The Naked Truth/Jamala Rogers
Natural Disasters Demand an Effective Emergency Response
Madison residents were recently urged to take shelter from a tornado. This is a growing warning for those of us in the Midwest and Northeast. It is a warning connected to our contributions to global warming and flawed policy decisions by elected officials.
Many communities are facing the dreaded anniversary of a particular national disaster. Neighborhoods are literally being turned upside down, along with people’s lives. For those caught in the middle of extreme weather conditions, a year's lapse could feel like time standing still. The lack of progress in recovery and rebuilding is daunting. This is the sad reality that is becoming the norm because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is suffering from a man-made disaster.
FEMA was created in 1979 under President Jimmy Carter, curiously as an agency within Homeland Security to consolidate the disorganized federal disaster relief and civil defense programs into a cohesive agency. The common belief is that FEMA rides to the rescue when state governors declare an overwhelming situation as a national disaster. The agency’s mission is supposed to help communities before, during, and after disasters.
For years, FEMA has been plagued by poor management. We have vivid memories of Michael Brown’s ineptness during the tragic Hurricane Katrina. Before being named FEMA head, Brown’s past career was as a commissioner of an Arabian horse association. His experience was often mocked and criticized. Eventually, Brown was booted from the position.
Under Trump’s DOGE, billions of dollars have been cut from FEMA’s budget, followed by massive staff loss. The burden of disaster relief and recovery has been shifted back to cash-strapped states. The dedicated and overworked employees of FEMA have tried their best to carry out their mission. The current regime has only worsened the situation by also cutting funding to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS). These two agencies are critical to research and disaster preparedness. Unnecessary property damage and preventable deaths are what’s at stake.
Climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of natural disasters, including drought, wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes. It is estimated that communities in the U.S. will endure 300 to 400 weather and climate disasters each year. The National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) records an average of 23 "billion-dollar" weather incidents annually, an unsustainable situation for cities and states. This makes the actions of the MAGA monsters not just incompetent; they are criminal.
Climate change is no hoax, and we’re suffering because of the ignorance and insensitivity of Trump and his MAGA monsters. Taxpayers must start demanding that natural disasters be taken seriously. FEMA must be fully funded and reorganized to effectively carry out its mission to support communities before, during, and after disasters. Extreme weather conditions shout out for us to pay attention. Experts warn us that our beloved neighborhood could be the next ground zero. Meanwhile, a wrathful Mother Nature is waiting to teach us another painful lesson in not-so-natural disasters.