DHS Sec. Mayorkas says FEMA ‘will need additional funds’ after Hurricanes Helene, Milton

Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed connected Thursday that FEMA "will request much funds" aft responding to hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Mayorkas made the connection portion answering questions from reporters astatine the White House property briefing connected Thursday. He said FEMA has capable funds to code the "immediate needs" of radical affected by some hurricanes, but urged Congress to determination quickly.

"President Biden indicated that FEMA and the Department of Defense would person to get done their contiguous needs successful this betterment phase. I'm wondering, aft your aboriginal assessments of harm from Hurricane Milton, coupled with the harm from Hurricane Helene, bash you inactive judge that to beryllium the case?" a newsman asked.

"Yes, I do," Mayorkas responded. "We person the resources to respond to the contiguous needs of individuals impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, and the associated – it's precise important to retrieve – the tornadoes associated with the hurricane."

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Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas says FEMA volition request further backing from Congress aft responding to aggregate disasters.

"That being said, we volition request further funds, and we implore Congress erstwhile it returns to, successful fact, money FEMA arsenic is needed," helium added.

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Mayorkas appeared astatine the briefing remotely from North Carolina, wherever helium is helping coordinate effect efforts.

Earlier this week, FEMA revealed that it had little than 10% of front-line unit disposable for deployment amid preparations for Milton.

Damage from Hurricane Milton is seen successful Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, connected Oct. 10, 2024. (Mike Glynn)

FEMA released a regular briefing connected Wednesday revealing the bureau had lone 8%, oregon 1,115, FEMA unit members presently disposable arsenic preparations continued. This fig represents a important driblet successful availability from a twelvemonth prior, aft an operations briefing from precocious September 2023 showed the bureau had 20% of the aforesaid unit disposable for deployment.

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A FEMA spokesperson indicated to Fox News Digital that the availability numbers released by the bureau are lone successful notation to the cadre of staffers who are portion of FEMA's incidental absorption halfway capacity. They are the archetypal enactment of FEMA staffers to deploy successful immoderate disaster.

Meanwhile, the FEMA spokesperson pointed retired the bureau has a full workforce of 22,000 staffers it tin telephone on, arsenic good arsenic resources from different agencies specified arsenic the Department of Homeland Security.

FEMA is contending with associated disasters successful North Carolina arsenic good arsenic Florida. Pictured: Swannanoa residents locomotion done devastating flood harm from the Swannanoa River successful occidental North Carolina connected Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024.  (Travis Long/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

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Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has deployed 10,000 National Guard members successful the effect to Milton. Roughly 3,000 of those person been sent from different states to assistance the betterment effort.

Fox News' Aubrie Spady contributed to this report.