FEMA will release $350 mn to local governments and electric cooperatives to reimburse disaster response costs from Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby, following months of pressure over delayed federal aid.
According to InsuranceNews US, the funding comes after lawmakers raised concerns that large amounts of already approved disaster assistance had not reached affected communities.
Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia disclosed that nearly $500 mn in Helene-related reimbursements remained unpaid. Earlier this week, he said the unpaid total had grown to roughly $600 mn.
The funds will cover costs already incurred for debris removal, road repairs, and utility restoration.
Hurricane Helene struck the Southeast in September 2024, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and surrounding states. Local governments and utilities moved quickly to respond, often paying upfront with the expectation that FEMA would later reimburse eligible expenses.
Warnock said disaster response should not be subject to political delays. He noted that counties and cities acted based on assurances that the federal government would meet its obligations, and argued the reimbursement process should not have taken this long.
I will continue pressing FEMA to release the remaining funds. In December, he led a bipartisan group of Georgia lawmakers in requesting at least $12 bn in supplemental disaster aid for Helene. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp made a similar request shortly after the storm.
“Hurricanes and natural disasters are not political; they do not care if you voted red or blue,” Warnock said in a statement. “Georgia counties and cities went right to work recovering from Helene’s destruction with the understanding the federal government would fulfill its promises and pay their share. It should not have gotten to this point.”
Relief delays extend beyond FEMA. According to InsuranceNews US, Georgia farmers are still waiting for assistance promised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In September, USDA and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announced $531 mn in aid for agricultural losses linked to Helene. That funding stalled due to administrative issues, including the absence of a finalized state distribution plan.
Gov. Kemp said that the application portal will open soon once USDA formally approves the program.
While the $350 mn FEMA release will provide some relief, state officials and lawmakers continue to push for faster delivery of the remaining disaster funds as recovery efforts continue across the region.
