Trump to sign executive order "maybe getting rid of FEMA" (1 Viewer)

[superchuck500]

Most disasters in this country are at least 90% funded by the federal government - mostly through FEMA.

 

[efil4]

I believe the thought is that the Fed will send the funds to the state. That was my understanding. There are states that are at higher risk of these types and size disasters.

The folks I have talked to that have worked with and thru FEMA don’t speak highly of the experience. Is there a better answer? I don’t know but I do believe the question needs to be addressed. We have people in Florida who are still waiting on resources and this state is probably better prepared than others. There is room for improvement.

Address/ask a question or dismantle an Agency with no real plan? The two aren't the same.

Other than "give money to that state".

You keep saying certain aspects of the federal bureaucracy have to be discussed and in every instance, this Admin is either dismantling ot severely downsizing.

The folks you talked to...what was their specific gripe about "working with FEMA"?

As for State vs FEMA. Are you familiar with the Road Home program?
If not, give it a search.

 

[MT15]

There is zero discussing going on by this Admin. No analysis, not even a stray piece of logical thought. If a person hasn’t figured this out by now, they are being willfully ignorant.

Read up on Steve Bannon, he’s been itching to destroy the US for at least 10 years. Read up on Christian Nationalism - they have a stated goal of a theocracy instead of a democratic republic.

They are destroying our federal government. They are destroying everything this country has stood for since the Founding Fathers. It’s not truly incompetence - well, it is, but that is intentional.

The fact that conservatives don’t even have a single clue about what is happening or why is just sad. And it’s the reason we are in this mess to begin with.

 

[TampaJoe]

Address/ask a question or dismantle an Agency with no real plan? The two aren't the same.

Other than "give money to that state".

You keep saying certain aspects of the federal bureaucracy have to be discussed and in every instance, this Admin is either dismantling ot severely downsizing.

The folks you talked to...what was their specific gripe about "working with FEMA"?

As for State vs FEMA. Are you familiar with the Road Home program?
If not, give it a search.

One was a contractor with the FAA who was working in Puerto Rico after it was devastated by a hurricane. Others were builders and contractors. Lots of folks in FL have dealt with FEMA.

I also know several people who worked with FEMA after Katrina. I’m not advocating dismantling agencies. I have already said that. I think these problems need to be addressed. I disagree with how it is being done. I have already said as much.

 

[coldseat]

One was a contractor with the FAA who was working in Puerto Rico after it was devastated by a hurricane.

That was under the Trump administration.

I also know several people who worked with FEMA after Katrina. I’m not advocating dismantling agencies. I have already said that. I think these problems need to be addressed. I disagree with how it is being done. I have already said as much.

That was under the Bush administration.

Republicans aren't good administrators. It's almost like you need to believe FEMA is necessary and run it competently. Why should we trust Republicans, especially Trump and Musk, to replace FEMA with something better?

 

[efil4]

One was a contractor with the FAA who was working in Puerto Rico after it was devastated by a hurricane. Others were builders and contractors. Lots of folks in FL have dealt with FEMA.

I also know several people who worked with FEMA after Katrina. I’m not advocating dismantling agencies. I have already said that. I think these problems need to be addressed. I disagree with how it is being done. I have already said as much.

Wait a contractor with FAA said he was dealing with FEMA directly?

Yeah nope.

As for your contractors and builders. None of them worked with FEMA. You were told incorrect info. FEMA doesn't work with local contractors or builders. There are levels. Starting with the PRIME PRIME...they are one of a handful of national disaster response contractors that work direct with FEMA to coordinate. Then you have a PRIME contractor, usually a very large State contractor. Then you have the GENERAL CONTRACTOR, very localized who knows the lay of the land and THEN you get to the CONTRACTOR/SUB CONTRACTOR...the one who actually does the work.

None of your builders ever worked for FEMA. They simply aren't on that level.

Unless you know a few of the handful of PRIME PRIME approved FEMA contractors, you were told incorrect info.

I have a client, right now, ( and since 2024 ) in Puerto Rico. They are just now rebuilding entire electrical grid. My client is a PRIME that is approved by FEMA. He got his approval post IDA by acquiring and delivering trailers for temp housing. By "delivering" I mean bringing on a GC who brings on a Contractor who brings on the actual logistics company to actually deliver and set up (tie down, install temp electrical and plumbing).

