More than 80 organizations call on Congress to return to fund FEMA after Hurricane Helene

Source: The Hill

10/08/24 2:56 PM ET


More than 80 organizations urged Congress in a Tuesday letter to return from its pre-election recess to pass a supplemental package replenishing funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Helene and as Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall this week.

“Since the storm moved through the region, our communities have come together to clear fallen trees, supply drinking water and coordinate air drops of supplies to areas that are no longer accessible by road. However, our community resources can only extend so far,” the organizations wrote.

“We need Congress to take action to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has the resources they need to continue showing up for our communities through the long recovery process,” they added in the letter.

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that FEMA does not have enough funding to make it through hurricane season, but can still meet immediate needs, The Associated Press reported. “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” Mayorkas said, per AP. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4922251-organizations-call-on-congress-return-fund-fema-hurricane-helene/