President Donald Trump announced that he plans to phase out the Federal Emergency Management Agency following this year's hurricane season. The move would dismantle the federal disaster relief agency and transfer responsibility for emergency response and recovery to individual states.
As
of June 12, 2025, there are proposals and information regarding FEMA's
transfers to states in 2025:
· Potential Changes and
Phase-Out: There have been recent reports and statements suggesting the
possibility of "phasing out" FEMA after the 2025 hurricane season.
The reports indicate that states could be expected to take on more
responsibilities for disaster relief and that federal aid may be reduced and
distributed directly from the president's office. The proposed change is aimed
at giving more power to states and local authorities in managing disasters and
emergencies.
· FEMA Act of 2025: A
bipartisan draft bill known as the FEMA Act of 2025 proposes significant
changes to FEMA's structure and operations. The Act aims to:
·
Restore
FEMA's status as an independent agency reporting directly to the President.
·
Empower
state-led disaster recovery efforts through faster, project-based grants.
·
Incentivize
states to invest in mitigation and reduce reliance on federal funding.
· Budget and Grant
Programs:
·
The
proposed budget for FEMA in 2025 includes $3.2 billion for grants supporting
preparedness and disaster recovery efforts.
·
FEMA
is offering funding through various grant programs in 2025, including:
·
Staffing
for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Fire Prevention and Safety
(FP&S) grants: $360 million available to enhance fire department
capabilities and support research on firefighter safety.
·
Safeguarding
Tomorrow through On-going Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund (Safeguarding
Tomorrow RLF) program: $178 million available for low-interest loans to
local governments for mitigation projects.
· Specific State
Approvals and Delegations:
·
As
of March 31, 2025, all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five
territories have approved hazard mitigation plans, making them eligible for
certain FEMA grants.
·
16
states have earned approval for enhanced state mitigation plans, which
increases their eligibility for funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program following a disaster declaration.
·
Specific
states like Florida, North Dakota, Ohio, Vermont, and Wisconsin have received
delegation to approve local mitigation plans under the Program Administration
by States (PAS) initiative.
Important
Notes:
· The information above
is based on currently available information and proposals. Changes to FEMA's
structure and funding are subject to further legislative action and policy
decisions.
· It's important to note
the conflicting information between reports of a potential phase-out of FEMA
and the availability of specific grant programs and budget proposals for 2025.
It is advisable to consult official FEMA sources and legislative updates for
the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding FEMA's transfers to
states in 2025.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fema+transfers+to+states+2025
Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage in South Carolina in 2024, resulting in numerous deaths and significant economic losses. The storm's impacts were particularly severe in the Upstate region, where heavy wind, flooding, and debris accumulation led to extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The storm also caused significant damage to agriculture, with farmers and agribusinesses experiencing losses exceeding $621 million.
Here's
a more detailed look at the damage:
Damage
and Deaths:
· Hurricane Helene killed
at least 49 people in South Carolina.
· The storm caused
extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure.
· Flooding was
particularly severe, leading to widespread water damage and debris
accumulation.
· Fallen trees and debris
blocked roads and caused power outages.
Economic
Impacts:
· State officials
estimated that farmers and agribusinesses lost over $621 million due to weather
events in 2024, including Hurricane Helene.
· The public agency
damage, debris removal, and response costs related to Hurricane Helene exceeded
$370 million, according
to Inside Climate News.
· Crops such as pecans,
peanuts, soybeans, and cotton suffered significant damage.
· Poultry farms and other
livestock operations, particularly in the Upstate, also experienced heavy
damage.
Specific
Locations:
· The Upstate region
(including Aiken, Spartanburg, and Greenville counties) was particularly hard
hit.
· Hilton Head Island
experienced extensive damage, with fallen trees, power outages, and debris
accumulation.
· The University of South
Carolina community faced flooding and fallen trees.
Other
Impacts:
· The storm caused
widespread power outages, with 386,270 customers without power at the
peak, Dominion
Energy reports.
· Debris cleanup and
recovery efforts took months.
· Some areas, like the Asheville, North Carolina area, experienced even more severe flooding.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Hurricane+Helene+damage+in+South+Carolina+2024
Based on available data, the FEMA workforce fluctuated between September 2024 and May 2025. Here's a breakdown:
September 2024: FEMA employed 24,348 of the total 2.31 million civilian federal employees.
May
2025: Wikipedia states FEMA has 17,300+ employees in 2025.
· Some sources indicate
FEMA's total staff is over 20,000, with the potential to swell to over
50,000 active members during major disasters.
· News reports from May
2025 mention approximately 2,000 FEMA employees being fired or
accepting incentives to quit since January, aiming for a total workforce
reduction to roughly 18,000.
https://www.google.com/search?q=fema+number+of+employees+from+september+2024+to+may+2025
Comments
FEMA lost all credibility during the last hurricane season. FEMA’s response in eastern South Carolina was a disaster. Volunteers from church groups handled the response. The church groups include Samaritans First and others.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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