FEMA desperately needs reform. My earlier thoughts are here but there are a number of solutions floating around Washington that would be an improvement.  The status quo is fiercely defended by public sector meteorologists, emergency managers and FEMA employees, in spite of the overwhelming evidence that FEMA could stand for "Failing Emergency Matters, Always." It would be extremely difficult to find a genuine FEMA success story (the way normal people measure success) in the past four decades. I am presenting this analysis because the situation gets more and more urgent. Reform can no longer wait. I detail some of its historical failures here , but there is nothing better than your own eyes.  Lahaina Wildfires of 2023 This is an aerial photo of the town of Lahaina, Maui in 2022-2023. It was a charming, bustling area full of great restaurants, shops and other commerce. Kathleen and I enjoyed visiting many times.  On August 8, 2023, Lahaina was ravaged by well forecast (by...

Thursday, the New York Times published a story (headline above) last week regarding the potential for more layoffs at FEMA. The problem with the story is that is does not describe the future mission of FEMA and that is likely because Homeland Security Secretary Noem has not fully defined it. There is a lot of talk about giving more power and responsibilities to the states (which I support). I also support a slimmed down FEMA that primarily works as a logistics facilitator combined with channeling federal assistance. The current "boots on the ground" mission of FEMA has failed almost every time it has been needed for the past 30+ years .  There are concerns , for example, that states will not have the money or expertise to handle major disasters. While valid, a number of FEMA programs to mitigate future disaster costs have been little more than political slush funds . Clearly, these have to be fixed in any reorganization or re-mission.  One of the things that has been almost ...

As we all knew, FEMA's skipping over homes with external indications the residents were conservative it was never limited to a single individual or supervisor, in spite of FEMA's protests to the contrary. To refresh your memory: Turns out it has been doing on since 2021 (Biden Administration) and Hurricane Ida.  Not only were they refusing relief, they were collecting political intelligence on the residents! You will find an investigative report here . The sooner FEMA is put out of our misery (i.e., completely reformed), the better. The states and localities should be responsible for disaster relief with (what's left) of a slimmed-down FEMA providing logistics and resources. [New, Tuesday] DHS's report on FEMA's actions is here .  I also -- strongly -- suspect that a National Disaster Review Board would have uncovered this long before last autumn. 

"Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?" From the Wall Street Journal : " ST LOUIS -  Minutes after a mile-wide tornado struck this city on an otherwise beautiful day this spring...." Funny how a large EF-3 tornado can ruin a "beautiful day."  City of St. Louis photo The Wall Street Journal is based in New York City. FEMA is based in Washington, DC. Perhaps one of the problems with national responses to major disasters is that inside the Beltway and on the Island of Manhattan, these disasters seem far away...almost remote. When FEMA recently fixed an important bit of Florida infrastructure, another NYC-based organization called Pro Publica was upset that Trump fixed it after 2.5 years of neglect under President Biden .  So, it is not surprising the WSJ  and FEMA often miss the point: thousands of people have suffered from the Maui wildfires, Hurricane Helene, the Los Angeles wildfires, the St. Louis Tornado and others because a clerk in a large Wa...

These were posted on LinkedIn yesterday. Mr. Fugate is the former head of FEMA: And Ms. Sutherlin, Los Angeles Area Emergency Manager "WEA (the FCC/FEMA/NOAA "Wireless Emergency Alerts) is extremely problematic when used alone. Which what many of us have said since it went online in 2012.  If we had a National Disaster Review Board these issues would not exist. Experts would be asking these (highly appropriate) questions after major disasters and we would learn and improve as opposed to Mr. Fugate's correct observation, ...after 40+ years in emergency management, I still see us making the same mistakes." Congress?

I'm pleased to report the House of Representatives has introduced a bi-partisan bill to completely reform FEMA. The details of the changes are  here . On the its logo you see the words, "Department of Homeland Security." That will change if the bill becomes law. FEMA will become an independent, Cabinet-level agency reporting to the President. One item in the bill is money for new headquarters. As I wrote months ago about my reform ideas: I want to thank the team at Rep. Sharice Davids' (D-KS) office for a dialog on the disaster-related issues in our nation and for bringing the proposed FEMA changes to my attention.  As you know, I believe major changes are necessary at the National Weather Service. One of which is cleaving the NWS from NOAA. The new NWS would become an independent agency. Details of my NWS reform plan are  here .  Finally -- and maybe most important -- we  must  have a  National Disaster Review Board  to keep FEMA (old and new), ...

[This is an update of a Post that appeared in December, 2024] Investigating the 2011 Joplin Tornado An Outline of the National Disaster Review Board Regardless of whether there is an attempt to fix NOAA through incremental improvement  or whether there is a “divorce” of the NWS from NOAA, neither has much of a chance to be successful without a National Disaster Review Board (NDRB) modeled after the hugely successful National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Last week's independent report on the NWS's failing tornado warning program only confirms this near certainty.  Accountability is not a natural part of the culture inside the Beltway. The NDRB will be an essential step in that direction.  Regardless of our political preferences and affiliations, I believe most of us can agree on the following: Mega-disasters (i.e., July 4 Texas Hill Country flash flood [likely worst since 1886], Los Angeles wildfire, southern Appalachians floods after Helene, Maui Wildfire, etc.)...

