Read it and weep is my summary of this looong article on how disaster events in North Carolina played out last fall, immediately after the storm that ravaged the mountain areas of the state. Pay particular attention to the misinformation that spread about what FEMA would cover in disaster relief, how President Biden “pushed a button” to have the storm hit the state, and on and on

The bleeding of experience and institutional knowledge is continuing across the federal government as professionals with decades of experience take the buyout that was offered and leave their positions. See the list of positions in this article, CISA loses nearly all top officials as purge continues

One of my big fears is how the current federal administration is changing the relationship between the United States and Canada. In treating Canada as the enemy or at least something to be desired as the 51st state has alienated much of the population of Canada. Previous work that has been done to provide for cross border cooperation during a disaster is likely in jeopardy going forward. People are people and not immune to hard feelings when they are treated less than equals or what they thought to be friends.

I guess this “old dog” has not kept up with the times. I now see that EMI is now “National Disaster and Emergency Management University (NDEMU) in Emmitsburg, Md.” Am I the last to know this?

See this brief announcement, FEMA Reopens National Fire Academy and Other National Schoolhouses

There are only a few days left in May before the 2025 hurricane season begins on June 1^st. See NOAA Predicts ‘Above Average’ Hurricane Season

New technologies are encouraging organizations to look more proactively about predicting disaster damages. That is the topic of this Disaster Zone Podcast: Predicting Damages Before a Disaster  This a thoughtful discussion on what is possible today and what might be more possible in the future.

This CNN story describes the current situation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Exclusive: FEMA is ‘not ready’ for hurricane season, internal agency review shows

I just did a blog post on the value of “in-person” training and after shooting it off to be posted to the Disaster Zone Blog, I read the following on LinkedIn from someone attending the Florida Hurricane Conference.  Note that the link calls it the Governor’s Hurricane Conference, but the state is not there!

The real question that comes from this article, FEMA cuts emergency training under Trump as hurricane season looms is about the value of “in-person” training.

All the conversation that the Trump Administration has created about the future for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has energized others to “get in the game,” Congress counters Trump with massive FEMA restructuring plan

In my mind we have our entire federal government functions in “reverse gear” and moving backward as fast as possible. One example of that is this, DHS abruptly ends flexible work agreements

Almost all federal agencies have been impacted by staff reductions. The National Weather Service (NWS) has not been exempted from those reductions. See this CNN story, US weather forecasting is more crippled than previously known as hurricane season nears

I found this opinion piece of interest, Changes to FEMA are yet another disaster Iowans shouldn’t have to facebe felt everywhere.

Disasters can make for strange bedfellows, or not. With the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) still in question, disasters continue to pile up—especially in the South with many Republican states getting hit hard by spring storms

We have heard a great deal about fraud, waste and abuse in 2025. As those who seek fraud in the federal government have found, it does not exist in any great quantity. Some of the numbers tallied as “fraud” are for programs that were funded by congress that the current administration finds objectionable.

It would seem that the AmeriCorps program is going to be discontinued. See this AP story, Most of AmeriCorps staff members have been placed on leave after DOGE cuts

Check out the latest Disaster Zone Podcast: Volunteers Assets or Liabilities  We have many different people and organizations to thank when it comes to all our volunteer individuals and groups

I don’t think most people understand the totality of the threat we face from space weather. A “direct hit” on North America would take us back to the stone age—technologically. There are two opportunities to learn more about this threat. 

Every organization I know will always tout safety as of the utmost importance. The question is—is that really true?