As costly natural disasters pile up, coffers for federal aid need replenishing [Video]

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – As Floridians prepare for Hurricane Milton, a Category 5 storm, the U.S. Small Business Administration is running low on funds.

“In all these different places, people are hurting, and they require funds. And they require their Congress to be in session to do that,” said Rep. Troy Carter, the only Democrat in Louisiana’s congressional delegation.

Milton is forecast to hit Florida about two weeks after Helene made landfall in the state. It will be the fifth hurricane to hit the Gulf Coast this year, following Beryl, Debby, Francine and Helene.

Tulane University’s Dr. Rebecca Rouse is familiar with emergency planning. She worked for FEMA and the Defense Department and is currently the associate program director for Emergency and Security Studies at the university.

“The intensity, probably attributed to global climate change, is much more wicked, as we know,” Rouse said. “And of course the devastation from …