fema disaster funds running dry

Having only $3B in a monetary fund may not sound too shabby for many, but for the nation with so many disaster needs and billion dollar disasters becoming much more common (note: you don’t need a hurricane either to get to at $1B damage total) they are running out of federal disaster funds.

Therefore, they have kicked in Immediate Needs Funding, explained below. Just another complication of DHS not getting full funding. Even though, I think the disaster funds is addressed separately within legislation (I think).

See message below that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) sent to the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM.

“FEMA notified IAEM leadership on Wednesday afternoon that the Agency has activated Immediate Needs Funding (INF). The agency's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) has fallen below the $3 billion threshold that triggers INF protocols.

Under INF, FEMA's expenditures are strictly limited to lifesaving and life-sustaining activities, including direct financial assistance to disaster survivors, emergency public assistance, active response contracting, fire management grants, and Joint Field Office operations. Non-urgent obligations, including reimbursements for completed work, Public Assistance Categories C-G, and Hazard Mitigation grants such as the BRIC program, are paused until full funding is restored.

FEMA has noted that recovery efforts may face delays until a full DHS appropriations bill is enacted.”