As climate-fueled flash flooding and severe storms spawned deadly tornadoes in states from Ohio to Texas earlier this month—killing at least 10 people in Tennessee, where I live—I found myself wondering, Will the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) be able to show up?
The Trump administration has targeted FEMA, threatening a hiring overhaul, drastic layoffs, and funding cuts that would make it virtually impossible for FEMA to do its job well.
But Congress can—and should!—fight back.
Tell Congress: Protect Our Ability to Prepare for and Recover From Severe Weather Threats
It turns out FEMA did authorize some federal disaster assistance to Tennessee to supplement state response efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding.
But federal help should never be a question during or after a disaster. It should be a certainty. FEMA—along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), which are also in Trump’s crosshairs—must be well-resourced to consistently offer robust support to help families prepare for and recover from ever-increasing severe weather disasters.
FEMA, NOAA, and NWS must continue to provide:
- Accurate severe weather alerts in advance of major storms, distributed for free to local weather services;
- Heat, winter weather, and fog advisories;
- Timely and accessible emergency alerts that help us stay safe during an ongoing emergency; and
- Individual and family assistance after disasters.
FEMA, NOAA, and NWS’s essential training, education, alerts, resources, and assistance are now all at risk. This means we are all at risk too. Tennessee’s tornadoes are today’s concern. We know there are more disasters to come tomorrow. We must speak out now, before it’s too late.
Join Moms in telling Congress to fully fund FEMA, NOAA, and NWS.
Tell Congress: Protect Our Ability to Prepare for and Recover From Severe Weather Threats