FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund: Budgetary History and Projections

The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), the primary source of federal financial aid following catastrophes, offers financial assistance to individuals as well as state, municipal, and tribal governments to help them respond to and recover from disasters. The fund is managed by the Government Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through a single federal spending account. The funds are used to repair, replace, and strengthen the resilience of damaged infrastructure, remove debris, offer crucial services, pay for home repairs and property replacements for impacted people, and meet other needs.