Today's Article

"Look, there it goes. There it goes." 

It takes longer to see the 3big picture cost of storms like Idalia. 

"It's far too early to even 4estimate what the cost is."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator says there are, 1,500 federal responders 5on the ground, including 300 from 6FEMA. Criswell is expected to tour Florida Thursday as she toured Hawaii last week after the wildfire. 

"I don't think anybody can 7deny the impact of the climate 8crisis anymore." 

The costs add up. Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced $95 million for Hawaii's 9electrical grid, $400 million to remove 10debris. Even before Maui and Florida, the federal government says 15 events this year cost more than $39 billion. FEMA's director says the Emergency Management 11Relief Fund could 12run dry without more money from 13Congress. 

"We are looking at what the cost of these storms are as we 14approach the end of this 15fiscal year." 

President Biden says there should be no debate. 

"How can we not respond? My God, how can we not respond to these needs? And so I'm confident, even though there's a lot of talk from some of our friends up in the hill about the cost, we got to do it." 

16Budget talks 17loom, as does the rest of hurricane season.