Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warns that FEMA’s disaster relief fund is running low as hurricane season continues, urging Congress to act swiftly.
At a Glance
- FEMA lacks sufficient funding to cover the entire hurricane season
- Hurricane Helene caused over 160 deaths and significant damage in Florida and the Southeast
- Mayorkas calls for Congress to pass a supplemental spending bill for recovery efforts
- Over 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance
- Congress may need to return from campaigning to address funding needs
FEMA’s Funding Crisis Amid Devastating Hurricane Season
As the United States grapples with the aftermath of devastating hurricanes, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has sounded the alarm on a critical funding shortage for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). With Hurricane Helene leaving a trail of destruction and over 160 deaths in its wake, Mayorkas is calling on Congress to take immediate action to bolster FEMA’s disaster relief fund.
The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. FEMA’s disaster relief fund, recently replenished with $20 billion through a short-term government spending bill, is already stretched thin. With seven weeks remaining in the hurricane season, the agency faces the daunting task of responding to potential future storms with limited resources.
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Bipartisan Calls for Action
The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene has prompted a bipartisan group of Senators from affected states to urge Congress to address funding needs. This rare show of unity underscores the severity of the situation and the non-partisan nature of disaster relief. However, with many lawmakers focused on campaigning for the upcoming election, there are concerns that additional funding may not be addressed until after November.
“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” Mayorkas said. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.”
The impact of Hurricane Helene has been particularly severe in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Asheville, North Carolina, where at least 57 deaths have been reported. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper described the devastation in stark terms, saying, “Communities were wiped off the map.” The scale of destruction underscores the critical need for robust FEMA funding to support recovery efforts.
FEMA’s Response and Ongoing Challenges
Despite the funding shortfall, FEMA has been working diligently to provide immediate relief to affected communities. Mayorkas defended the agency’s response, highlighting that over $470 million in relief has already been distributed to those impacted by Hurricane Helene. More than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance, with that number expected to rise as recovery efforts continue.
“FEMA has not been slow at all,” he said. “It already has distributed more than $470 million in relief to individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene. I take great pride, and this nation should take great pride in the extraordinary work of our FEMA personnel and all first responders.”
However, the recent impact of Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm that left at least 10 dead and hundreds of thousands without power in Florida, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by the hurricane season. With FEMA’s resources already stretched thin, there are growing concerns about the agency’s ability to respond effectively to future disasters without additional funding.
As the nation braces for potential future storms, the call for Congress to act swiftly on FEMA funding grows louder. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether our disaster response capabilities can meet the challenges posed by an increasingly volatile hurricane season.
