Key Takeaways
- FEMA’s workforce has decreased by 10%, impacting its ability to respond to disasters.
- Local governments are advised to prepare for reduced federal support in disaster situations.
- The GAO report outlines steps cities can take to enhance their disaster preparedness and resilience.
FEMA’s Workforce Challenges and Local Preparedness
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has traditionally been a crucial support system for cities facing disasters. However, recent findings from a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report indicate significant challenges ahead due to workforce reductions and a federal directive pushing responsibility onto state and local governments for disaster preparedness and recovery.
Currently, only 12% of FEMA’s incident management personnel are available for disaster response, as most are engaged in ongoing support for over 91 major disasters nationwide. From January to June, FEMA’s workforce diminished from 25,800 to 23,350 employees, creating concerns among officials from FEMA and related agencies about their abilities to effectively manage disaster response efforts.
The report’s author, Chris Currie, highlighted apprehensions from state and local governments about the uncertainties surrounding federal support, emphasizing the need for local governments to begin planning for potential reductions in federal assistance. According to Currie, previous reliance on FEMA as a primary “insurance company” for disaster-related issues means that any alterations to this support could drastically affect how cities manage catastrophic events.
To mitigate these challenges, the report suggests five essential steps for local governments to increase their resilience in the face of potential decreased FEMA support:
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Inventory Federal Resources: Localities should identify and document all federal resources they depend on, from providing temporary housing for residents to issuing financial assistance for home repairs.
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Enhance Infrastructure Resilience: Cities are encouraged to invest in the upkeep of buildings and infrastructure, revising building codes to ensure resilience against disasters. Preparedness measures are essential since disasters cannot be prevented entirely.
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Prioritize Citywide Resilience: Engaging all city departments in planning for disaster scenarios is critical. Cities like Miami, Houston, and New Orleans exemplify effective multi-departmental involvement in disaster response strategies.
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Involve Financial Departments in Emergency Management: Budget and finance teams should be included in all discussions about emergency management, as they handle the funding for response and recovery efforts.
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Advocate at the State Level: Cities should proactively communicate their needs to state governments, recognizing that federal disaster relief funds typically flow through states. Assumptions that states will automatically act in the best interest of local governments can lead to misalignment and frustrations.
In summary, preparing for less federal support requires proactive steps from local governments to ensure they are ready to respond effectively to future disasters.
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