Trump signs order to shift disaster preparations from Fema to state and local governments
www.theguardian.com
Order calls for revising infrastructure policy to better assess risks instead of ‘all-hazards approach’, White House said

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.

  • @protist@mander.xyzEnglish
    7•13 days ago

    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.

    • @moody@lemmings.world
      19•13 days ago

      I live in Texas, and I recognize we would probably be able to handle our own disaster response

      The state that famously shuts down when it snows?

      • @protist@mander.xyzEnglish
        2•12 days ago

        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

    • frustrated_phagocytosis
      16•13 days ago

      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.

          • @protist@mander.xyzEnglish
            1•12 days ago

            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.