DHS Sec. Mayorkas says FEMA 'will need additional funding' after Hurricanes Helene and Milton

Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed Thursday that FEMA “will need more funds” after responding to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Mayorkas made the statement while answering questions from reporters at the White House press conference on Thursday. He said FEMA had enough funds to meet the “immediate needs” of those affected by the two hurricanes, but urged Congress to act quickly.

“President Biden has indicated that FEMA and the Department of Defense should respond to their immediate needs during this recovery phase. I wonder, after your initial assessments of the damage caused by Hurricane Milton, coupled with that of Hurricane Helene, do you still think that's the case?' a reporter asked.

“Yes, I do,” Mayorkas replied. “We have the resources to meet the immediate needs of those affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, as well as the associated tornadoes – it's very important to remember – associated with the hurricane.”

RESURFACING VIDEO SHOWING FEMA PRIORITIZING EQUITY Rather than Helping the Most People During Disaster Relief

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said FEMA will need additional funding from Congress after responding to several disasters.

“That being said, we will need additional funding, and we implore Congress, when it returns, to fund FEMA as needed,” he added.

FEMA CHIEF DEnies AGENCY LACKS MONEY FOR DISASTER RELIEF AS FUNDS WENT TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Mayorkas appeared at the briefing remotely from North Carolina, where he is helping coordinate response efforts.

Earlier this week, FEMA revealed that it had less than 10% of front-line personnel available for deployment in preparations for Milton.

Damage from Hurricane Milton is seen in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, October 10, 2024. (Mike Glynn)

FEMA issued a daily briefing on Wednesday revealing that the agency only had 8 percent, or 1,115, of FEMA staff members currently available as preparations continued. This number represents a significant drop in availability compared to the previous year, after a operations briefing at the end of September 2023 showed the agency had 20% of the same staff available for deployment.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON ADDRESSES CLAIMS OF FEMA DURING FUNDS TOWARDS IMMIGRATION EFFORTS: 'AMERICANS ARE DISGUSTED'

A FEMA spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the availability figures released by the agency only refer to the personnel cadre that is part of FEMA's core incident management capability. They are the first line of FEMA personnel to be deployed in the event of a disaster.

At the same time, the FEMA spokesperson stressed that the agency has a total workforce of 22,000 personnel to call upon, as well as resources from other agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security .

FEMA is grappling with joint disasters in North Carolina and Florida. Pictured: Swannanoa residents navigate devastating flood damage from the Swannanoa River in western North Carolina on Sunday, September 29, 2024. (Travis Long/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis deployed 10,000 National Guard members in response to Milton. About 3,000 of them were sent from other states to help with recovery efforts.

Aubrie Spady of Fox News contributed to this report.