Oct 3, 2024 - Energy & Climate

FEMA is running out of funding, DHS Secretary Mayorkas warns

Avery Lotz

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at a White House press briefing. — Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the White House on Oct. 1, 2024 following Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel in retaliation for attacks on Hezbollah leadership. Photo: Kent Nishimura/Getty Images

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.

Go deeper: Hurricane Helene's rapid intensification fits ominous trend

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FEMA is running out of funding, DHS Secretary Mayorkas warns

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