US disaster survivors still await at least $10bn in federal aid: ‘It’s devastating’

Key Points:

• Survivors of major 2025 disasters in St Louis, Texas Hill Country, and Los Angeles are facing prolonged delays in receiving long-term recovery funds from the federal Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, with the last allocation made for Hurricane Milton in 2024.
• The CDBG-DR program, which has distributed over $111 billion since 1993, lacks a standing fund and requires Congress to appropriate money disaster-by-disaster, causing significant wait times; survivors of the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes waited 655 days for funding.
• Despite the program being authorized for three years in 2026, no new appropriations have been made, leaving many disaster-affected communities without necessary rebuilding support and prompting survivors to advocate directly to lawmakers for funding.
• Advocates highlight that climate change will increase disaster frequency, urging pre-funding mechanisms for recovery programs, but some lawmakers resist committing funds without a disaster declaration, contributing to ongoing funding delays.
• Small victories, such as the recent release of $6.6 million in additional FEMA funding for Los Angeles wildfire survivors after sustained advocacy, show progress but underscore the urgent need for more comprehensive and timely disaster recovery funding.