Hurricanes Milton and Helene are placing additional strain on the US federal government’s emergency response agency, FEMA. The agency is already facing financial constraints, fueled by a politically motivated disinformation campaign and weighed down by its previous shortcomings in managing significant storms.
As Hurricane Milton progressed past Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula towards Florida’s densely populated Tampa Bay area, the region was still recovering from the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Helene, which struck less than two weeks ago.
What is FEMA?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is the US government agency dedicated to assisting individuals before, during, and after disasters, which include hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods.
A FEMA rescue worker conducts a search with a dog following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
FEMA boasts a workforce of 20,000 personnel that can increase to over 50,000 active members during significant disasters, according to its official website.
The agency operates ten regional offices and possesses the capability to coordinate resources from various federal entities.
Established officially in 1979, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2004.
FEMA Staffing
Currently, FEMA is supporting 111 major disasters and 16 emergency declarations. As per its daily operations briefing, just 9% of its disaster-response workforce is available for Hurricane Milton.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell stated yesterday that the agency is prepared to address the needs of those in Milton’s path.
She also mentioned that FEMA has staffing options, including reallocating personnel from its long-term recovery offices to address immediate necessities.
A view of FEMA headquarters in Washington DC as Hurricane Helene impacted the US.
The agency can also access DHS “surge capacity,” which enables it to utilize staff from various agencies within the department, according to Ms. Criswell.
“We have these layers of staffing models because we realize we will have to tackle multiple events simultaneously, just like this,” she informed CNN.
FEMA Funding
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas informed reporters on October 2 that FEMA lacks sufficient funding for the remainder of the hurricane season, which runs from June to November.
A group of senators from US states in the hurricanes’ paths sent a letter to Senate leaders last week, emphasizing the necessity for additional funding for FEMA by the year’s end.
Speaker Mike Johnson refrained from committing to reconvene the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to increase emergency-relief funding before the November 5 election.
FEMA workers conducting searches in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene devastated the state.
FEMA is providing assistance to hurricane victims from a disaster-relief fund that received $20.3 billion from Congress for the current fiscal year.
However, at the request of the Biden administration, the agency is permitted to expend those funds more rapidly than anticipated due to the severity of recent disasters.
Disinformation Campaign
In addition to managing real disasters, the agency has contended with numerous false claims regarding the usage of its funds.
Former President Donald Trump and his Republican allies have alleged that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, used federal emergency funds to aid individuals residing in the country illegally.
US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene went as far as to assert that officials have the ability to control the weather.
Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that FEMA can control the weather.
FEMA has been targeted with numerous inaccuracies, prompting it to create a rumor response page on its website to tackle these issues directly.
One of the entries addresses the concerns regarding fund diversion:
“Rumor: Funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to support international efforts or border-related issues.”
“Fact: This is false. No funds are being redirected from disaster-response requirements. FEMA’s disaster-response efforts and individual assistance are financed through the Disaster Relief Fund, a dedicated fund for disaster-related initiatives. Funds from the Disaster Relief Fund have not been diverted to non-disaster-related efforts.”
FEMA Failures
The US disaster agency has faced significant criticism for its inadequate emergency responses to hurricanes, including Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico in 2017.
Residents accused then-President Trump of being slow to provide aid after Maria and clumsy in his public statements once it became apparent that the US territory had been severely affected.
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans, inundating parts of the city as inhabitants sought refuge in ill-equipped shelters.
Katrina devastated the Gulf of Mexico coast, leading to more than 1,800 fatalities and severely damaging FEMA’s reputation, which faced intense criticism for its response.
