IMHO:  The pessimist in me has to wonder if this is really an attempt by FEMA to save money since they pay benefits who are officially listed as having died in a disaster.  This sounds like a typical 'Scrooge' Republican/Trump move, less 'official' dead = less benefits paid (aka money is more important than people).

"Chaotic and unending recovery after Hurricane Maria leads to far more dead than official government estimates" PBS NewsHour 5/29/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The death toll from Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year was far larger than known, according to a new study.  At least 4,645 people on the island are estimated to have died as a result of the storm and devastation that followed, far exceeding the official number of 64.  Judy Woodruff talks with Sarah Varney of Kaiser Health News.