On Oct. 2, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) doesn’t have enough funding to last through hurricane season. The warning came nearly a week after Hurricane Helene plowed through several states in the Southeast, flooding towns and killing more than 200 people. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, but most hurricanes typically occur in September and October. STORY: https://www.10tv.com/article/news/verify/money-verify/fema-running-low-disaster-money-but-not-because-funds-went-to-housing-undocumented-migrants/536-be598488-368b-4c75-a85a-0c354b29dd26 “We are meeting the immediate needs with the money that we have. We are expecting another hurricane hitting,” Mayorkas said. “FEMA does not have the funds to make it through the season.” After Mayorkas’ warning, many people on social media, including Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, claimed FEMA is running out of money to help hurricane survivors because the agency spent roughly $1 billion to house undocumented migrants. Multiple VERIFY readers, including Emily, Ken and Tom, sent us messages asking if these claims are true. THE QUESTION Is FEMA running out of disaster relief funding because it spent the money to house undocumented migrants? THE SOURCES U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act Congressional Research Service Congressional Budget Office Angelo Fernández Hernández, a White House spokesperson THE ANSWER No, FEMA isn’t running out of disaster relief funding because it spent the money to house undocumented migrants. WHAT WE FOUND FEMA is not running out of funding to help hurricane survivors because it spent the money to house undocumented migrants, like viral social posts falsely claim. “These claims are completely false,” a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told VERIFY. “The Shelter and Services Program (SSP) is a completely separate, appropriated grant program that was authorized and funded by Congress and is not associated in any way with FEMA’s disaster-related authorities or funding streams.” The Disaster Relief Fund, which FEMA manages, and the money used to fund the Shelter and Services Program — a federal grant program administered by FEMA in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that provides financial support to non-federal entities to help undocumented migrants — are appropriated through two entirely separate funding streams. Both are authorized and funded by Congress each year, and the money can only be used for their designated purposes. “No money is being diverted from disaster response needs. FEMA’s disaster response efforts and individual assistance is funded through the Disaster Relief Fund, which is a dedicated fund for disaster efforts. Disaster Relief Fund money has not been diverted to other, non-disaster related efforts,” FEMA says on its website. Angelo Fernández Hernández, a White House spokesperson, also addressed the viral claims in an X post on Oct. 3. “This is FALSE. The Disaster Relief Fund is specifically appropriated by Congress to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate impacts of natural disasters. It is completely separate from other grant programs administered by FEMA for DHS,” Fernández Hernández wrote. The Disaster Relief Fund The Disaster Relief Fund is the largest source of federal financial assistance after disasters, according to the Congressional Budget Office and the Congressional Research Service. The fund is primarily used to help households and state, local and tribal governments respond to and recover from natural disasters. FEMA administers the Disaster Relief Fund through a single federal spending account under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which is authorized by Congress each year. The money is used for the following activities: Repair, replace, and improve the resiliency of damaged infrastructure Clear debris Provide critical services Cover the costs of home repairs, property replacement, and other needs for affected households Implement projects designed to mitigate the effects of future disasters Hurricanes have the largest impact on disaster relief-related spending, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and FEMA says large responses typically deplete the fund rapidly. Over the last four years, Congress appropriated more than $175 billion to the Disaster Relief Fund, the Congressional Research Service notes.