(OPINION) FEMA Administrator Deanna Criswell claimed during an interview over the weekend that fire officials in Southern California “were very prepared” for the catastrophic fires that erupted last week — despite significant evidence to the contrary.

Criswell made the remarks when asked by Margaret Brennan on CBS News “why the area was so unprepared” for the fires.

“I think that they were very prepared,” Criswell claimed. “This is something that they are very used to. They fight fires all the time.”

Criswell claimed that the firefighters “have never seen 100-mile-an-hour winds that are fueling the fire,” despite the state being forced to deal with fires every year that are spread by the powerful Santa Ana winds.

She further claimed that it was harder for firefighters to reach the fires because it was in “such a populated area.”

When asked if federal money that is given to California during the final days of the Biden administration will come with the stipulation that power lines must be rebuilt underground, Criswell responded:

“It’s not going to be a requirement for us unless it’s part of their local code, right? And we want to be able to enforce the local codes that they have, and so we’ll work closely with California, also using this as an opportunity.”  READ MORE