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.
Federal support for Hurricane Helene survivors has now surpassed $210 million, FEMA announced in a Monday press release. FEMA said it was “pre-positioning resources to support local and state response efforts ahead of Hurricane Milton” and is “fully prepared to respond to the storm’s potential impacts.”
FEMA has faced recent criticism for its efficacy in providing relief for areas impacted by Hurricane Helene. Lara Trump criticized the limited federal funding sent to hurricane victims on Sunday following former President Donald Trump claiming on Saturday that Hurricane Helene victims were only given $750. FEMA has also faced backlash in the aftermath of the storm over previously listing “equity” as one of its top goals in its 2022-2026 strategic plan.
Despite the Biden administration’s Federal Communications Commission denying an $885 million award that would have allowed Elon Musk’s satellite internet constellation, Starlink, to provide fast broadband internet service for businesses and homes in rural areas in December 2023, FEMA is relying on Starlink to restore internet access amid outages caused by Hurricane Helene.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressed concern on Wednesday that FEMA does not have enough funds available to make it through hurricane season. FEMA has spent almost $1 billion on a migrant assistance program over the past two fiscal years.
FEMA did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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