Alabama’s disaster response and emergency management efforts were the focus of a recent hearing on the future of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, R-Huntsville, chaired the Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing, where Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency Director Jeff Smitherman testified on the state’s disaster response efforts.
President Donald Trump has been critical of FEMA, calling for its termination and arguing that disaster response efforts should be left up to the states. However, both Strong and Smitherman expressed support for Trump’s efforts to assess FEMA through the newly created Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council.
During the hearing, Smitherman emphasized the importance of FEMA focusing on the most catastrophic disasters, such as the 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama, and streamlining the recovery process to make it more responsive and less bureaucratic.
Ranking member of the subcommittee Rep. Tim Kennedy, D-NY, criticized Trump’s comments and stressed the need to strengthen FEMA as the country faces increasing natural disasters. Kennedy also raised concerns about cuts to FEMA grants potentially impacting state emergency management efforts.
Overall, the hearing highlighted the need for FEMA to evaluate and improve its disaster response efforts, with a focus on coordination with state and local governments. Strong and Smitherman expressed openness to reforms within FEMA and emphasized the importance of ensuring that funding is available for effective disaster preparedness and response. The discussion also touched on the potential impact of federal funding freezes on FEMA grants and the necessity of ensuring that state and local disaster responses are effectively managed.
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