FEMA chief: Aid won't be hindered by money issues

[August 31, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The head of the federal disaster assistance agency says recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene will proceed regardless of a dwindling emergency fund.

Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Craig Fugate tells CBS's "The Early Show" a drawdown in assistance funds will have no negative impact on the agency's efforts to help stricken Eastern Seaboard states.

Fugate says "we're going to do what we're supposed to do." He says FEMA "will work with the White House on funds needed to recover from this and other disasters." The agency has less than $800 million left in its disaster coffers.

Fugate says FEMA's current focus is on Hurricane Irene recovery efforts and says it must also gird for any new disasters.

"We don't know what's coming down the line," he says.

[Associated Press]

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