FEMA struggles to answer calls from hurricane survivors as resources dwindle

FEMA has struggled to respond to hurricane survivors, missing nearly half of the calls made after Hurricanes Milton and Helene. From October 14 to 20, the agency received 900,000 calls but answered only 53%, with survivors waiting over an hour on average. The agency's resource shortages stem from significant spending on migrant services and equity programs, totaling nearly $1 billion. This has left FEMA with only about 500 workers available to handle the high volume of calls, compared to over 1,700 during previous disasters. Concerns have been raised about FEMA's capacity to manage future emergencies effectively. A former FEMA administrator noted that the agency is overloaded, while discussions within FEMA suggest a shift in focus towards "disaster equity" rather than broad assistance.