Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell said this week that the U.S. disaster relief fund has a balance of $3.4 billion, which will be exhausted in the first half of September.
With funds running low, FEMA is prioritizing the immediate needs of people impacted by the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Idalia that swept through Florida and potential future storms.
President Joe Biden called on Congress Thursday to pass $12 billion in additional funding for the disaster fund by next month, at the latest, when hurricane season reaches its peak.
“We’re going to need a whole hell of a lot more money,” Biden said.