WASHINGTON — The funds allocated to assist communities affected by disasters are dwindling, following the recent impact of hurricanes Helene and Milton. This issue could threaten the government’s capacity to handle new emergencies effectively, as stated by the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during a Senate hearing.

Deanne Criswell emphasized that FEMA’s disaster relief fund, regarded as the nation’s emergency financial resource, currently totals less than $5 billion.

The Biden administration has proposed a request to Congress for nearly $100 billion in disaster relief funding, with approximately $40 billion dedicated specifically to FEMA’s relief fund.

This relief fund is essential for various recovery efforts, such as removing debris, restoring public infrastructure in affected communities, and providing financial assistance to disaster survivors for necessities, which can include hotel accommodations if their residences are rendered uninhabitable.

The additional requested funds would be allocated to various federal agencies, including:

• $24 billion earmarked for farmers suffering from crop or livestock losses.
• $12 billion for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to support block grant programs aimed at community recovery.
• $8 billion designated for the reconstruction and repair of highways and bridges.
• $4 billion intended for long-term upgrades to water systems to prevent future disaster damage.

Recently, Congress provided FEMA with $20.2 billion as part of a temporary government funding measure. However, nearly half of this amount has already been allocated for recovery efforts from previously occurring disasters.

Criswell mentioned that FEMA is currently managing over 100 disaster-related incidents for which it is still providing financial assistance.

She reported that the agency has disbursed almost $8 billion in federal aid related to hurricanes Helene and Milton, and as of Wednesday, there are less than $5 billion remaining in the disaster relief fund.

“These needs have rapidly exhausted our available funds, and without a supplemental, our ability to respond to new disasters could be jeopardized,” Criswell expressed.

FEMA is contemplating whether to draw from immediate needs funding, which involves reallocating funds from long-term recovery projects to ensure that adequate resources are available to address life-saving needs for impending disasters.

“The stakes are high as our communities increasingly face more frequent and severe disasters, and they rely heavily on FEMA and our federal partners,” Criswell remarked.

During the hearing, the committee also received insights from two senators representing Georgia and North Carolina, both of whom have been significantly impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, highlighted the extensive damage inflicted on the state’s farmers and ranchers, while Senator Thom Tillis, a Republican from North Carolina, passionately described the ongoing recovery challenges faced by his state’s western region following Helene’s devastation.