As for the folks dealing with FEMA, it's like any massive cat event, some people will simply feel that the attention they got (or lack thereof) wasn't enough. The results didn't meet expectation. Many reasons. Just like insurance companies. Some got treated great some will tell you their insurer stunk.

If you never dealt with FEMA post catastrophe, relying on second hand info will always be biased.

What I will say is FEMA learned a lesson about fraud post Katrina. It made them tighten the reigns.

I'll give one story. I insured a very large plumbing company. They were awarded the contractor contract (the 4th level) to acquire and install temp plumbing for several trailer sites in Plaquemines parish. So he went out and purchased top of the line connections and lines to run from trailer to main.

He submitted his first invoice to the GC (3rd level) who kicked it back. Redo. He was like "why?". He was told "it's not enough". So he added 20%. Approved. The GC then takes, adds 20% and submits to the PRIME. PRIME adds 20% and submits to PRIME PRIME.

THATS how it works. Same with debris removal. The guy doing work was getting $13/yd but by time it got to PP, it was $30/yd.

I have many more first hand stories...clients that would sit in my office and just spill all the info on how it all works. And it has nothing to do with FEMA. When a region has $100BILLION dollars allocated, the vultures appear. And they get theirs.

Now...it's waaaay harder to abuse the system and FEMA made mad changes to alleviate the cost abuses. But in doing so, slowed the process.

So if you want expedited, prepare to wonder where some of the actual $$$ went. Because you simply cannot track 100,000 claims in real time.
Or allow some extra time but know that the funds are actually reaching those who need/deserve.

 

[efil4]

Oh and when you read up on Road Home program you will realize that while FEMA has its issues, they pale in comparison to when a State runs a program. Especially when you find that cronyism is more important than actual experience/ability.

 

[MT15]

Florida under DeSantis is cronyism on steroids. That would be completely unleashed for disaster responses under what Trump wants to do.

 

[SFIDC3]

I believe the question is whether there is a better more efficient way to deliver disaster relief services.

FEMA in its present state is slow, highly bureaucratic and unwieldy. We need to figure out how best to put communities and peoples lives back together after disaster. So the question is whether we are better served by allowing state and local governments to play a bigger part in the recovery process and fund them directly.

It is a discussion we need to have.

This makes absolutely zero sense to me.....you mean the same state and local governments whose folks have been impacted by the disaster as well?

Is it just magic to assume these folks would even be in posture to be able to manage the funding and make sure it is used appropriately?

Also the only evidence provided that FEMA is what you think it is, is your own 2nd hand anecdotal experience (if it is to be believed).....that's pretty weak sauce TBH.....

 

[TampaJoe]

This makes absolutely zero sense to me.....you mean the same state and local governments whose folks have been impacted by the disaster as well?

Is it just magic to assume these folks would even be in posture to be able to manage the funding and make sure it is used appropriately?

Also the only evidence provided that FEMA is what you think it is, is your own 2nd hand anecdotal experience (if it is to be believed).....that's pretty weak sauce TBH.....

It is primarily the states job to prepare and plan for disasters. Who do you think is in a better position? So when disaster hits, who is in a better position to assess what is needed to recover? Who is in a better position to know and understand what is needed in that community? Who knows the infrastructure better than locals? Who has a better picture of the “lay of the land”? Governors and Mayors. That is their responsibility. They should be driving the effort to restore services and rebuild their communities.

FEMA, in my view, should play a support role. I have no issue with standard controls over fraud to prevent abuse. That’s good business. What concerns me is having more than one person in charge of the recovery. FEMA isn’t designed or setup to coordinate the recovery effort.

That’s how it should operate in my view. Streamline the responsibility and streamline the effort.

 

[efil4]

It is primarily the states job to prepare and plan for disasters. Who do you think is in a better position? So when disaster hits, who is in a better position to assess what is needed to recover? Who is in a better position to know and understand what is needed in that community? Who knows the infrastructure better than locals? Who has a better picture of the “lay of the land”? Governors and Mayors. That is their responsibility. They should be driving the effort to restore services and rebuild their communities.

FEMA, in my view, should play a support role. I have no issue with standard controls over fraud to prevent abuse. That’s good business. What concerns me is having more than one person in charge of the recovery. FEMA isn’t designed or setup to coordinate the recovery effort.

That’s how it should operate in my view. Streamline the responsibility and streamline the effort.

You clearly have zero clue how FEMA actually works.

Nor have you done any research into.

I literally broke it down for you and you still post that "It should be left to state".

