FEMA lifts immediate needs funding status for disaster relief fund

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Sept. 30 lifted the immediate needs funding status for its disaster relief fund, as Congress provided additional support to the agency through the continuing resolution passed last week to fund the government through Dec. 20. Lifting INF status means the agency will once again be able to fund projects related to prior disasters, rather than prioritizing lifesaving and life-sustaining activities. Congress will still need to act on supplemental appropriations for the DRF, as it is projected to exhaust funding later this year or early next year. The AHA in September urged House and Senate Appropriations Committee members to provide supplemental funding for the DRF.