Summary
Trump signed an executive order shifting disaster preparedness responsibility from FEMA to state and local governments.
The order calls for reviewing infrastructure policies, creating a National Risk Register, and prioritizing state-led risk reduction.
Critics warn this weakens U.S. disaster readiness, noting Trump’s administration has cut 1,000 FEMA staff and withheld funds from state projects.
Experts fear the order forces states to make costly infrastructure investments without clear federal support, leaving communities more vulnerable to disasters like wildfires and hurricanes.
I live in Texas, and I recognize we would probably be able to handle our own disaster response, given our size, economic heft, and functioning government (this last one is arguable, but in general Texas is pretty good about keeping the things they want working).
I used to live in Louisiana, which would be totally fucked under this plan. They have no hope whatsoever to take care of themselves.
The state that famously shuts down when it snows?
Pretty much everywhere that rarely gets snow shuts down when it snows. A lot safer to shut down for a couple days than to expect everyone who has no experience driving in winter weather go about their days
How’s your power grid?
Fully functional? Lol
Basically a map of the most hurricane-impacted areas
Just pointing out that your ‘handling your own response’ sure seems to include getting a lot of money from the feds.
Federal money is money paid by the states and the people though? Texas is one of those rare red states that actually pays more into the federal system than it receives.
Either way, this article is about sending disaster coordination responsibilities back to the states from the federal level, and that’s what I’m talking about. Texas can reasonably handle itself (as could e.g. California, New York, or Washington) whereas there are other states who are probably really going to struggle, like Louisiana, Mississippi, or West Virginia.
The state enjoys fucking over Houston/Harris County whenever possible though, including a decision to give $1 billion in Harvey recovery money to more conservative counties surrounding Harris even though Harris had way more people affected. There’s also widespread state-enforced ignorance of the industrial pollution and preventable industrial accidents around here.
No argument here. Hello from Travis County, where we get similar treatment
I would like to remind you of your state’s dependance on The Cajun Navy in disasters.
We certainly appreciate the help! But “dependent” might not be an accurate description
So you don’t live south of austin, neat.
Are you talking about the Harvey response? I’m genuinely not sure. I’m from Louisiana, btw, solidly Cajun here. I lived in Houston over a decade after that. In no way trying to disrespect anyone