Hurricanes Milton and Helene are intensifying the strain on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the government’s emergency response outfit. This agency is grappling with budget shortages, navigating a politically charged disinformation landscape, and trying to shake off the shadows of its past inadequacies in managing large-scale storms.
Hurricane Milton, growing in strength, is moving past Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, setting its sights on Florida’s bustling Tampa Bay region, which is still recovering from the recent onslaught of Hurricane Helene—a calamity that struck less than two weeks prior.
What Exactly is FEMA?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency stands as the U.S. government’s dedicated force for disaster response. Its goal? To assist individuals before, during, and after catastrophes, ranging from hurricanes and tornadoes to earthquakes and floods.
One might spot a FEMA rescue worker, accompanied by a highly-trained canine, combing through debris in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
The agency boasts a core staff of around 20,000 personnel, but this number can surge beyond 50,000 during significant disasters, according to their official site.
With ten regional offices, FEMA possesses the ability to orchestrate resources from various federal departments as needed.
Established in 1979, the agency became integrated into the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2004.
Current Staffing Situation
As it stands, FEMA is tending to 111 major disasters and 16 emergency declarations. However, a recent briefing revealed that only 9% of their disaster-response personnel are currently available to address Hurricane Milton.
FEMA’s Administrator, Deanne Criswell, expressed confidence yesterday, assuring that the agency stands ready to assist those affected by Milton. “We have options for staffing,” she noted, highlighting the possibility of reallocating personnel from longer-term recovery initiatives to respond to immediate needs.
Inside the FEMA headquarters located in Washington, D.C., the atmosphere is charged as Hurricane Helene wreaks havoc.
In addition, the agency can leverage “surge capacity” within the DHS, enabling collaboration with other agencies during crises, as explained by Ms. Criswell.
“We’ve designed multiple staffing models knowing we might face simultaneous challenges like this,” she shared with CNN.
Funding Challenges
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas conveyed pressing news to reporters on October 2—that FEMA currently lacks sufficient funds for the remainder of the hurricane season, which stretches from June to November.
A bipartisan group of senators from states on the path of these hurricanes has sent a missive to Senate leaders emphasizing the urgent need for additional funding by year’s end.
However, Speaker Mike Johnson’s position remains uncertain, as he has refrained from committing to reconvene the Republican-majority House of Representatives to increase emergency-relief funding before the November 5 election.
FEMA is mobilizing support for hurricane victims using a disaster-relief fund fueled by a hefty $20.3 billion allocation from Congress for the current fiscal year.
In light of the recent severe disasters, the Biden administration has requested that FEMA utilize these funds more rapidly than originally intended.
Battling Disinformation
Beyond the on-the-ground realities, FEMA is also wrestling with a barrage of misinformation concerning the utilization of its funds.
Notably, former President Donald Trump and certain Republican figures have alleged that President Biden and Vice President Harris misappropriated federal emergency funds to assist undocumented immigrants.
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has, rather audaciously, claimed that officials possess the capability to manipulate weather patterns.
Given the flood of misconceptions, FEMA has created a dedicated page on its website to tackle these unfounded claims head-on.
For instance, one entry specifically addresses concerns regarding funding misallocation:
“Rumor: Funding for FEMA disaster response was diverted to international efforts or border-related issues.”
“Fact: This assertion is completely false. No funds have been redirected away from disaster-response needs. FEMA relies on a dedicated Disaster Relief Fund specifically for these efforts, which remains intact.”
Learning from Past Mistakes
Amid the turmoil, FEMA’s track record has drawn considerable criticism, particularly for its handling of past hurricanes, most notably in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Residents accused then-President Trump of delayed aid delivery and clumsy public communications in the aftermath of this tragic event.
Similarly, Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 with immense ferocity, decimating New Orleans and causing widespread flooding, while an underprepared shelter system added to the chaos.
As Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, claiming over 1,800 lives, the shortcomings of FEMA during that crisis solidified its reputation as a beleaguered agency, facing relentless scrutiny for its inadequate response.
In the wake of these challenges, FEMA finds itself at a critical crossroads. The balance between managing resources and addressing both current disasters and the fallout from previous crises continues to pose a daunting challenge for the agency.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
