craig fugate weighs in on texas flooding

From Fugate’s LinkedIn page:

Statement from Craig Fugate, Former FEMA Administrator, on the Deadly Flooding in Texas. He calls for a National Disaster Safety Board.

July 7, 2025

“The tragic flooding in Texas has once again reminded us how quickly water can become deadly — and how much is still at stake when it comes to protecting lives. My thoughts are with the families and communities reeling from this loss.

In the wake of disasters like this, we often ask: ‘What went wrong?’ But too often, we don’t have a system that answers that question clearly, independently, or publicly — and even more important, we rarely ask: ‘What can we change before the next event?’

That’s why I continue to support the creation of a National Disaster Safety Board.

Modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board, this kind of independent review body could be instrumental in examining deadly floods in Texas and beyond — not to assign blame, but to identify missed opportunities and recommend improvements across the board: in weather forecasting, emergency communication, response coordination, and public education.

We investigate plane crashes to make the next flight safer. We should treat disasters the same way. A National Disaster Safety Board would help us learn faster, act smarter, and ultimately save lives.”