Monday, CNN ran a ridiculous "breaking news" story: Of course, we don't know if he was being sarcastic or ironic when he said that.  But, let's assume for a moment he was genuinely unaware there is a hurricane season: given how awful -- for decades -- FEMA has been at its job, having administrators that knew there is a hurricane season didn't help . 

Wow, if true . I'm not convinced.  That stipulated: We've discussed FEMA many times. The agency is a money-spewing political and management mess that does very little to help people affected by natural disasters unless they are located in the correct "blue" areas. My opinion is that FEMA's staff, mission and budget should be slashed. The agency should become a disaster logistics and federal grant coordinating agency -- only. I discuss the matter on Full Measure   here .  The Hill It is possible President Trump and Secretary Noem have concluded the current FEMA is beyond hope.  My #2 choice is the complete elimination of FEMA, followed soon by a new agency based on the above staffed with fresh people and a new mandate. 

While I am quite skeptical President Trump will completely eliminate FEMA, given the quality of its performance after major disasters (image from North Carolina taken Sunday), one can certainly make the case that elimination is deserved. 

With a National Disaster Review Board to hold agencies related to disaster forecasting and response accountable, this likely doesn't happen. 

From Yesterday While the Trump Administration is doing everything it can to fix as much as possible as quickly as possible, I completely agree that officials in the Biden Administration need to go to jail for the intentional cruelty shown to the people of the southern Appalachians. 

To say that the United States' warning system is deteriorating is an understatement. While I was writing yesterday's piece about FEMA, this popped up on my television screen complete with obnoxious loud tones (I apologize for the window reflections).  Nome, Alaska, is 3,271 miles from my home!  I doubt there is much chance the missing person will be in our neighborhood.  More and more we are seeing these nonsense warnings, which have two effects: The warning system becomes an annoyance rather than something valued.  It increases the chance that people will ignore a valuable message.  There are so many issues with our warning system today that "fixing FEMA" or "fixing the National Weather Service" won't cut it. A holistic approach is needed. And, our country will not have it until we have a National Disaster Review Board (NDBR).  I know my pleas for a NDRB may be getting old. But, the huge failures in North Carolina and Los Angeles show the urgent need f...

The long-suffering people of North Carolina are finally getting the help they need after (literally) living in tents for as long as four months. What the Biden Administration's FEMA did to these people was cruel and criminal. For example, FEMA moved 80 mobile homes into the area and then put them behind a fence (with a 24-hr guard) and only deployed two. Really. President Trump visited the area Friday in his first official trip in office. The National Guard has been deployed, cleanup specialists have arrived and things are underway.  Thank you, President Trump!!

The advice below originally ran December 16. Unfortunately, the FEMA situation in North Carolina has only continued to deteriorate.  Yesterday, the President said he was considering reforming or even eliminating FEMA. I don't think too many would be sad to see it go given its utter incompetence. However, there may be a mission for a greatly slimmed down FEMA. I outline what that mission below. Unfortunately, I do not have a way to get this message to President Trump. If anyone knows the right person, please feel free to forward.  December 16th essay is below. One of dozens of homes destroyed by the 2022 Andover, Kansas, Tornado If you missed yesterday's story about FEMA on  Full Measure With Sharyl Attkisson , I encourage you to watch before reading further. You'll find the story  here . It explains some of the many issues with FEMA's current operating model that -- literally -- have DEI and climate change  ranking higher in FEMA's priorities than assisting...

President Trump is getting some very good advice from his people. FEMA not only hasn't helped in the southern Appalachians, they have gotten in the way.  Clearly, FEMA is a failed agency. It needs to be shrunken and put into the place of a coordinator and an agency to cut through red tape -- only. My specific recommendations are here . 

Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson  had a terrific piece yesterday about the Los Angeles wildfires. You can view it here . If you combine it with her report about FEMA , in which I participated, you'll have an idea of what a terrible mess we are in with regard to major disasters in our nation.  At the end of Sharyl's report about the LA Wildfires, we learn that California Governor Newsome is calling for a "independent investigation." But would you trust an investigation panel that he (or Mayor Bass) appoints?  There was an independent investigation after the Maui Fire  . But, it got off the topic in places. Is a state attorney general best qualified to appoint such a panel? For example, instead of exclusively focusing on the fire, the report contains  political  material: This type of political nonsense undermines the credibility of any report which is why the proposed National Disaster Review Board will be forbidden by law* to get into climate change ...

Between the Los Angeles fires and two recent winter storms, I wanted to use this space to bring our readers up-to-date on a couple items of interest.  North Carolina - Helene Disaster FEMA has continued to drop the ball. People have been left without housing in the snow and cold or, for those with hotel vouchers, they have been left hanging as to their renewal until -- literally -- 12 hours (the evening before) they expired.  Yes, those are tents with people sleeping in them in the freezing cold. I continue to -- strongly -- recommend  Samaritan's Purse  and  EmergencyRV  if you want to donate. We can only hope that the Trump Administration has the compassion that Biden's FEMA lacks.  If you wish to see my Full Measure interview pertaining to the future of FEMA, please see below: UPDATE (10:15am Friday): The predictable FEMA nightmare is starting in Los Angeles. Please see my Full Measure  interview (above) and my suggestions to President Trump...

FEMA continues to mistreat the people of North Carolina: While I continue to believe there is a role for the federal government when mega disasters occur, (please go here to see my Full Measure  interview pertaining to FEMA from this past Sunday), we would probably be better off disbanding FEMA and starting over.