Nervously tiptoeing into Hurricane Season

Just finished reading a sobering article about the last 18 months at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). I never really quite understood why DOGE and administration officials would choose emergency response and disaster assistance as a target, but it is clear that they did, unfortunately with long term negative consequences.

With the appointment of new DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and the re-nomination of Cameron Hamilton to head FEMA, it seems like the bleeding has stopped. No matter if you agree with their politics or priorities, both present as relatively level-headed, competent professionals. So I'm confident they will get the basic right, but it is undeniable that that turmoil of the first 18 months have caused organzational damage that will take years to recover from.

Thankfully, federal disaster management is largely focused on the aftermath and cleanup from natural disasters. Planning and preparation are largely the job of state, local, and regional agencies. In many cases, they have lost funding that FEMA provided in the past, but I have worked with Emergency Managers at military bases and the municipal level, and they are without fail calm, motivated, and ready to do their jobs to protect the public. Here in Hampton Roads, we know that the weather and water that we usually enjoy so much can turn deadly in just a few hours. We are well served by the local and state officials who work to protect us. Let's hope their federal counterparts can catch up.