From the GAO: Disaster Assistance High-Risk Series: State and Local Response Capabilities (18 pp)

“Preparing for and responding to disasters, like hurricanes and wildfires, begins with state and local governments. But, their ability to do so varies widely. The federal government provides extensive support through grants, training, and other assistance.

In light of recent interest in reviewing the federal role in disaster response, federal and state officials told us what they would want policymakers to consider with any potential changes. This includes clear communication, time to prepare, and FEMA’s federal coordination role.

This is the second report in a series on disaster response. The first was on the federal response workforce.”

From Notus.org: ‘People Will Die’: Suspended FEMA Employees Say Their Agency Isn’t Delivering

Federal emergency management employees who were suspended, reinstated, then suspended again fret over the agency “failing the American public.”

From E&ENews: Judge faults Trump admin for scrapping FEMA program.  The decision is a win for Democratic-led states that sued to save the program, which helps states gird for natural disasters.

” The Trump administration unlawfully revoked a grant program that helped states protect against potential damage from natural disasters, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

The decision by Judge Richard Stearns of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts is a victory for more than 20 Democratic-led states that filed suit in July to salvage the nation’s largest disaster preparedness program.

The lawsuit accused the administration of illegally ending the multibillion-dollar Federal Emergency Management Agency program, which was established by Congress in 2018 and signed into law by President Donald Trump in his first term.”

From the WashPost: White House officials just canceled a meeting set to help chart FEMA’s future. Officials postponed a meeting where a panel was slated to outline how to reform the agency, according to individuals familiar with the matter.

“White House officials postponed a meeting Thursday where a panel appointed by President Donald Trump was slated to outline how to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to three people with knowledge of the situation

There were concerns that the report the review council was supposed to offer Thursday didn’t offer concrete, specific, procedural changes on how to actually reform the agency, according to a person familiar with the report, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter.”

From the WashPost: Election denier tapped for FEMA leadership role. Gregg Phillips, who claimed that millions of “noncitizens” voted illegally in the 2016 election, will head FEMA’s Office of Response and Recovery.

“Gregg Phillips, who served as a top human services official in Texas and Mississippi, also has no official, prominent experience managing emergencies, but has been on the ground for disasters for decades working with nonprofits and religious organizations, according to a review of his LinkedIn profile and an official with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.”

From the Union of Concerned Scientists: Secretary Noem’s FEMA Review Council Report Likely to Continue President Trump’s Heartless Policies

Secretary Noem’s FEMA Review Council Report Likely to Continue President Trump’s Heartless Policies

On January 24, President Trump established the FEMA Review Council, purportedly to get its advice on what changes to FEMA “best serve the national interest.” However, the proceedings to date—including actions and rhetoric from Homeland Security Secretary Noem—indicate that this is just another rigged process to further undermine and dismantle FEMA.

Thanks to Chris Jones for the citation.

From Prospect.org: Trump’s Katrina Is Coming
The president’s FEMA sabotage has all but guaranteed us more acute disasters in the future.

“Thanks to President Donald Trump and his toadies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in disarray. The past couple of weeks at the agency have been particularly tumultuous. A second unqualified acting administrator, David Richardson, resigned. Meanwhile, Trump’s FEMA Review Council missed its deadline to publish recommendations for “reform.” Ordinary people are already paying the price for Trump’s assault on the agency.”

For the past week, we were unable to do any postings. Apparently, the site is back in full working condition.

Stay tuned for news due on or about Dec. 11 re a decision about FEMA .

From HSN: Congressional Staff Learn to Fight Wildfires with Legislation.

“Stanford University’s Woods Institute for the Environment recently hosted a first-of-its-kind “boot camp” in which congressional staffers got a crash course from experts in climate, forestry, fire science, utilities, insurance, and other wildfire-related topics.”