The New Orleans Saints moved to 2-0 on the season after a dominant performance against the Dallas Cowboys last weekend, but it wasn’t just the scoreline that grabbed headlines. FEMA found itself issuing an unexpected apology after mistakenly sending out a press release that humorously labeled the Saints’ blowout victory as a “major disaster.”
Heading into the 2024 NFL season, few expected the Saints to be serious contenders. Despite some skepticism, the team has shown real potential, with their latest win adding fuel to the growing excitement around their chances. While it’s still early, and no one is ready to crown them as championship material just yet, they’ve made quite the impression in the first two weeks of the season.
The Saints’ Week 1 victory—a 47-10 rout of the struggling Carolina Panthers—was impressive but not enough to silence doubters. However, their Week 2 matchup against the Cowboys was a different story. Traveling to Dallas, the Saints delivered a statement win, crushing the Cowboys 44-19. Derek Carr had a solid performance, passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns. He even managed a QB sneak for a score. Alvin Kamara was the star of the day, rushing for three touchdowns and catching one of Carr’s TD passes.
The Saints offense looked sharp, and their defense held the Cowboys in check, leaving Dallas reeling.
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The unexpected twist came when FEMA, the federal agency responsible for disaster relief, mistakenly sent out a press release related to the game. According to The New Orleans Advocate, the press release was supposed to be part of an internal training exercise. Instead, it was accidentally sent to the public. The headline of the email read, “President Daniel Largues Declares Major Disaster After Saints Beat Cowboys in Dallas,” and the message took a playful jab at the Cowboys’ poor performance.
“FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to the state of Texas to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 15, 2024,” the email joked.
FEMA’s press office quickly issued an apology, clarifying that the email had been sent in error and was intended for training purposes only. They assured the public that it wasn’t a real declaration of disaster but rather an internal mistake.
For Saints fans, however, the mishap may have been a welcome bit of humor, especially given the historical tensions between New Orleans and FEMA following the agency’s much-criticized response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
While many in New Orleans still hold grudges over that painful chapter, some fans likely enjoyed the irony of FEMA, whether intentionally or not, declaring the Saints’ blowout of the Cowboys as a “disaster” for Texas.
All in all, the Saints’ win, coupled with FEMA’s comedic error, made for an unforgettable week in New Orleans football.
While FEMA cleaned up its mistake, Saints fans are left hoping their team continues to wreak “disaster-like” havoc on their opponents as the season progresses.
