FEMA responds to disasters. This is what the company does—and would not do

What does FEMA do and the place does it get its cash?

FEMA has an working price range and a catastrophe reduction fund. The fund will get replenished yearly by Congress and is used to pay for restoration from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and different disasters. FEMA additionally pays for rebuilding from previous disasters and for initiatives designed to defend communities in opposition to future calamity.

“This is kind of like the emergency account for the country,” mentioned Samantha L. Montano, an assistant professor of emergency administration on the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Congress just lately replenished the fund with $20 billion — the identical quantity FEMA acquired final 12 months. About $8 billion of that’s put aside for restoration from earlier storms and mitigation initiatives.

The federal authorities would not assist with each catastrophe — it typically must be above the flexibility of a group or state to deal with. In that case, the governor or tribal authority asks the president for an emergency declaration.

As soon as declared, FEMA help varies extensively. Public help — which is lots of what it pays for — is geared towards reimbursing governments for particles removing or rebuilding roads, public buildings and extra.

FEMA additionally has particular person help, designed to assist residents. This could embrace one-time funds for emergency wants as much as a trailer for somebody who misplaced their home.

When there’s warning — like with hurricanes — FEMA coordinates with state and native governments about what they want and may pre-position provides like tarps or water in areas more likely to be most affected. FEMA additionally has search-and-rescue groups.

However specialists stress that the federal company is not in command of all the course of.

“Everybody thinks that FEMA just comes in right after the disaster and starts managing the entire disaster. And that’s just not the case,” mentioned Brock Lengthy, who was FEMA administrator from 2017 to 2019.

Does FEMA find the money for to reply to Hurricane Helene?

Trump accused FEMA of spending all its cash to assist immigrants within the nation illegally, whereas different critics assert that the federal government spends an excessive amount of on international funding for Israel or Ukraine.

“FEMA absolutely has enough money for Helene response right now,” mentioned Keith Turi, appearing director of FEMA’s Workplace of Response and Restoration, noting the $20 billion from Congress.

FEMA referred to as Trump’s accusations “completely false.”

The company administers the Shelter and Companies Program, which provides cash to reimburse cities, cities or organizations for immigration-related bills. However that comes from a separate pot of cash funded by Congress for Customs and Border Safety. FEMA offers out the cash, however it doesn’t come from the catastrophe reduction fund.

Congress additionally individually funds international navy help.

There are long-term funding issues for FEMA, nonetheless.

Turi mentioned the company was already working to make what’s referred to as a “supplemental” funding request to Congress earlier than Helene hit. Within the storm’s wake, it is clear they’re going to want much more cash, he mentioned.

Each Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who oversees FEMA, and Biden have sounded the alarm about extra money wanted sooner or later.

Talking from a Georgia pecan farm devastated by Helene, Biden mentioned the supplemental funding couldn’t wait: “People need help now.”

FEMA searching for more money shouldn’t be unusual. Lengthy mentioned he had to return to Congress thrice throughout his tenure for extra cash.

A 2022 Congressional Price range Workplace report mentioned that a lot of the cash that goes to the catastrophe reduction fund truly is available in these supplemental requests. Extra cash that is wanted varies relying on the catastrophe, however the report famous that “a small number of those disasters account for a disproportionate share of total spending.”

What occurs when the catastrophe fund runs low?

The catastrophe help fund generally runs low in late summer time earlier than Congress passes a brand new price range. When that occurs, FEMA shifts to what’s referred to as “immediate needs funding.” Meaning the company stops paying out for earlier disasters and conserves its cash for life-saving missions throughout any new ones.

When the catastrophe reduction fund is replenished — like what simply occurred final week — then cash will move once more to longer-term initiatives.

“Honestly, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to streamline it and rethink, ‘How can a disaster relief fund … be set up in a manner where the FEMA administrator is not constantly having to ask for supplemental funding?” Lengthy mentioned.

Will FEMA give me sufficient to rebuild?

No. It’s vital to know not simply what FEMA does, however what it would not do, particularly for people.

One declare floating round after Helene is that catastrophe survivors solely get $750 from FEMA. That determine refers to assist that the company can provide somebody in an affected space for what they could want instantly, like clothes or meals, Turi mentioned.

From there, the company can present different issues like cash for a storage unit, medical payments or rental help relying on the state of affairs.

For owners, the primary line of protection is at all times insurance coverage. Those that do not have insurance coverage or not sufficient can flip to FEMA, however the most quantity somebody can get to rebuild is $42,500. That is a far cry from what is required to repair extreme injury or rebuild utterly.

“This is one of the kind of major problems FEMA has in terms of how the public understands their role and responsibility,” mentioned Montano, the professor. “FEMA does not make anybody whole after a disaster happens. They are not going to give you enough money to completely recover your life.”