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Former FEMA admin on Texas winter storm prep
Bloomberg Television· 2026-01-23 21:43
I'm wondering what recommendations you made to Texas and if they were received knowing that Texas has an independent grid. >> Yeah, one of the biggest things is first helping to educate the public, right. And I think you heard a lot of that already with your last speaker, right.How do you get people to understand what is going to happen to them and that this is going to be a prolonged power outage so they can take the steps right now to make sure that they can keep themselves and their family safe. But then ...
Where is FEMA? Texas flood response potentially delayed due to Noem policy
MSNBC· 2025-07-11 15:39
Disaster Response & Recovery - The primary focus remains on search efforts for over 160 missing people in Kerr County, Texas [1] - The transition from rescue to recovery efforts is accelerating, increasing the urgency for closure for families of missing individuals [3] - Texas, despite being well-prepared and funded for disasters, still requires millions or billions of dollars in federal assistance [10][11] Political & Policy Implications - Presidential visits to disaster areas are often influenced by the political landscape, with contrasting rhetoric observed between visits to Texas (a red state) and California (a Democratic state) [4][6][7] - The President's plans for FEMA are uncertain, particularly regarding potential budget cuts or elimination of the agency, despite its critical role in disaster response [8][9] - A new homeland security policy requiring Secretary Gnome's approval for agency spending exceeding $100,000 may have delayed the federal response in Texas [12][13] Prevention & Preparedness - Kerr County officials warned of a likely flood event in 2024 but deferred action on flood warning systems until the plan was updated, highlighting potential failures in local preparedness [15][16][17] - Implementing robust warning systems, such as text message alerts, is crucial for informing the public about potential dangers [19][20] - The location of facilities like Camp Mystic within flood zones needs scrutiny, emphasizing the importance of considering flood risks in planning and development [21][22] FEMA's Future & Potential Restructuring - Secretary Gnome suggested FEMA needs to be eliminated in its current form and remade into a responsive agency, indicating potential for restructuring rather than complete elimination [23][24][25][26] - The President's reaction to the situation in Texas could influence his thinking on FEMA's future [27]