.@SteveKingIA’s recent comments about @FEMA comparing recovery efforts are inaccurate. All disasters are unique and our mission remains true that we are here to help all people before, during, and after disasters.

— Lizzie Litzow (@FEMAspox) March 22, 2019 

King has been the subject of controversy, particularly after he questioned how the terms “white nationalist” and “white supremacist” became offensive in an interview with The New York Times.

After these comments, the House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning white supremacy. 

Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in 2005, killing more than 1,200 people. It is one of most deadly hurricanes in U.S. history. 

— Updated at 5:35 p.m