From the WashPost: Trump has turned FEMA itself into a disaster. The Trump administration is mired in delays for deciding on governors’ requests for FEMA help.

“I study disasters, and the data shows that FEMA’s response in Texas is the exception to the Trump administration’s rules for disaster response. In fact, we should be looking at another recent disaster — one in St. Louis — to anticipate what’s to come for people who face disasters this hurricane season: long waits for federal help, stress on local responders and a confusing path toward getting help to people living through the worst moments of their lives.“

From the WashPost: FEMA moved quickly to help Texas. These other states are still waiting. Several states and two Native American tribes are still waiting for disaster aid, while hundreds of requests for critical emergency services remain on hold.

From HSToday:PERSPECTIVE: The Technological Transformation of Emergency Management: Part I: Building Trust and Efficiency Through New Tech

The emergency management sector must take a strategic, forward-looking approach to modernizing emergency management legacy systems. A 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report identified 10 critical federal IT legacy systems, some up to 51 years old, that are in urgent need of modernization. According to the GAO, these outdated systems not only create operational inefficiencies but also introduce significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Improving the survivor experience requires more than replacing outdated systems. It demands a coordinated, data-driven approach that enhances both accessibility for survivors and efficiency for emergency management staff. Modern platforms should integrate real-time data, automate routine tasks, and provide staff with timely insights to guide support efforts.

From CBS News: 20 states sue DHS, FEMA for cuts to disaster mitigation program

“A group of 20 states sued the Trump administration on Wednesday seeking to block what they say was an illegal termination of a program that provided federal funding for natural disaster mitigation projects.

“By unilaterally shutting down FEMA’s flagship pre-disaster mitigation program, Defendants have acted unlawfully and violated core separation of power principles,” the lawsuit alleges, arguing that the executive branch doesn’t have the authority to shut down the program funded by Congress.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, targets Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and acting Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Richardson for their role in shutting down FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities, also known as BRIC, program earlier this year. The lawsuit argues the power to make such a decision falls to Congress.”

From MSNBC: Trump and Noem’s attacks on FEMA blew up in the most predictable way

“There is a larger lesson here. Undermining the federal government, treating its career employees poorly, discarding years of institutional knowledge and cutting spending for the sake of cutting spending might seem like good politics, until you need the federal government. And when it comes to responding to natural disasters, only the federal government is capable of marshaling the necessary capabilities and expertise undermining the federal government might seem like good politics, until you need the federal government.”

(1) From the WashPost: Kerr County did not use its most far-reaching alert system in deadly Texas floods. 
Local officials used the system more than two days after the recorded height of the floods.
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(2) From MSN: Flooded Texas County Turned Down Funds for Warning System From Biden Admin in 2021: ‘We Don’t Want to Be Bought’

From Reuters: The diva got mentioned in this article today – Trump’s Texas visit highlights an us-vs-them approach to disasters

From the WashPost: Trump administration moves away from abolishing FEMA
As the president heads to Texas to see the impact of last week’s deadly flash floods, the White House has backed away from plans to abolish the agency, officials said.

“For months, President Donald Trump and his homeland security secretary have said the Federal Emergency Management Agency could be eliminated. But as the president heads to Texas to view the impact of last week’s deadly floods, administration officials say abolishing the agency outright is not on the agenda.

A senior White House official told The Washington Post that no official action is being taken to wind down FEMA, and that changes in the agency will probably amount to a “rebranding” that will emphasize state leaders’ roles in disaster response.”

From AP News: Texas flooding, and politics around it, underscore the challenges Trump faces in replacing FEMA

“Just weeks ago, President Donald Trump said he wanted to begin “phasing out” the Federal Emergency Management Agency after this hurricane season to “wean off of FEMA” and “bring it down to the state level.”

But after months of promises to overhaul or eliminate the federal agency charged with responding to disasters, Trump and his administration are touting a fast and robust federal response to the devastating Texas floods. In doing so, they are aligning more closely with a traditional model of disaster response — and less with the dramatic reform the president has proposed.”

From E&ENews: FEMA Leader is a No Show After Deadly TX Flooding. “David Richardson hasn’t made public appearances, statements or social media postings since last week’s flood. Former FEMA officials say that’s concerning”

“David Richardson hasn’t made public appearances, statements or social media postings since last week’s flood. Former FEMA officials say that’s concerning.

As the Federal Emergency Management Agency responds to the deadly flooding in Texas, one key resource is missing: the FEMA leader.

David Richardson, the agency’s acting administrator, has not been to the site of one of the nation’s deadliest floods in the U.S. in the past 25 years, upending a long practice of FEMA leaders making themselves visible after major disasters.

Public appearances by FEMA administrators, including meetings with governors and disaster survivors, have been a typical part of the nation’s disaster response, reassuring the public of federal support and showcasing political unity.”