Coronavirus Pandemic Threatens to Suffocate US Hurricane Response

June 1 marks the start of hurricane season in the US, only this year, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is bracing for a higher than usual amount of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean, where the norm is typically six. Social distancing to prevent COVID-19 is a new problem to factor into evacuation plans this year. New Jersey says widespread evacuations will be a last resort and will consider renting hotel rooms to accommodate social distancing. Concerns linger over stretched financial resources and rescue teams. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it has created a national coordination center for non-COVID-19 disaster response but city and state officials are wary, with concerns circulating over whether they will be left to bear the costs of both crises. Nearly half of Houston’s $20 million disaster relief fund has already been spent on coronavirus and 2017 Hurricane Harvey response. Although the US Congress has passed bills allocating nearly $3 trillion in response to the pandemic, only $150 billion or so in aid is set aside for states and cities. New York City’s Comptroller, referring to the fact that New York state is now the highest number of cases in the US and the world, says the city is not prepared for a storm, let alone a hurricane and ensuing crisis on top of the COVID-19 crisis already underway. (Reuters).