FEMA pauses hundreds of projects as relief fund runs low [Video]

FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund is running out of money in the middle of hurricane season for the second year in a row. The agency says it will continue to fund lifesaving and life-sustaining operations, but it’s bad news for communities that are struggling to rebuild from past disasters. A Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesperson said at least 650 projects have been paused so far across the country and that number may increase depending on how long it takes Congress to approve more money. “This ensures that FEMA can maintain essential operations, prioritize funding for ongoing disasters’ needs and allows the agency to respond immediately to new disasters,” FEMA said in a statement. From fires to flooding, Santa Cruz County on California’s Central Coast has been hit by seven federally declared disasters since 2017, according to local officials. “We’re at a fundamental pivot point in our country where climate change is …