Mayorkas says FEMA has no resources to get through hurricane season

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency can meet immediate needs but lacks enough resources to address the crisis Hurricane seasonHomeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told reporters on Wednesday.

The agency is being overwhelmed as it works with states to assess the damage Hurricane Helene and delivers meals, water, generators and other essential supplies. The storm hit Florida last week and then swept through several states in the Southeast, flooding cities and killing more than 160 people.

Mayorkas didn't say exactly how much additional money the agency might need, but his remarks about Air Force One underscored concerns expressed by President Joe Biden and some lawmakers earlier this week that Congress may need to pass additional spending legislation this fall. to aid states' recovery efforts.

“With the money we have we cover immediate needs. “We expect another hurricane,” Mayorkas said. “FEMA does not have the resources to get through the season.”

Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, but most hurricanes typically occur in September and October.

Congress recently boosted a key source for FEMA's relief efforts by allocating $20 billion to the agency's disaster relief fund as part of a short-term government effort Expenditure bill to fund the government until December 20th. The bill also gave FEMA the flexibility to access the money more quickly if needed.

However, both chambers of Congress are scheduled to meet in their home states and districts until after the election as lawmakers focus on the campaign trail.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., gave no indication during a speech Tuesday that he was considering changing that schedule. He said Congress has just given FEMA the resources it needs to respond and that lawmakers will ensure those resources are allocated appropriately.

A bipartisan group of senators from affected states wrote to their leadership this week saying it was clear that Congress must act to meet the needs of voters. They said it might even require Congress to meet again in October before the election.

Mayorkas made his remarks as Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris streamed through the Southeast to view the hurricane's damage and demonstrate their commitment and expertise in helping devastated communities. Biden is traveling to North and South Carolina while Harris is traveling to Georgia.

More than 150,000 households have signed up for assistance from FEMA, and that number is expected to rise rapidly in the coming days, said Frank Matranga, an agency official.

The devastation was particularly severe Blue Ridge Mountainswhere at least 57 people died in and around Asheville, North Carolina, a tourism paradise known for its art galleries, breweries and outdoor activities.

“Communities have been wiped off the map,” North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said at a news conference Tuesday.