Opinion - America's disaster relief system is in dire need of repair

Yahoo

27-03-2025

In the aftermath of every major disaster, Americans watch a familiar scene unfold, where communities are devastated, families displaced and survivors struggle to navigate a system that often feels like an obstacle course rather than a lifeline.
As a former FEMA administrator and the CEO of a private disaster recovery service for survivors, we've seen firsthand the dedication of emergency managers who work tirelessly to help people rebuild. But we've also seen how the system, bound by bureaucratic constraints and outdated processes, too often fails to deliver support in the way that its leaders want to be able to, or that truly empowers survivors.
The core problem isn't a lack of resources. In fact, the funding for essentials like housing, food and rebuilding already exists. But these resources are spread across a tangled web of federal, state and nonprofit programs that fail to work together efficiently. Survivors are left navigating multiple agencies, redundant paperwork and confusing eligibility requirements — all at a time when they need clarity and simplicity the most.
Now, with President Trump's recent announcement of a new disaster resilience strategy, we have an opportunity to massively upgrade the system for the 21st century and the coming onslaught of disasters. If we embrace this shift wisely, we can streamline the system to ensure survivors get the help they need without unnecessary delays. Because the critical infrastructure of this country is not just roads and bridges; it's the resilience and strength of the American people and their ability to rebuild and bounce back.
Disaster recovery in America has long been plagued by inefficiencies and misaligned incentives. While agencies may work with good intentions, the system itself is not designed for seamless coordination. Instead of a single, survivor-centric process, disaster victims must navigate a maze of bureaucracies, each with its own requirements, deadlines and limitations.
At the same time, FEMA and state agencies have traditionally measured success by effort rather than outcomes. The old system was built at a time when tracking long-term recovery data wasn't feasible. But today, we have the technology to measure what really matters: whether survivors are actually recovering.
What we see is clear — the current system isn't working as effectively as it can. Not only does this hurt individuals and families, it can undermine communities, setting them up for further catastrophic losses in future disasters.
Consider Hurricane Harvey in 2017: a Government Accountability Office report found that only 8 percent of applicants received direct housing assistance from FEMA, while tens of thousands struggled to piece together aid from various agencies. The same patterns emerged after Hurricane Maria, where bureaucratic hurdles and delays left thousands of Puerto Ricans displaced for years.
Survivors shouldn't have to waste time figuring out the system. If, as a country, we've prioritized helping those who get caught in these disasters — which we should! — then we should build a system that works for them and accomplishes our goals.
Fixing this broken system requires a two-pronged approach:
Investing in technology to streamline processes Right now, survivors must apply for assistance through multiple agencies, each with its own requirements, all the while juggling the complexities of insurance. By investing in modern technology and data-sharing systems, we can consolidate these processes, reducing redundancies and making it easier for survivors to access all available resources without jumping through unnecessary hoops.
Providing case management from Day 1 Survivors need more than just access to resources — they need guidance in navigating them. States should be required and funded to embed case managers in shelters, recovery centers and impacted communities immediately after a disaster. These case managers would serve as a single point of contact, helping survivors access the full range of available aid without getting lost in bureaucracy.
FEMA is made up of dedicated professionals who want to serve survivors. But the agency, and their state and local government partners, need the tools and structure to do it effectively. Reforming the system means ensuring that the resources already available are used effectively.
Disaster survivors should never be political pawns. Yet time and again, we've seen recovery efforts mired in political fights, whether it's over funding allocations or bureaucratic turf wars. A survivor-first system would eliminate these debates by ensuring that response mechanisms are built for efficiency from the start. If states take greater ownership and FEMA shifts its focus to real recovery metrics, we can ensure survivors get help because they need it — not because it's politically expedient.
Trump's resilience strategy presents an opportunity. But leadership, at both the state and federal levels, must make the right choices in how they implement it. Disaster recovery shouldn't be about checking boxes or closing cases. It should be about making sure the people who lost everything have the support they need to rebuild.
If we get this right, we won't just fix FEMA — we'll finally create a system that truly puts survivors first.
Pete Gaynor served as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during President Trump's first term and as acting secretary of Homeland Security.
Joel Wish is CEO of Bright Harbor, a leading disaster recovery organization that has been on the ground helping thousands of wildfire survivors in Los Angeles navigate FEMA aid, insurance claims and emergency housing.
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