How Long Can Humanity Sustain the Massive Losses It’s Facing?

Originally published 08.28.23

Part of the Humanity Crisis, Mass Migration, Displacement, and Hardships Series. This article will focus on the USA and FEMA.

How long will resources last when crisis after crisis is becoming multiple crises at once?

If you’ve tuned into the news lately, you’ve probably seen images of people in distress after they’ve lost their homes or assets due to natural or man-made disasters. As I’ve been trying to cover recent events individually, more and more kept popping up. So, I finally decided just to make a list, specifically of those that are displacing people or causing severe hardships (coming soon). These have made me ask questions I don’t have answers for.

How long before crisis intervention spending runs out? How long will the food banks have food? Who will build the houses of billions of displaced people? The businesses lost in fires and floods? Will resources for help run out? What will victims be left to do?

Earlier today, I watched a video of The Head of FEMA responding to Maui’s budget being monitored as it reaches depletion. Critics like Fox News anchor Jesse Waters and others have criticized FEMA for staying in the luxury hotel Four Seasons at $1k per night, while Maui displaced residents were allotted a whopping $700 each and moved into less luxurious hotels and Air BNBs, and temporary residential housing.

Maui residents have already been wary of FEMA; claiming they are not seeing the money being used to help people on the island and also complaining they cannot claim the allotted funds due to…you know… the whole city infrastructure, electricity, power lines missing thing…

“…For the survivors stranded in West Maui without power or internet and little sign of government assistance — local, state or federal — this help seems far out of reach.”

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But it not’s just Maui’s allocated budget that’s running out… It’s the entire budget…

A CNN article reports:

“The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster fund is already running out of money in a year that’s setting records for billion-dollar weather disasters – all before the peak of Atlantic hurricane season has even arrived. The relief fund is expected to be depleted by the middle or end of August…”

Whether FEMA is managing its budget and resources well enough (see video below for full FEMA explanation of Maui funds) and whether Hawaiians are truly receiving funds is beyond the scope of this article, but attention needs to be given to the fact that as it stands right now… It isn’t looking too good for Americans who will need help with disasters for the rest of the year. And even if they do get the budget, how long before it’s out again?

How long can Congress sustainably pump out relief funds for unplanned crises? I mean there is still that $32+Trillion national debt already threatening to “raise borrowing costs throughout the economy, reduce private investment, and slow the growth of economic output over time,”

“The NFIP is not built to handle this level of debt and its interest payments. FEMA will be unable to pay the debt as interest continues to consume revenue that would otherwise serve to grow the NFIP’s ability to pay claims to insured survivors.”

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After the COVID pandemic maxed out FEMA’s budget in 2021, the following suggestion was made:

“FEMA should evaluate all existing disaster relief fund obligations to identify options to reduce or cancel services, so as to recover funds for higher priority needs. Meaning, actions previously approved and funded by FEMA in states, territories, tribal lands and communities could be discontinued until the financial crisis is resolved.” – The Hill

This seems like it would be a hurtful blow to Tribal Nations, in particular, who have had many hopeful promises made to them as outlined in the 2013/14 “FEMA and Tribal Nations Pocket Guide,” and the 2022-2026 FEMA National Tribal Strategy, yet are still among the first to be deprioritized?…Yikes.

FEMA is committed to engaging with tribes as part of its government-to-government relationship that recognizes tribal sovereignty. FEMA is a resource for tribes in their efforts to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against emergencies and disasters that impact Indian Country.

“On his first day in office, President Biden called on all federal agencies to advance racial equity and support underserved communities nationwide. The FEMA workforce remains committed to this critical mission by instilling equity as the foundation of emergency management and always putting people first,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “FEMA’s first-ever National Tribal Strategy will be key to achieving this ambitious goal, which represents a significant milestone for the agency and reflects our deep commitment to better partner with and serve all 574 federally recognized tribal nations.”

Well, if funds have to shift around, I guess we’re all just going to have to pull our own weight?

Or… as we say in the hood … Who gon’ pay for all dis? ;0)

I did find an audit From The Department of Homeland Security signed off by Inspector General Joseph Cuffari claiming FEMA is not managing its resources so well, at least in some areas.

FEMA is not adequately managing SRL properties covered by NFIP. FEMA has not established an effective program to reduce or eliminate damage to SRL properties and disruption to life caused by repeated flooding. – DHS

At least The White House’s recent acknowledgment of Tribal or Indigenous people’s TEK (Traditional Ecological Knowledge) to help restore sustainable land practices to offset climate change is a step in the right direction…for whatever land is left to preserve in time…?

Counting my blessings,

iam:ForeverBlessed

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