Floridians brace for Milton amid concerns over FEMA resources (includes video story)

While Florida prepares for another major storm, residents are still recovering from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Adding to the uncertainty are rumors about the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) running out of resources.

FEMA officials have assured the public that there is no shortage of disaster relief funding despite recent political claims from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. 

“We bring in resources from across the entire federal government,” said Keith Turi, FEMA’s acting associate administrator for response and recovery. “We work closely with the state of Florida and the local officials, and we have the resources that we need.”

CoreLogic, a property-related data and analytics firm, estimates that Hurricane Helene caused between $30.5 billion and $47.5 billion in wind and flood losses across 16 states.

The confusion around FEMA’s ability to handle both Hurricane Helene and the incoming storm, Milton, grew after former President Donald Trump fueled concerns, claiming, “Kamala spent all her FEMA money, billions of dollars, on housing for illegal migrants.”

In response, the White House issued a statement on Monday reassuring the public that FEMA “has sufficient funding to both support the response to Hurricane Milton and continue to support the response to Hurricane Helene.”

“We’ve had the local officials helping to push back on this dangerous, truly dangerous narrative that is creating this fear of trying to reach out and help us or to register for help,” responded FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell. “You know, people need resources, and we need them to get into the system.”

The Small Business Administration’s Disaster Loan Program is facing a funding shortfall. President Joe Biden has acknowledged that the SBA program could run out of money before Congress reconvenes on Nov. 12. The program assists small businesses, homeowners and renters.

As Florida braces for more severe weather, FEMA urges residents to stay prepared and informed. The agency has created a Hurricane Helene Rumor Response page to help dispel misinformation and keep the public updated.

Samantha Gutierrez is a student journalist majoring in Digital Communication and Media. As a bilingual reporter, she enjoys covering stories about her diverse Miami community. With a strong passion for broadcasting, she aspires to pursue a career as a multimedia journalist in South Florida.