FEMA Director Sounds Alarm Over Disaster Funding After Recent Hurricanes

Without the funds, FEMA’s ‘ability to respond to new disasters could be jeopardized,’ FEMA’s Deanne Criswell said.

FEMA Director Deanne Criswell speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on Aug. 29, 2023. Win McNamee/Getty Images

The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said on Nov. 20 that her agency needs more disaster-related funding due to back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton.

In a Senate hearing, FEMA Director Deanne Criswell said that FEMA has paid nearly $8 billion in federal assistance in response to hurricanes Helene and Milton and that as of Nov. 20, its disaster relief fund had less than $5 billion left. Overall, the agency has more than 100 disasters on its books and is still paying to help with recovery efforts.