County Leaders Navigating FEMA Changes: A Fireside Chat with Former FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell on Preparedness, Leadership, and Practical Action
This series will take place on Zoom Webinar. Please email nacomeetings@naco.org with any questions regarding registration or login issues.
The session will explore what counties can control — from pre-disaster planning and cross-department coordination to post-disaster recovery positioning — even as broader policy conditions shift.
Why This Matters Now
Disaster response does not pause for political transitions, staffing shortages, or federal ambiguity. Counties remain the first line of action. The more prepared counties are operationally and strategically, the more likely they are to see stronger outcomes today and greater resilience in the future.
This session will not focus on politics. It is designed to equip county administrators with clarity, perspective, and concrete steps they can take immediately.
What Is Happening
Counties are entering another disaster season facing growing complexity — more frequent and severe events, rising costs, staffing pressures, and uncertainty around federal support and timelines. County administrators are being asked to do more with less, often without clear signals about how federal processes may evolve.
This fireside chat between Brittany Christenson, CEO of AidKit, and Deanne Criswell, former FEMA Administrator, is designed specifically for county leaders navigating FEMA changes.
Drawing on Deanne’s decades of emergency management experience at the local and federal levels, and Brittany’s work supporting counties in strengthening operational resilience, this session will combine candid discussion, live polling, and audience Q&A to surface real-world challenges and actionable strategies.
Attendees Will Walk Away With
- A clearer understanding of what aspects of federal disaster support are stable — and where delays or friction most often occur
- Specific actions counties can take in the next 6-12 months to strengthen disaster readiness
- Practical approaches to mitigation, documentation, and compliance that improve recovery outcomes
- Leadership strategies for guiding teams through high-stress and uncertain conditions
- Tactics for maintaining public trust and communicating clearly about disaster assistance
- Insight into how stronger federal-local coordination can reduce administrative strain