The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, Deanne Criswell, recently addressed the media in Punta Gorda regarding the agency's financial situation in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Criswell emphasized that while FEMA currently has sufficient funds to address the immediate needs of disaster survivors, additional funding will be required to sustain long-term recovery efforts.
During the press conference, Criswell expressed concerns about the limitations of the Disaster Relief Fund, stating that it would not be adequate to support ongoing recovery efforts throughout the fiscal year. She highlighted the importance of assessing the fund's depletion rate on a daily basis to determine the necessity of requesting a supplemental budget from Congress.
“We’re assessing every day how much it’s drawing down on that so I can continue to work with my leadership as well as Congress as far as when we will need a supplemental,” Criswell stated. “We will need one. It’s just a matter of when.”
Criswell urged survivors of the hurricanes to apply for FEMA assistance, particularly for temporary housing and long-term recovery expenses. She assured impacted communities that FEMA would collaborate with them to facilitate the removal of debris resulting from the consecutive hurricanes.
The administrator's remarks underscore the challenges faced by FEMA in managing the financial demands of disaster response and recovery efforts. As the agency continues to support affected individuals and communities, the need for additional funding remains a critical priority to ensure the continuity of relief operations.
