Unlocking Federal Reform: What the FEMA Act Means for Counties
This webinar is available on-demand. If you have issues accessing the recording, please email nacomeetings@naco.org.
Join NACo for a national membership call to learn about the newly released FEMA Act and its potential to transform how counties prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. This session will highlight key provisions - such as the universal disaster application, improvements to Public Assistance, and increased transparency - and outline what they mean for local governments.
Watch Recording
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Speaker
Brett Mattson
Advocacy
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders release bipartisan FEMA reform package with major wins for counties
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee released the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act
Federal judge temporarily halts FEMA disaster mitigation grant program termination
On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. According to the press release, FEMA will also stop funding BRIC projects that were previously approved and are still underway.
Podcast: County experience can improve disaster response
Kevin Leonard, executive director of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, and Amanda McKinney, a Yakima County, Wash. commissioner, talk about two different challenges county officials face in responding to disasters.
FEMA releases nearly $1 billion in preparedness grants
On August 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced nearly $1 billion in new grant funding to help states, local governments, tribes and territories strengthen disaster preparedness.
NACo sends letter to congressional appropriations committees urging federal investments in county government activities
On July 9, NACo sent a letter to leaders of the U.S. House and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees urging them to adequately fund key federal programs of importance to counties in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 discretionary appropriations bills.
Former FEMA chief is bearish on reform talks
Former FEMA Administrator Brock Long has yet to hear any proposals for federal disaster reform that would make a significant improvement to the way it operates.
