FEMA’s Manpower Stretched To The Absolute Limit As Category 5 Hurricane Comes Rolling In
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently stretched thin on manpower even as an incoming category 5 hurricane moves toward the U.S. Just 1,217 FEMA workers, which is less than 10% of their personnel…
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently stretched thin on manpower even as an incoming category 5 hurricane moves toward the U.S.
Just 1,217 FEMA workers, which is less than 10% of their personnel, were available to respond to Hurricane Milton and other disasters as of Monday, according to The New York Times. FEMA’s staffing was at twice the level it is at now in October 2017, despite there being three major hurricanes earlier in that season, Harvey, Maria and Irma.
Hurricane Milton, which is currently on the path to Florida, strengthened to a category 5 storm on Monday. The eye of the storm is expected to land in the Tampa Bay region on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
Hurricane Helene, a major category 4 storm, made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26, and has left massive damage, decimating parts of the Southeast. Death tolls from the hurricane hit 227 on Saturday, according to the AP.