Area government officials on Friday agreed with President Donald Trump that the Federal Emergency Management Agency needs work, but none would go as far as to say that it should be eliminated.
During a visit to Fletcher, North Carolina, on Friday, Trump criticized FEMA over its response to Hurricane Helene.
“I’ll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA or maybe even getting rid of FEMA,” Trump said. “Frankly, FEMA’s not good.”
FEMA provides aid to communities in the wake of major disasters, and the agency has extended help to Volusia and Flagler counties as hurricanes have pummeled the area in recent years. The funding helps local governments, homeowners and communities rebuild.
Jonathan Lord, emergency management director for Flagler County, said FEMA could use an overhaul and agrees with Trump that state and local governments might do better doling out funds. But he still sees a place for a federal agency like FEMA to oversee grant programs.
“I think it could be a win for states and local governments,” he said.
Trump accused FEMA crews of being unfamiliar with areas when responding to disasters and that the federal government should instead send funding to governors to manage their own response to disasters.
“FEMA has turned out to be a disaster,” Trump said. “I think we’re going to recommend that FEMA go away and we pay directly – we pay a percentage to the state.”
After speaking with flood victims in Swannanoa, North Carolina, Trump later added, “If it was up to me right now, I’d end it right now.”
Flagler emergency manager complains of too many layers
Lord said he believes there are too many “layers” between the federal and the local communities receiving assistance.
“The further you get from people you’re serving, the less understanding you have of these people’s needs,” he said.
Lord said he believes FEMA does its best at its core.
“But still, we’re talking about 50 states that are all different, just as there (are) 67 counties in Florida that are different,” he said.
The News-Journal requested an interview with Volusia County Emergency Management Director Clint Mecham. County spokesman Michael Ryan said via text message that the county is not commenting.
Brower says FEMA help comes after long waits
Volusia County Chairman Jeff Brower said FEMA has helped the county government and residents in a variety of ways through recent hurricanes. But he said getting financial aid from FEMA involves a lengthy wait.
He said he was pleased to hear Trump’s comments but isn’t sure that getting rid of FEMA is the answer.
“It would be nice to see it be upgraded, updated ― I don’t know, to be streamlined ― so everything wasn’t that difficult in getting reimbursed,” Brower said.
Brower said he’s been surprised while working as the chairman how long it has taken for the county to get reimbursed for disaster recovery efforts. Brower said he would want to see plans for an alternative to FEMA before endorsing the idea to get rid of it entirely.
“I’m not sure if gutting it is the right move because I don’t know what would replace it,” Brower said.
Volusia County’s District 5 Councilman David Santiago also said he’d be interested in learning more about Trump’s ideas for getting rid of FEMA and thinks it’s worth looking into.
Santiago, a former state representative, said he believes the state of Florida could do better responding to disasters with direct control over federal aid.
“I’ve seen the dysfunction that federal government bureaucracies have, and it’s an interesting conversation to have because you hear how some people are suffering in certain states … I think it’s a good idea to pursue,” he said.
District 1 Councilman Don Dempsey said he has heard rumors and speculation about a lack of help in hurricane-damaged North Carolina.
“But I don’t know if it’s FEMA’s fault or just the circumstances. But I’m always a big proponent of local government handling local things over the federal government,” Dempsey said.
Dempsey said he doesn’t know how FEMA operates internally.
“So I can’t really judge on whether getting rid of them is warranted or not,” Dempsey said.
He said FEMA has “been a huge help to Volusia County” from what he’s observed.
“We appreciate every bit of their help in Volusia … I wouldn’t want to see our help cut back,” Dempsey said.
District 4 Councilman Troy Kent said via text message, “I trust President Trump, and I think overhauling FEMA is long overdue.”
−Bart Jansen of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Local officials are critical of FEMA but stop short of Trump’s view it should ‘go away’
Reporting by Sheldon Gardner and Colleen Michele Jones, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
