A New York Times report found thousands of calls to FEMA went unanswered after the Department of Homeland Security laid off call center workers.

Records obtained by The New York Times show that FEMA laid off contractors the night of July 5, when flood waters were receding but still high, and when damage assessment was taking place. It took Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem until Thursday—five days later—to renew the contractors’ contracts.