“We are Expecting Another Hurricane Hitting”. FEMA Is Running Out of Funding, DHS Secretary Mayorkas Warns

By Avery Lotz
Global Research, October 07, 2024
Axios 3 October 2024
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Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not have enough funding to cover the rest of the hurricane season.

The big picture: Hurricane Helene carved a path of destruction through six southeastern states, leaving unprecedented devastation totaling tens of billions of dollars across communities, several of which officials said Thursday will need a full rebuild.

  • At least 215 people were killed due to the storm, which brought catastrophic flooding to coastal and inland towns, the AP reported.
  • The federal relief agency is extending aid in the form of food, water, generators and monetary assistance, among other resources.
  • So far, officials said Thursday, FEMA has provided over $20 million in individual assistance.

What he’s saying: “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have,” Mayorkas told reporters on Wednesday, per multiple reports.

  • He continued: “We are expecting another hurricane hitting — we do not have the funds, FEMA does not have the funds, to make it through the season.”

The latest: Asked about Mayorkas’ anticipated funding shortfall Thursday, FEMA Director of Individual Assistance Frank Matranga said “money is an important factor,” but that “the focus remains” on assisting individual communities.

  • “We know that the needs right now are big and still not fully stabilized,” he added, saying the agency will continue to communicate its funding status to Congress.

At the peak of Hurricane Helene, emergency officials said Thursday, 4.6 million customers were without power.

  • That number is down to around 1 million across the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia, officials told reporters.
  • But while restoration efforts are underway, some hard-hit areas were left decimated by Helene’s path, meaning a full energy system — or entire community — rebuild may be necessary before residents can see power restored.

What they’re saying: “Many are being targeted to be restored by the end of this week,” Ken Buell, the CESER deputy director for Response and Restoration at the Department of Energy. “But then again, there are some areas that were so hard hit that those estimated times for restoration … could be fairly extended.”

The bottom line: This is not the first time the government’s disaster relief fund has faced monetary perils as the climate crisis deepens.

  • Last year, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told a House committee that the agency has been strained as the number of costly natural disasters soars.

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Featured image: FEMA vehicle provides communications support after a major hurricane. (Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0)
Articles by: Avery Lotz

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