FEMA faces a financial crisis as Hurricane Helene devastates Southeast, sparking urgent calls for congressional action.
At a Glance
- FEMA’s disaster fund could be depleted by early January due to increasing costs from natural disasters.
- Congress failed to secure new disaster relief funds, leaving FEMA with a $2 billion deficit.
- The death toll for Hurricane Helene has hit more than 200 and is still rising.
- The Biden-Harris Administration has deployed over 3,500 federal personnel across affected states.
- FEMA has imposed new spending restrictions, affecting ongoing rebuilding projects.
FEMA’s Financial Crisis Amid Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is facing a severe financial shortage following the destructive Hurricane Helene, prompting urgent calls for lawmakers to approve additional funding. As the agency coordinates response efforts across multiple states, the strain on its resources has become increasingly apparent, threatening its ability to provide crucial aid to affected communities.
On Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke to reporters, saying, “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have.” However, he was quick to add that FEMA doesn’t have the money to last through the season.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has been actively overseeing response efforts in North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. The agency has distributed over 1.9 million Meals Ready to Eat, more than 1 million liters of water, 30 generators, and over 95,000 tarps to impacted areas. However, the scale of the disaster has pushed FEMA’s resources to its limits.
Congressional Inaction Exacerbates FEMA’s Funding Woes
The financial crisis facing FEMA has been partly blamed on congressional inaction. Before adjourning, Congress failed to secure new disaster relief funds, leaving FEMA with a staggering $2 billion deficit. A $10 billion supplemental funding request for FEMA was excluded from a stopgap spending deal due to opposition from conservative lawmakers, further straining the agency’s ability to respond effectively to Hurricane Helene and other disasters.
“We’re seeing a strain on our staff with more of them deployed for longer periods of time,” said Deanne Criswell, the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The federal fund for disaster aid could be depleted by early January, an unusually early depletion that underscores the severity of the situation. This financial shortfall has forced FEMA to impose new spending restrictions, affecting ongoing rebuilding projects and potentially compromising the agency’s ability to respond to future disasters.
Hurricane Helene’s Devastating Impact
Hurricane Helene has left a trail of destruction across the southeastern United States, causing over 200 deaths and inflicting significant damage, with parts of North Carolina being among the hardest hit. The storm’s massive storm surge, devastating winds, and flash floods have overwhelmed local resources, necessitating a robust federal response. Major Disaster declarations have been made for parts of Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, allowing residents to apply for federal assistance.
The Biden-Harris Administration has coordinated a whole-of-government response to Hurricane Helene, deploying over 3,500 federal personnel across affected states. Various federal agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Defense, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are providing support. Additionally, voluntary organizations like the American Red Cross have deployed over 850 disaster workers to assist in relief efforts.
FEMA’s financial crisis not only jeopardizes its ability to provide immediate relief to Hurricane Helene victims but also raises concerns about its capacity to respond to future disasters.
Sources
- Disaster fund faces a financial crisis, FEMA chief says
- Mayorkas Warns of Funding Shortfall for Rest of Hurricane Season
- Biden-Harris Administration Continues Whole-Of-Government Response to Hurricane Helene, Over 3,500 Federal Personnel Across North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama