Disaster Relief Uncertainty Hurts State Recovery | Opinion [Video]

Last year, the U.S. experienced a record number of billion-dollar natural disasters, with 28 wildfires, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and other severe weather events contributing to a total $93 billion in disaster damage. This is the highest number of billion-dollar disasters since the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration began such tracking in 1980.

We’re experiencing more disasters that are increasingly costly. Yet FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) ran out of money halfway through hurricane season for the second year in a row. Although Congress replenished the DRF in September, just before Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit, this critical funding and the other assistance programs shouldn’t depend on last-minute budget deals.

As co-chairs of the National Governors Association Public Health and Disaster Response Task Force, we urge Congress to make comprehensive disaster funding a top priority and pass the president’s request for additional disaster relief funding.

Our states know firsthand how important federal disaster funding is to recover from devastating events.