Understanding FEMA’s Disaster Budget in Hurricane Milton Aftermath
FEMA’s disaster relief fund received $20 billion in September to replenish the Disaster Relief Program (DRF), which had dwindled to around $1 billion. This funding is sufficient for immediate needs, but there are concerns about long-term recovery activities.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell has stated that the agency has the necessary funding to support responses to both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. However, there are ongoing debates about whether Congress should return to session to address potential funding shortfalls, particularly for the National Flood Insurance Program and the Small Business Administration.
President Biden has urged Congress to provide additional funding for disaster relief, warning that FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund faces a shortfall at the end of the year. Without additional funding, FEMA might need to divert resources from long-term recovery efforts to address immediate emergencies.
The Biden-Harris Administration has mobilized significant resources to support communities affected by Hurricane Helene, including over $137 million in federal assistance and the deployment of 1,500 troops. However, the agency is still facing challenges in managing resources for back-to-back hurricanes, with only 8 percent of its incident management staff available to respond to new disasters.
FEMA has denied rumors of diverting disaster relief funds to other purposes, emphasizing that its disaster relief fund is separate from humanitarian support programs for noncitizen immigrants. Despite these assurances, the agency continues to face misinformation and politicization, which could complicate its efforts to manage disaster relief effectively.
