FEMA Funding in the Aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Other Natural Disasters

As Hurricane Irene hits the east coast, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is gearing up to respond to the devastation. In an exclusive interview with CNN, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano addresses the concern over FEMA's funding and explains how the agency prioritizes its obligations.

Key Takeaways:

• FEMA has enough cash on hand to respond to Hurricane Irene, with survivors and those who suffered uninsured losses for businesses and infrastructure receiving priority assistance.
• Public assistance for projects already under way will continue, but no new projects for older disasters will be approved until Congress replenishes the funds.
• FEMA has historically declared Immediate Needs Assistance to meet the immediate needs of those affected by disasters, which has led to traditional and predictable funding requests from Congress.
• The Obama administration is already in talks with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the president regarding supplemental funding for FEMA, as the agency's current funds are less than $1 billion.
• FEMA admits to being victimized by fraud and waste in the past but has made significant strides in rectifying these issues, with a focus on good stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Statistics:

• FEMA's current funds are less than $1 billion (CN)
• 35 miles per hour wind speed was recorded in North Carolina, making it unsafe for aircraft to conduct damage assessments (CN)
• Some rivers in areas affected by Hurricane Irene may not crest for up to 2 days (CN)
• FEMA has been victimized by fraud and waste in the past, but has made significant strides in rectifying these issues (CN)

Sources:

• CNN (CN)
• Federal News Service, Inc. (FNS)