The Future of FEMA: Why Emergency Managers Must Have a Voice

The Palisades and Eaton Fires, fueled by drought and hurricane-force winds, have become the second-most destructive wildfire disaster in California history, destroying more than 16,000 homes and structures and killing 28 people. The flames have died down, but the suffering is just beginning. Thousands remain displaced, entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ash, and for many survivors, the road to recovery will be long and uncertain.

I know what comes next. Families will turn to FEMA for assistance. But if history is any indication, many will be met with delays, denials, and bureaucratic red tape. As communities struggle to restart essential services, individuals will be forced to navigate a complicated financial labyrinth. Often, we wait years for the federal dollar to trickle down. The survivors who are already traumatized by the disaster face an exhausting and uncertain recovery process

We have seen this story play out time and again. But now, something new is happening: instead of fixing FEMA, there is a serious push to dismantle it entirely. The White House has issued an executive order establishing a FEMA Review Council, signaling the potential dismantling or restructuring of the agency. This move, framed to improve disaster response, raises alarms for emergency managers nationwide. Who will fill the void if FEMA is weakened or eliminated?