FEMA IS support. They are there to assist with federal ability, something States simply don't have the resources to muster

Can a State call for and enforce TFR? (Restrict air space)

No. Only the Federal govt can.

So you start to see why having FEMA on site can facilitate aspects that States can't.

Not to mention my previous post about the annual costs to maintain a State Disaster response agency. Annually not seasonally. Because disasters can strike at any time.


And you being from Florida (of all places) should know, one storm can be more than enough to strain a State. Have a major cane a month later, then what?

Then you have nothing but heartache and bellyache from the lack of response because State doesn't have unlimited resources.

Especially in a state with no personal income tax.

Would you be OK with Florida implementing income tax to fully fund State Disaster Agency?

 

[efil4]

You mentioned "streamlining" responsibility and effort.

Care to explain that, in detail? For instance what responsibility would be and how would you streamline it?

 

[TampaJoe]

You clearly have zero clue how FEMA actually works.

Nor have you done any research into.

I literally broke it down for you and you still post that "It should be left to state".

FEMA IS support. They are there to assist with federal ability, something States simply don't have the resources to muster

Can a State call for and enforce TFR? (Restrict air space)

No. Only the Federal govt can.

So you start to see why having FEMA on site can facilitate aspects that States can't.

Not to mention my previous post about the annual costs to maintain a State Disaster response agency. Annually not seasonally. Because disasters can strike at any time.


And you being from Florida (of all places) should know, one storm can be more than enough to strain a State. Have a major cane a month later, then what?

Then you have nothing but heartache and bellyache from the lack of response because State doesn't have unlimited resources.

Especially in a state with no personal income tax.

Would you be OK with Florida implementing income tax to fully fund State Disaster Agency?

You clearly have trouble with reading comprehension.

 

[Dragon]

You clearly have trouble with reading comprehension.

How about answering a few of his questions instead of resorting to insults?


I've been a member of the Danish Emergency Response Volunteer Corps, and the ability to triage and prioritize tasks after a disaster isn’t something most local communities have readily available. That’s why we have a national organization similar to FEMA, which steps in whenever disaster strikes. They bring not only expertise but, more importantly, the experience needed to ensure things get fixed as quickly and efficiently as possible. No, they don’t usually do the hands-on work themselves, but they make sure the right tasks are handled in the right order by qualified professionals—mitigating ongoing dangers first and prioritizing the most critical issues.

 

[Lapaz]

Is the moto for everything this current Trump administration will do.

FEMA is prudent National insurance. If it goes away, states will have to organize their own systems. The poorer states will suffer the most, but all of America will suffer when we’re not all in it together.

Trump wants to make America weak again (MAWA) to serve Putin.

 

[cuddlemonkey]

It is primarily the states job to prepare and plan for disasters. Who do you think is in a better position? So when disaster hits, who is in a better position to assess what is needed to recover? Who is in a better position to know and understand what is needed in that community? Who knows the infrastructure better than locals? Who has a better picture of the “lay of the land”? Governors and Mayors. That is their responsibility. They should be driving the effort to restore services and rebuild their communities.

FEMA, in my view, should play a support role. I have no issue with standard controls over fraud to prevent abuse. That’s good business. What concerns me is having more than one person in charge of the recovery. FEMA isn’t designed or setup to coordinate the recovery effort.

That’s how it should operate in my view. Streamline the responsibility and streamline the effort.

Who has the resources, Joe? State and local officials have the lay of the land. What they don't have are resources in the middle of a damn natural disaster. Do you think states struggling to rebuild have more resources than the federal government? No, clearly they don't. The federal government can provide financial, material, and knowledge resources that state governments simply cannot provide, and only an ignorant fool would think otherwise.

 

[Saint Jack]

A hurricane hits Louisiana and FEMA isn’t around to help?
Louisiana is voting blue in 28.

 

[DJ1BigTymer]

A hurricane hits Louisiana and FEMA isn’t around to help?
Louisiana is voting blue in 28.

You're underestimating the Stupid of this state! We have a Governor that is working with the chemical plants to see if they can ADD more pollutants into "Cancer Alley"!

 

[faceman]

You're underestimating the Stupid of this state! We have a Governor that is working with the chemical plants to see if they can ADD more pollutants into "Cancer Alley"!

Our Governor worked hard and succeeding in removing the state income tax. The idiots who voted for him don't
realize it will be replaced with higher gas and property taxes