The following article from the New York Times Trump Looks to Avoid Casting Blame in Texas Flood as Democrats Question Cuts got me thinking about who is to be blamed. Or, more specifically, who to blame for what aspect of the disaster that has now killed over 100 people in Texas? In general, I’d have to say that the Pottery Barn rule applies to disasters. If you break it, you own it. If it happens on your watch as an elected official or emergency manager, you own it…it is your snowstorm, your flood, your earthquake, your hurricane, your power outage, your hazardous materials spill, etc.

I have not had a chance to review this document, but it was just published in July 2025, FEMA Preliminary Damage Assessment Guide

In the near future we will be reading much more on the topic of disaster aid to states and local communities. The Trump Administration has verbally proposed reducing disaster aid to states and requiring them to step up and bear more of the burden of disaster recovery costs for Public Assistance (PA) that focuses on governmental damages, e.g. roads, bridges, etc.

I mentioned this a few months ago. I feel as most Americans don’t consider disaster preparedness as having to do with what we used to call “civil defense.” That old Cold War term seems to be behind us.

Heat is more than the temperature showing on the thermometer. It is a combination of temperature and humidity. See this National Weather Service explanation of the heat index

There may be a “shooting ceasefire” in the Mideast, but does that mean all forms of warfare are off the table?

It is that time of year when temperatures and humidity can be life threatening.  See the information below as a reminder for what you can do to stay safe and also some additional resources from the American Red Cross. Washington D.C. is one of the areas that will be baking in the days ahead.

For all the complaints about the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from the past—thinking about a future disaster era without FEMA is distressing to some—even Republican Lawmakers.

The most recent Disaster Zone Podcast: Communicating About the Weather is now live. Forecasting the weather is just the first part of the weather forecasting operation. Next you have to communicate what the weather will be and if it includes warnings to the public, you need to take special care for your messaging.

To begin with there is this story, Future of FEMA uncertain as local emergency management agencies prepare for 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season

The following is the result of earlier actions taken to stop funding disaster mitigation. See this CBS story, FEMA pulls $150 million from South Florida flood projects, sparking community outcry

In another attack on science in general and climate science in particular, the federal government has decided to shut down it’s www.Climate.gov website. Some additional details are at this Guardian Newspaper article, Major US climate website likely to be shut down after almost all staff fired

Every day I read something that is fantastical in some sort of way. The latest from the White House is this, Trump says he plans to phase out FEMA after 2025 hurricane season

Italy is not a place where you want to screw up as someone responsible for emergency management and public safety. See this story, Valencia’s flood was a catastrophe. Was it also a crime?

I was intimately involved in responding to the World Trade Organization (WTO) riots in Seattle back in 1999. There was one week where I slept on the floor of one of the offices at the Seattle Emergency Operations Center. It was a long, long week. I remember having a meeting at 2AM one morning reference logistic support for the law enforcement officers responding on the streets.

This came out via email a few days ago. Evidently their work was not considered beneficial to the overall needs of improving disaster readiness in all its forms. 

While we watch the United States emergency management system in a bit of a state of turmoil, it is good to learn about what other emergency management systems and researchers are doing in other parts of the world

Another sign of trouble in the federal government is highlighted in this article, Governmentwide hiring plan calls on agencies to recruit ‘patriotic Americans’ into federal workforce

The story’s title belies many festering issues for what was the premier federal disaster agency here in the United States. Check out the many troubling aspects for what is going on at FEMA,

The White House is approving disaster relief funds without notifying FEMA, leading to delays and confusion

The story’s title belies many festering issues for what was the premier federal disaster agency here in the United States. Check out the many troubling aspects for what is going on at FEMA,

The White House is approving disaster relief funds without notifying FEMA, leading to delays and confusion