Government shutdown could hurt weather disaster responses, Fema says

The House reached a budget deal on Saturday to extend funding for 45 days but Fema looks beyond at potential delays

The budget deal Republicans and Democrats reached in the House on Saturday included a 45-day funding extension for disaster relief funds. Lawmakers had been warning that without that provision, a government shutdown would hamper responses to any new weather disasters, leave hazardous waste sites uninspected, and stop work at federal Superfund clean-up sites.

Federal emergency management agency (Fema) staff will still respond to emergencies, but all long-term projects will be delayed due to a lack of funding in the disaster relief fund," warned the Illinois Democrat Lauren Underwood on Friday.