Liberal Outlet Faces Major Backlash For ‘Evil’ Cartoon About Tragic Floods In Texas

A left-leaning outlet is facing intense backlash over a wildly insensitive political cartoon that appears to make fun of the victims of last weekend’s catastrophic flooding in central Texas and blame them for their situation.

The cartoon, which was illustrated by Adam Zyglis of the New York-based Buffalo News, shows a man wearing a MAGA hat being swept away by the flooding. The man can be seen holding a sign reading “help” while a speech bubble reads “Govt. is the problem, not the solution” as the flooding rages.

Zyglis appeared to be piggy-backing off a thoroughly debunked hoax that claimed National Weather Service cuts prevented affected victims from receiving early warnings. The claim has been discredited by a number of media outlets, including the Associated Press, as well as several independent meteorologists.

“The WFOs [weather forecasting offices] had adequate staffing and resources as they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm,” said Tom Fahy, the legislative director for the National Weather Service Employees Organization.

Independent meteorologists and a former NWS official told NBC News that warnings issued in the run-up to the flooding were “about as timely and accurate as could be expected with the weather data available in real time.” Both sources stated that predicting extreme rain and flash flooding beyond several hours is extremely warning, and it is not always easy to get word to those most at risk.

“The forecasting was good. The warnings were good. It’s always about getting people to receive the message,” said Chris Vagasky, a meteorologist based in Wisconsin. “It appears that is one of the biggest contributors — that last mile.”

The Buffalo News has faced intense criticism for openly mocking victims of the floods — on the basis of a hoax — that have claimed more than 100 lives.

“What kind of sickness are you afflicted with to make light of little girls , many still unaccounted for, so you can score cheap political points on what’s even questionable issue,” one social media user said. “Many parents have yet to pull their 8 yr old girls out of the mud.”

“Disgusting. And to think it wasn’t just the cartoonist who made this, but this was okayed by the editor and where no one there apparently tried to stop it from being published.”

The Buffalo News has yet to issue a comment on the backlash, nor has Zyglis, who is a Pulitzer Prize winner.