FEMA

Many undocumented people are not eligible for federal financial disaster aid and several remain fearful even when help is offered.

Fort Myers Beach loses flood insurance discounts after a problematic rebuild from Hurricane Ian.

Castor also emphasized the need to modernize wastewater systems and the power grid in the wake of recent storms.

Fla. Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, and a former FEMA supervisor for violating Floridians' civil rights after hurricanes.

The Biden administration has approved more than $2.3 billion for those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Studies show the system for distributing the funds deepens historical divides.

An onslaught of conspiracy theories followed Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Although many of the claims originate online, targeting FEMA has real-world consequences, including deterring storm victims from seeking federal aid and endangering the agency’s employees on the ground.

Disaster relief often becomes political because so many people are affected — and because there is a lot of media coverage surrounding hurricanes, floods and other major weather events. Additionally, relief requires a lot of money and coordination by high-profile elected officials.

Fewer than 10 percent of the agency’s disaster workers are available to respond to Hurricane Milton and other calamities.

Former President Donald Trump and other prominent Republicans have questioned FEMA’s response and claimed that its funding is going to migrants or foreign wars.

At stake is tens of million of dollars in flood insurance discounts that policy holders have enjoyed for years.

FEMA representatives told Lee County and four municipalities within it that residents were losing their long-held flood insurance discounts because they didn’t follow the federal agency’s rules on rebuilding after a storm.

FEMA head Deanne Criswell says the changes are designed to simplify and speed up the process for disaster survivors to get help. Criswell describes it as the “most comprehensive update" to FEMA's individual assistance program in 20 years.