FEMA officials testified before Congress to ask for a total budget of $29.5 billion for the 2023 fiscal year.
This figure represents an increase of more than $1 billion from the previous year, according to a Administrator Deann Criswell's testimony to Congress discussing the needs of FEMA.
"Between 2015 and 2021 alone, FEMA experienced a 165% increase in the number of staff who deployed to support disaster operations for more than 30 days, and an unprecedented 346% increase in the number of days FEMA personnel were deployed to disaster operations annually," Criswell said in her testimony. "Weather is becoming more extreme, more intense and more powerful. Disasters are no longer falling within certain months of the year. Instead, disaster seasons are yearlong events."
Criswell also pointed out FEMA's budget falls in accordance with what they have established as their four-year strategic plan that spans 2022-26.
She stated the organization's three goals for that time frame are to instill equity as a foundation of emergency management, lead the whole of community in climate resilience and promote and sustain a ready FEMA and a prepared nation, according to her testimony.
Criswell's testimony said climate change is having a significant impact on the rising needs of FEMA. With more natural disasters, she says, it is only to be expected FEMA would need more funds to respond to those natural disasters.
"Ten years ago, we managed an average of 108 disasters a year. Today, we are managing an average of 311 — including the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Criswell said in her testimony.
Criswell is the 12th administrator of FEMA. She became the administrator when she was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in April of 2021. She has more than 27 years of experience in emergency management.
