(NewsNation) — Following the devastation Hurricane Helene brought to several states throughout the South, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pushing back on claims that money for disaster aid was spent on assistance for migrants.
The claims come as officials struggle to get aid to hard-hit areas in the Blue Ridge mountains of East Tennessee and Western North Carolina. The storm washed out hundreds of roads, isolating the popular tourist city of Asheville, North Carolina, as well as smaller towns already located in remote areas.
What are the claims?
Some Republicans have claimed that aid is not traveling to storm-damaged areas because the money was instead spent to shelter those who crossed the border illegally.
The claim stems from an earlier statement from Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to Congress, which allocates funding for the agency, where he stated that FEMA does not have adequate funds to cover the rest of the hurricane season, which runs through November.
Mayorkas made the plea to Congress, which is scheduled to be in recess until after the November election. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has not indicated he has any plans to bring the House back into session earlier to address the issue.
How has FEMA responded?
FEMA recently added a section to its website rebutting the claims. The agency said it has enough funds on hand to meet current disaster needs and noted that money for migrant assistance comes from a separate pool of money than disaster relief funds.
FEMA also addressed rumors that it was turning away cash donations or volunteers, noting that as a government agency, it does not typically accept donations and suggests people contribute to established charities.
President Joe Biden has also pushed back against claims from former President Donald Trump that his administration had not been providing aid or was not in contact with officials from impacted states. FEMA recently announced it would be taking on 100% of the cost burden for aid to Georgia and North Carolina at the request of the states, as opposed to the standard cost-sharing model used for less severe disasters.
Does FEMA have a budget shortage?
Congress recently replenished a key source of FEMA’s response efforts, providing $20 billion for the agency’s disaster relief fund as part of a short-term government spending bill to fund the government through Dec. 20. The bill also gave FEMA flexibility to draw on the money more quickly as needed.
While Mayorkas indicated that money isn’t enough, he did not give a specific dollar amount. The budget is likely to shift depending on the amount of severe weather in the coming weeks and months.
Earlier in the year, the National Hurricane Center predicted 17-24 named storms in the 2024 hurricane season, with 4-7 becoming major hurricanes. The agency is currently tracking Hurricane Kirk, which is not on track to hit the U.S., and Tropical Storm Leslie as well as monitoring a tropical depression in the Gulf of Mexico that could develop into a storm.
September and October are typically the most active months of hurricane season.
What does Project 2025 say about FEMA?
FEMA is one of the agencies with suggested reforms in Project 2025, a controversial policy proposal from a conservative think tank.
Project 2025 proposes reducing the share of money spent by the federal government in disasters, with a maximum of 75% covered in severe disasters. It also recommends cutting preparedness grants for state and local governments. The document also proposes raising the per-capita threshold used to determine if an area is eligible for disaster relief.
Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, though several of the people involved in drafting it have ties to his campaign or prior administration.
Are victims getting $750 in relief?
Speaking in Georgia, Vice President Kamala Harris referenced $750 payments to Helene survivors, leading to rumors that the government was only providing that amount.
The figure refers to the Serious Needs Assistance program, which is an initial payment given to qualifying residents to pay for immediate needs like groceries and baby formula.
Affected residents are able to apply for additional, long-term aid to handle housing, repairs and other needs in the wake of Helene. The relief is not capped at $750, that is just the initial amount of money provided for those in immediate need.
People affected by Helene can apply for aid by calling the FEMA helpline at 1-800-621-3362 or online at disasterassistance.gov.
What is being done to help Helene victims?
Search and rescue efforts continue in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where volunteers, first responders from across the country, National Guard soldiers and active-duty military have all been deployed to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.
Supplies are being delivered to the area by road, air and even mule train as crews are still working to clear and rebuild roads washed away by flooding. Many in the area still have no power or water, with timelines for full restoration uncertain.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
