Mayorkas Sounds Alarm: FEMA Faces Funding Crisis Ahead of Hurricane Season

As recovery efforts continue from the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene, there are pressing calls for additional funding. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized on Wednesday that while the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently managing immediate needs, it faces significant financial constraints for the ongoing hurricane season.

Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across Florida and several southeastern states, leading to catastrophic flooding and over 160 fatalities. Mayorkas relayed these concerns while on Air Force One, echoing sentiments expressed by President Biden and various lawmakers regarding the potential necessity of a supplemental spending bill from Congress this fall.

“We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” Mayorkas noted. He underscored that FEMA does not possess enough funds to sustain operations throughout the remainder of the season, which officially spans from June 1 to November 30.

Recently, Congress allocated $20 billion to FEMA’s disaster relief fund as part of a short-term government spending bill that ensures operations until December 20. However, with Congress set to adjourn for the upcoming election period, pressing funding requirements could complicate recovery efforts.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated no intention to revise the current legislative schedule, maintaining that Congress has adequately funded FEMA to handle its immediate responsibilities. Nonetheless, a bipartisan group of senators from the affected areas has urged leadership for prompt action to address ongoing needs, potentially requiring congressional reconvening as early as October.

In tandem with these discussions, President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris embarked on a tour of the Southeast to assess damage firsthand, signaling federal commitment to support impacted communities. They are visiting both Georgia and the Carolinas, regions severely affected by the hurricane.

Currently, over 150,000 households have sought assistance from FEMA, a figure expected to climb rapidly as recovery efforts continue. The devastation has been particularly acute in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, with at least 57 casualties reported around Asheville, a well-known tourist destination.

“Communities were wiped off the map,” remarked North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper during a press briefing, highlighting the scale of the disaster and the urgent need for sustained federal support.