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Boston Globe
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Texas flooding, and politics around it, underscore the challenges Trump faces in replacing FEMA
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Noem said the rapid delivery of funds to Texas resembled the 'state block grants' model Trump has promoted. It's an idea that would replace FEMA's current system of reimbursing states for response and recovery expenses at a cost-share of at least 75%. Advertisement But ex-FEMA officials say it's unclear how the response differs from FEMA's typical role in disasters, which is to support states through coordination and funding. Instead, they say, the vigorous federal response underscores how difficult it would be for states to take on FEMA's responsibilities if it were dismantled. Advertisement 'This is a defining event that can help them realize that a Federal Emergency Management Agency is essential,' said Michael Coen, FEMA chief of staff in the Obama and Biden administrations. 'Imagine if an event like this happened a year from now, after FEMA is eliminated. What would the president or secretary (Noem) offer to the governor of Texas if there is no FEMA?' The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA did not immediately respond to questions about Noem's remarks, including whether FEMA was doing something different in how it moved money to Texas, or why it resembled a block-grant system. FEMA will have multiple roles in Texas While Noem and Trump have emphasized that Texas is leading the response and recovery to the floods, that has always been FEMA's role, said Justin Knighten, the agency's director of external affairs during the Biden administration. 'The state is in the lead. FEMA is invited into the state to support,' Knighten said. He said that while Texas' division of emergency management is one of the most experienced in the country, even the most capable states face catastrophes that overwhelm them: 'When there's capacity challenges and resource need, that's where FEMA steps in.' One of FEMA's primary roles will be to coordinate resources from other federal agencies. If the state needs the Army Corps of Engineers to help with debris removal, Health and Human Services for mortuary support and crisis counseling, or EPA for water quality testing, FEMA arranges that at the state's request and then reimburses those agencies. 'FEMA becomes a one-point entry for all federal support,' Coen said. The agency also coordinates first-responder support — like search-and-rescue teams deployed from across the country — and reimburses those costs. It administers the National Flood Insurance Program, which gives homeowners and renters access to flood coverage not typically included in general policies. Advertisement Those with insufficient insurance or none at all will rely heavily on FEMA's Individual Assistance program, which supports survivors with needs like temporary housing and home repairs. On Wednesday, the agency is opening disaster recovery centers where households can get help applying for assistance, according to Texas Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd. The Public Assistance program will reimburse state and local governments for most or all of the costs of infrastructure repairs. States would have trouble replacing FEMA While Trump and Noem often say they want states to take on more responsibility in disaster response, experts say the tragedy in Texas underscores how even the most capable states need support. 'It's true that Texas is very capable, but I think it's something that people forget that FEMA pays for a lot of state and local emergency capacity,' said Maddie Sloan, director of the disaster recovery and fair housing project at the policy nonprofit Texas Appleseed. The Texas Division of Emergency Management's budget of over $2 billion is mostly funded through federal grants. 'If a state like Texas asks for federal assistance within two days, the smaller states that are less capable don't stand a chance,' said Jeremy Edwards, FEMA's deputy director of public affairs during the Biden administration. States would have to set up their own recovery programs and to coordinate with each federal agency if they were given block grants in lieu of FEMA involvement. 'Without FEMA, a governor or a state has to be calling around and have a Rolodex of the whole federal government to call and try and figure out what support they can get,' Coen said. Advertisement There are plenty of reforms that could improve how FEMA reimburses states and helps survivors, experts said, but eliminating it risks big gaps in recovery. 'We have spent a lot of time encouraging FEMA to be better, but if FEMA goes away, there is no help for individual families,' Sloan said. Uncertain future for federal disaster response Trump has deflected questions about what the Texas response means for FEMA's future. A 12-member review council established by the president and charged with proposing FEMA reforms will meet for the second time Wednesday. Abbott and Kidd are both on the council. At the first meeting, Abbott called FEMA 'slow and clunky' and said reforms should 'streamline the effort.' He has praised Trump's quick disaster declaration in Texas. While no large reforms to the agency have been enacted yet, smaller policy changes could impact Texas' recovery. This spring, the administration did away with FEMA's practice of door-to-door canvassing to help households enroll for assistance, calling it 'wasteful and ineffective.' Many of the impacted areas in Kerr County and beyond still lack power and accessible roads, which will make it difficult for households to apply immediately for help. Abbott's request for hazard mitigation funding, a common add-on to public and individual assistance that helps communities rebuild with resilience, is also still pending. Trump has not approved any hazard-mitigation assistance requests since February.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. "Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. How FEMA cutbacks could be felt Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. Under strain from cuts, and more disasters The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' —— Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
11-06-2025
- Politics
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. "Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' ——
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. 'Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens,' according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' —— Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
San Francisco Chronicle
11-06-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. "Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. How FEMA cutbacks could be felt Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. Under strain from cuts, and more disasters The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' ——
