it also includes longer-term localry items to rebuild infrastructure like schools, subway systems, public infrastructure and things like that. the $95 billion is not the total amount the federal government the actual number is much more difficult to quantify. for example, the department of housing and urban development issued over $30 billion over that time. when that number is thrown out there that doesn't mean fema programs but there is a lot more spending as well. host: so that doesn't include the flood insurance program? guest: that is a longer-term insurance program. how is that money appropriated, how does fema decide how much money they need each year? guest: it is a complex process, but in short they do it waste on the storms that have happened over the prior 10 years. they look how much has been spent and they estimate a good number they think will recover. they need to pay for prior-year storms as well so they have to factor that in. over the last couple years, that number has hovered above $7 billion. host: do they usually spend all of it? guest: in storms like hurricane sandy