TX Floods Underscore FEMA Challenges   07/09 06:09

   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."

   (AP) -- 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.

   The president approved Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request for a major disaster 
declaration just one day after it was submitted, activating FEMA resources and 
unlocking assistance for survivors and local governments. Homeland Security 
Secretary Kristi Noem told Trump in a presidential Cabinet meeting Tuesday 
morning that FEMA was deploying funding and resources quickly. "We're cutting 
through the paperwork of the old FEMA, streamlining it, much like your vision 
of how FEMA should operate," Noem said.

   Noem said the rapid delivery of funds to Texas resembled the "state block 
grants" model Trump has promoted. It's an idea that would replace FEMA's 
current system of reimbursing states for response and recovery expenses at a 
cost-share of at least 75%.

   But ex-FEMA officials say it's unclear how the response differs from FEMA's 
typical role in disasters, which is to support states through coordination and 
funding. Instead, they say, the vigorous federal response underscores how 
difficult it would be for states to take on FEMA's responsibilities if it were 
dismantled.

   "This is a defining event that can help them realize that a Federal 
Emergency Management Agency is essential," said Michael Coen, FEMA chief of 
staff in the Obama and Biden administrations. "Imagine if an event like this 
happened a year from now, after FEMA is eliminated. What would the president or 
secretary (Noem) offer to the governor of Texas if there is no FEMA?"

   The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA did not immediately respond to 
questions about Noem's remarks, including whether FEMA was doing something 
different in how it moved money to Texas, or why it resembled a block-grant 
system.

   FEMA will have multiple roles in Texas

   While Noem and Trump have emphasized that Texas is leading the response and 
recovery to the floods, that has always been FEMA's role, said Justin Knighten, 
the agency's director of external affairs during the Biden administration.

   "The state is in the lead. FEMA is invited into the state to support," 
Knighten said. He said that while Texas' division of emergency management is 
one of the most experienced in the country, even the most capable states face 
catastrophes that overwhelm them: "When there's capacity challenges and 
resource need, that's where FEMA steps in."

   One of FEMA's primary roles will be to coordinate resources from other 
federal agencies. If the state needs the Army Corps of Engineers to help with 
debris removal, Health and Human Services for mortuary support and crisis 
counseling, or EPA for water quality testing, FEMA arranges that at the state's 
request and then reimburses those agencies. "FEMA becomes a one-point entry for 
all federal support," Coen said.

   The agency also coordinates first-responder support -- like 
search-and-rescue teams deployed from across the country -- and reimburses 
those costs. It administers the National Flood Insurance Program, which gives 
homeowners and renters access to flood coverage not typically included in 
general policies.

   Those with insufficient insurance or none at all will rely heavily on FEMA's 
Individual Assistance program, which supports survivors with needs like 
temporary housing and home repairs. On Wednesday, the agency is opening 
disaster recovery centers where households can get help applying for 
assistance, according to Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. The Public 
Assistance program will reimburse state and local governments for most or all 
of the costs of infrastructure repairs.

   States would have trouble replacing FEMA

   While Trump and Noem often say they want states to take on more 
responsibility in disaster response, experts say the tragedy in Texas 
underscores how even the most capable states need support.

   "It's true that Texas is very capable, but I think it's something that 
people forget that FEMA pays for a lot of state and local emergency capacity," 
said Maddie Sloan, director of the disaster recovery and fair housing project 
at the policy nonprofit Texas Appleseed. The Texas Division of Emergency 
Management's budget of over $2 billion is mostly funded through federal grants.

   "If a state like Texas asks for federal assistance within two days, the 
smaller states that are less capable don't stand a chance," said Jeremy 
Edwards, FEMA's deputy director of public affairs during the Biden 
administration.

   States would have to set up their own recovery programs and to coordinate 
with each federal agency if they were given block grants in lieu of FEMA 
involvement. "Without FEMA, a governor or a state has to be calling around and 
have a Rolodex of the whole federal government to call and try and figure out 
what support they can get," Coen said.

   There are plenty of reforms that could improve how FEMA reimburses states 
and helps survivors, experts said, but eliminating it risks big gaps in 
recovery. "We have spent a lot of time encouraging FEMA to be better, but if 
FEMA goes away, there is no help for individual families," Sloan said.

   Uncertain future for federal disaster response

   Trump has deflected questions about what the Texas response means for FEMA's 
future. A 12-member review council established by the president and charged 
with proposing FEMA reforms will meet for the second time Wednesday. Abbott and 
Kidd are both on the council.

   At the first meeting, Abbott called FEMA "slow and clunky" and said reforms 
should "streamline the effort." He has praised Trump's quick disaster 
declaration in Texas.

   While no large reforms to the agency have been enacted yet, smaller policy 
changes could impact Texas' recovery.

   This spring, the administration did away with FEMA's practice of 
door-to-door canvassing to help households enroll for assistance, calling it 
"wasteful and ineffective." Many of the impacted areas in Kerr County and 
beyond still lack power and accessible roads, which will make it difficult for 
households to apply immediately for help.

   Abbott's request for hazard mitigation funding, a common add-on to public 
and individual assistance that helps communities rebuild with resilience, is 
also still pending. Trump has not approved any hazard-mitigation assistance 
requests since February.