1. Why is FEMA borrowing money in early 2025?

FEMA is borrowing $2 billion from the U.S. Treasury to cover the surge in flood claims primarily from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in 2024, along with other flooding events from the previous year. The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), administered by FEMA, anticipates paying out over $10 billion in flood claims related to these events. The NFIP's funds, which are generated from premiums, have been depleted due to the multiple catastrophic events occurring in a single year, exceeding its designed capacity.

2. What were the impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton that led to such high flood claim payouts?

Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm in late September 2024, caused widespread and devastating flooding, particularly in Southeast st ...