Capitol Hill has been empty since October 3rd, leaving the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, with three months’ worth of funding. However, without adjustments for hurricane season reflected in the funding, FEMA can’t provide proper aid to the East Coast.
This has created urgency all over the southeast after Hurricane Helene and Milton wreaked havoc. Houses have been pulled from the ground, people have died, and thousands have been displaced.
Typically, FEMA would be in charge of handling this as FEMA is responsible for aiding all emergencies in the US, and the entire federation is based on keeping the US hazard-free. Unfortunately, they are going to have a hard time doing that if their fund isn’t replenished.
Though FEMA should have enough money to cover aid for both hurricanes, they will not for the rest of the hurricane season. The 20 billion dollars given by Congress is already half empty and will be depleted after all aid for Helene and Milton has been given out.
There have been calls to bring Congress back early from their campaigning recess to approve more funding for FEMA, but nothing has happened, and it looks like nothing will happen despite the destruction and the loss of human life in the south-east.
According to CBS, 160 people have died, and 250,000 Floridians registered for help from FEMA just on October 12th alone, which is the most sign-ups ever recorded in a day. With this registration, those affected can earn up to 750 dollars.
FEMA aid covers temporary housing, distributing food and water, and the cleanup after disasters. Without their help, disaster-stricken states would be left in shambles.
Representatives from both sides have pushed for an early call back to Congress to pass a disaster relief package, with 60 House Democrats signing onto a letter wanting Congress to come back in session to take proactive measures to respond to intensifying storm seasons.
But Congress isn’t scheduled to return until November 12th, leaving plenty of time for the absolute necessity of funding. Though they are supposed to have enough money to weather this storm, hurricanes and disasters can’t be predicted.
Additionally, without replenishment of funds for FEMA, they will go into “immediate needs funding.” Those affected would no longer be able to receive aid, and FEMA would conserve its money for new disasters.
This would leave the US in a very bad spot, and in such an intense time both globally and nationally, not having funds to protect from disasters is harmful.
One federal program has already run out of funding post-Hurricane Milton. The Small Business Administration is officially unable to give out disaster loans to businesses destroyed during the hurricane, foreshadowing the inevitable effects if FEMA is left in a weak, underfunded state.
Additionally, congress won’t go back into session until after election day, making this a key point in their campaigning. Trump’s campaign has been pointing out the slow response of Harris and the Democratic party to respond to the Hurricane, leaving many swing states affected by Milton and Helene, like North Carolina, confused in this close election.
While, as of now, the effects of the Hurricanes are dwindling in the news, many must now relocate and find a way to protect themselves because the government cannot. Even further, social media influencers have taken to their preferred platform to raise money for the affected. Overall, the inaction of the government has much weight on the minds of potential voters.
This could sway undecided voters, particularly in regions affected, impacting the outcome of our very soon and very close election.
The human cost of this inaction by Congress is already being felt, with thousands of people still waiting for aid and the entire country being left vulnerable to further damage. Congress must act now to replenish FEMA’s funds or risk further devastation.
