Homeland Security Secretary Confirms FEMA’s Fund Shortage Amid Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has confirmed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in need of additional funds following the response to hurricanes Helene and Milton. Announced during a White House press briefing on Thursday, Mayorkas emphasized the urgency of Congressional action to replenish FEMA’s resources.

Speaking to reporters, Mayorkas stated, “We have the resources to respond to the immediate needs of individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton.” However, he noted, “That being said, we will need additional funds, and we implore Congress when it returns to, in fact, fund FEMA as is needed.”

Mayorkas joined the briefing remotely from North Carolina, where he was engaged in coordinating response efforts. This week, the Department of Homeland Security revealed that only 8% of FEMA’s frontline staff were available for deployment as part of the Milton response, marking a significant decrease from the previous year’s 20%. A spokesperson explained that this figure only concerned the incident management core capacity, although FEMA still has a total workforce of 22,000 staffers.

Simultaneously, FEMA is handling simultaneous recovery efforts in North Carolina and Florida. Reports from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, depict the damages wrought by Hurricane Milton, while in North Carolina, communities are grappling with severe flood damages from the Swannanoa River.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has mobilized 10,000 National Guard members to aid in recovery, with 3,000 coming from out-of-state sources to enhance the response team.

During the press briefing, Mayorkas underscored the broader strain on emergency services and the importance of federal funding to facilitate ongoing recovery efforts. “The President has indicated that both FEMA and the Department of Defense must address their immediate needs in the recovery phase,” Mayorkas remarked.