counties and states react to federal disaster support uncertainty
Everyone is trying to read the tea leaves for the future of emergency management here in the United States.
So far, we have the following indications…all subject to change at the whim of President Trump.
Abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency or reform it in some manner or fashion
Mitigation funding of all types has been stopped
The intent (today) is to reduce federal financial support of state and local emergency management programs
FEMA staff has seen significant reductions in personnel and capabilities
Many senior leaders at FEMA with decades of experience across the board have retired, resigned or had their jobs terminated
FEMA has not had a permanent Administrator appointed. Those in acting positions (Three so far) have not been experienced emergency managers
The number of federally declared disasters was much lower in 2025
More changes are expected when the FEMA Review Council finally meets and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) gives them the revised report they submitted (expect before the end of March).
With the above in mind, state and local emergency managers are looking to how they might adapt to what is expected to come down the pike. The situation and these ideas are summarized in the article below:
How County Leaders Are Shaping a New Disaster Resilience Playbook
There is much more to the article than what I share below, but I thought this section was particularly relevant due to the uncertainty we are facing today.
“What Counties Need From the Federal Government
Keep programs predictable. Provide clear timelines, formulas, and performance periods so counties and states can budget for core emergency-management staff and retain talent.
Right-size thresholds and tests. Revisit recently raised thresholds for federal disaster response and recovery programs and account for the cumulative impacts of multiple successive disasters, including relatively routine events and the tax-base limitations of small and rural communities.
Streamline reimbursements. Publish a single, simple playbook; expand the use of expedited procedures and fixed-cost estimates for smaller projects; and pilot accountable debris-removal block-grant models to cut paperwork while preserving oversight.
Clarify interagency roles. Give agencies, such as the Department of Transportation and HUD, clear roles, responsibilities, and resources to focus on disaster issues relevant to their areas of expertise and have FEMA concentrate on people-first holistic disaster management and critical services to reduce duplication of effort and conflicting guidance.
Sustain and simplify mitigation pathways. Keep mitigation and long-term resilience programs stable and accessible with funding set-asides for small and rural applicants; offer flexible cost-share options; and clarify eligibility for generators, shelters, and hardening activities.
Protect risk data and increase technical support. Maintain open, reliable hazard data and expand practical assistance, including cost-benefit analysis help, so counties can turn plans into fundable projects. [Eric here: I think protect risk data means, “Don’t trash all the work done to identify climate change impacts so you can better plan for the future.”]
In this period of uncertainty, county leaders are clear about what they need to build resilience. If states and federal partners stabilize funding, define responsibilities, and reduce friction, local leaders can focus on lowering risk. The opportunity is immediate: Align roles and responsibilities across levels of government now, and the next disaster will be less disruptive, less costly, and less likely to set communities back.”
