Kamala Harris did not say Hurricane Helene victims could only get $750 in aid

Context

A clip has surfaced online of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris speaking to the press in early October, in the wake of Hurricane Helene, with claims that she only offered victims $750 in aid. 

The clip is cut from an address to the press in which she says, "The federal relief and assistance that we have been providing has included FEMA providing $750 for folks who need immediate needs being met."

One iteration of the clip, uploaded to TikTok on October 2, features text printed across the clip that reads, "Kamala Harris says Hurricane Helene victims will ONLY receive $750 to help them with immediate needs."

The TikTok video gathered more than 60,000 views, with one commenter writing, "FEMA is broke because these idiots gave all the money to illegals. She and that idiot President are a disgrace to the United States!!!"

Others shared the same clip with a caption that says, "Kamala just told Americans they will be receiving $750 to those who 'truly need it' for hurricane relief.. We can send BILLIONS to Ukraine but Americans who have lost everything only get $750 dollars?! [sic]"

In fact

This is misleading. The clip is cut from an address Harris made in Augusta, Georgia, on October 2, uploaded by C-SPAN (timestamp 4:40).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Serious Needs Assistance (SNA) offers a one-time payment of $750 dollars per household to help survivors pay for immediate expenses such as food, water, and emergency supplies, but those who apply may also be eligible for further assistance. 

Later in the address, Harris says that victims can be eligible for aid beyond the initial SNA, saying (timestamp 5:20), "FEMA is also providing tens of thousands more dollars for folks to help them be able to deal with home repair, to be able to cover a deductible when and if they have insurance, and also hotel cost."

In a statement published on the organization's website, FEMA said, "Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds." 

On October 2, the White House said in a fact sheet, "After registering for disaster assistance, individuals may also qualify to receive disaster-related financial assistance to repair storm-related damage to homes and replace personal property, as well as assistance to find a temporary place to stay."

The verdict

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris did not offer just $750 in aid to victims of Hurricane Helene in an address to the press on October 2. Harris was referring to a one-time initial payment, but later in the speech said that further funding is available to assist with the likes of home repair and hotel costs. Therefore, we have marked this claim as misleading.