What a shutdown would mean for FEMA resources amid lingering North Carolina storm damage

A federal government shutdown in the coming days could have implications for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) long-term efforts, but would likely have little effect on the agency's ground-level emergency response work.

For activities like FEMA's response to Hurricane Helene, whose devastating effects are still being felt in North Carolina, the agency relies on the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which is a “no-year fund” that is available for as long as it takes to spend rather than being beholden to fiscal years.