Undated — Some Democrats are calling for Congress to return from its recess to enact emergency legislation to pay for additional relief following the two recent hurricanes that caused significant damage in several southern states.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican, says he’s confident there’s sufficient funding in place to handle the disasters.
Federal lawmakers aren’t scheduled to return to business until November 12th. Grassley says –if they’re called back, he’d go, but he doesn’t think such action is necessary. The adequacy of FEMA’s response to the hurricanes is the subject of much “he said/she said” debate among the presidential candidates, but Grassley says he thinks the agency is doing what it’s supposed to do.
Hurricane Helene spawned severe winds, heavy rain and record flooding in western North Carolina, where Iowa utility crews are still helping to restore the power. Iowa has had its share of terrible weather events this year, too, and Grassley says FEMA’s response in Iowa to deadly tornadoes and historic flooding was up to par.
In addition to the billions in damage from the two hurricanes coming 13 days apart, Helene killed at least 250 people in seven states, while Milton is blamed in 14 deaths in Florida.
