toying with new ideas on replacing fema

I’ve read a number of articles about how we can move forward with a “new and improved” Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This article is but on example, Disaster management after FEMA: A National Guard for natural disasters

The article is not hogwash. There are many truisms contained in it. This an example, “A devolved, decentralized approach is consistent with a doctrine that the most effective response is locally executed and state managed.” This is an accurate statement of the current strategy. Local and state resources are not replaced the federal personnel. When states can’t meet the needs of a disaster is when “by mission request” they ask FEMA for assistance.

What is really the issue is disaster recovery funding. This is where states have gotten use to having the federal government backstop even “average, run of the mill” disasters.

Each state has a national guard already. We just need to establish standards that are not based on political decision making for the awarding of disaster recovery funds. Simplification of that process will speed resources to the points of need. Remember though, when you go fast the guard rails on abuse are not all there.