WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio sent a letter to Deanne Criswell, Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), once again voicing concerns about the impending exhaustion of the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) as Floridians prepare for the upcoming hurricane season. This letter follows reports that the agency expects the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to run out of funds by August 2024 and may need to activate an immediate needs funding designation as early as June.

The senators stress the damage this funding shortage would be to hurricane and disaster relief efforts in Florida and across the country. FEMA’s latest monthly DRF report, issued May 7, 2024, projects a $1.359 billion deficit in its Major Declarations fund by August, growing to $6.811 billion by September. The senators are calling on the administration to provide answers on its current funding levels and plans to prepare and stand ready in the case of a natural disaster.

Last August, the senators sent a similar letter to Administrator Criswell and led the effort in the Senate to fully fund FEMA’s DRF at the levels FEMA and the White House requested. Not even a year later, the administration is projecting another shortfall, raising concerns about the White House’s ability to manage the program properly.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

May 20, 2024

Dear Administrator Criswell:

We appreciate your hard work and partnership to support Florida’s families following recent hurricanes. In Florida, we understand the importance of total coordination between local, state and federal partners who stand ready to deploy resources at a moment’s notice. Continuing this partnership will be critical to ensure Florida can prepare for, respond to, and quickly recover from severe weather during the 2024 Hurricane Season should disaster strike.

It is our understanding that your agency expects the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) to run out of funds by August 2024 and may need to activate an immediate needs funding designation as early as June. We cannot stress enough how devastating this funding shortage would be to hurricane and disaster relief efforts in Florida and across the country. FEMA’s latest monthly DRF report[1], issued May 7, 2024, projects a $1.359 billion deficit in its Major Declarations fund by August, growing to $6.811 billion by September. This is unacceptable going into hurricane season.

Last year, we led an effort in the Senate to fully fund FEMA’s DRF at the levels requested by your agency and the White House. It is gravely concerning to us that now, not even a year later, the Biden administration is projecting another funding shortfall.

As we work to ensure full funding for the DRF as a clean, standalone effort so that the federal government be a partner in disaster preparation, response and recovery, we ask that you please provide written responses to the following questions:

1. What is the current funding level of the DRF, and what are the estimated monthly expenditures that are being drawn from the fund?
2. Does FEMA still project a deficit to the DRF in August or do you expect it to occur earlier?
3. When does FEMA expect it will need to activate an immediate needs funding designation?

1. What level of funding does FEMA need to adequately respond to disasters during the 2024-25 hurricane season?

In the aftermath of any natural disaster, Floridians expect government at every level to work together and show up. Families in Florida, and across the nation, must be able to rely on the federal government to do its part as they get back on their feet. We look forward to your response as we work together to ensure FEMA and the DRF have the resources our communities may need.

Sincerely,

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