Hurricane Helene barrels toward Florida

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – Hurricane Helene is barreling toward Florida with federal officials expecting the major storm to impact multiple states.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell plans to travel to the Tallahassee area Friday and urges those in the hurricane’s path to get out if told to do so.

“There’s still time to move,” Criswell said. “And you don’t have to go far. You just need to get out of where the major storm surge is going to be.”

Criswell warns the storm surge could hit 20 feet in Florida, the highest of recent hurricanes.

“The water is what kills people,” she said.

Criswell said flash floods and power outages will also hit many other states, but FEMA is ready to respond with crews already strategically staged nearby.

“And I want people to know that, that there is no limitation to our ability to come in and help them,” she said.

The agency had to dip into its immediate needs funding earlier this year to make sure it had enough money for a storm like this. Criswell said recovery projects could see more delays if Congress doesn’t pass a full budget later this year.

“Without a supplemental, we’ll find ourselves in immediate needs funding probably early next year again,” she said.

In the meantime, Criswell said more help is available to people who need it most, including a new Serious Needs Assistance Program.

“That can give a small amount of money, $750, in some of the impacted areas really quickly for things like lost food and so forth,” she said.

Criswell said FEMA can also now reimburse homeowners who are underinsured in these situations.

The administrator briefed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Hurricane Helene before leaving for Florida.

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