Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reassured the public on Monday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is well-equipped to handle the impending arrival of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
He emphasized that FEMA has all the necessary resources to effectively respond to the potential disaster, with the storm projected to hit the state later this week.
“It definitely does,” Mayorkas confidently affirmed in response to Jen Psaki’s question on MSNBC. She inquired about FEMA’s preparedness to address the situation in Milton.
“And everyone can be assured that FEMA has ample resources,” he confidently stated in his interview on “Inside with Jen Psaki” on Monday.
During the interview, the former White House press secretary, who is now a cable TV host, raised the issue of The New York Times’s report on FEMA’s staffing shortage.
The report stated that only 9 percent of the agency’s workforce is currently available to respond to hurricanes and other disasters. Mayorkas was asked to respond to this concerning situation.
In the past five years, the agency’s staff available for deployment at this point in hurricane season has been compared to that by The Times.
Mayorkas assured Psaki that FEMA’s staff is fully capable of handling multiple crises simultaneously, stating confidently, “We have the personnel.”
“We currently have 900 personnel stationed in Florida, actively engaged in responding to Hurricane Helene. These individuals were previously involved in addressing the aftermath of Hurricanes Idalia and Debby,” he stated confidently.
“Our search and rescue teams are on the ground, and the Army Corps of Engineers is also present. We are fully prepared and ready to provide assistance.”
According to Mayorkas, FEMA prides itself on its ability to be flexible and respond to multiple events simultaneously.
Hurricane Milton is set to reach Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday night, making it the first major hurricane to directly hit the city in over a century.