"Hurricane Milton is bearing down on Florida only days after Helene tore through and could cost even more, says a former FEMA head."
"The cash-strapped US Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to be tested by back-to-back major disasters as Hurricane Milton barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast less than two weeks after Helene devastated the Southeast.
“This could result in a signification strain on FEMA’s resources,” said Daniel Kaniewski, a former deputy administration at the US disaster response agency. “A major hurricane hitting a highly populated area would certainly be a worst case.”
Even before Helene struck late last month, killing at least 227 and causing up to $250 billion in damages, FEMA was stretched thin by record-setting wildfires and other extreme weather events. Under financial strain, the agency projected a $3 billion deficit by February.
Although Congress provided FEMA with $20 billion in a temporary government spending bill lasting through Dec. 20, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned that the agency doesn’t have enough funding to make it through hurricane season. It still has enough to meet immediate needs, Mayorkas said."
Ari Natter reports for Bloomberg Green October 7, 2024.
SEE ALSO:
"As Major Hurricane Approaches Florida, FEMA Faces Severe Staffing Shortage" (New York Times)
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