Locals share thoughts on disaster response system recommendations

A president-appointed council that reviewed the nation's disaster response system recommends shifting federal government responsibility to local and state entities. Some locals agree that the system needs reforming. In its final report released this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council published recommendations for amending the nation's disaster response system. The recommendations focus on ways to streamline and accelerate aid, including "reorienting" the system so state and local entities lead response and "realigning" the criteria for federal disaster assistance. The review council met with state and local entities across the country as part of its review and received almost 12,000 public comments, according to the report. Local emergency management agencies, like Unicoi and Johnson counties, shared their own feedback with FEMA and the council about the process. Unicoi County Emergency Management Agency Director Jimmy Erwin said his team has previously met with FEMA and other government branches about specific issues the county faced after Hurricane Helene. "I have read the review, and I believe less government red tape would be better," Erwin said. "It seems like there is no common sense in some things. [Too] many people in the same role, slowing down the process." Local emergency management staff managed the initial response, rescue and recovery after the storm flooded the county. Erwin said FEMA was involved in helping individuals in the weeks after the initial response. With over half of the land in Unicoi County being public land, Erwin said the county also faces an increased financial burden with recovery due to less property tax income. Johnson County EMA submitted feedback to the review council through a survey. In its response, Johnson County EMA Director Jason Blevins said the most effective disaster response model would have locals leading disaster response, with FEMA working to enhance local capabilities rather than directing them. "Local emergency management agencies are uniquely positioned to lead disaster response because we understand our communities, infrastructure, resources and vulnerabilities better than anyone outside the area," Blevins said. "In Johnson County, our experience during Hurricane Helene reinforced that local leadership is critical in the first hours and days of a disaster." Blevins also said certain amendments would need to be made to the current system to equip local EMAs to best respond to disasters, especially in rural communities. He said rural communities often operate with limited personnel and face different challenges than other larger metropolitan areas when it comes to emergency response, whether that's manpower, communications or topography. "We are increasingly capable of managing and coordinating local disaster operations. However, no local agency can fully replace the role of FEMA during catastrophic incidents," Blevins said. "The federal government remains essential for large-scale logistics, long-term recovery funding, housing assistance and support that exceeds local capacity." Greater flexibility in funding processes and simplified documentation would help local entities, Blevins said, especially as they try to navigate what could be administrative burdens while executing real-time emergency response. Gov. Bill Lee told Six Rivers Media that FEMA's been a "real partner" to Tennessee throughout Hurricane Helene and its recovery. But the state has also decided to act independently from FEMA by creating its own disaster relief fund to shorten the funding wait time for local governments. "The time frame between when [counties] could get dollars from FEMA, and the need for those dollars, was too long," Lee said. The state short-term loan program was created shortly after Helene, Lee said, to rebuild infrastructure more quickly. "One of the things we learned is that when the state creates its own independent strategy that is designed to partner with FEMA, then Tennesseans are going to be served better," Lee said. Erwin said Hurricane Helene was an "eye-opener" for many EMAs and other local governments across the state. "We have learned a lot and will be better prepared if we are ever faced with this type of disruption in our community," he said. Thomas Sherrill contributed reporting. Jorgelina Manna-Rea is a Report for America corps member reporting on issues relating to the environment for Six Rivers Media.