Counties Advocate for Passage of FEMA Act Alongside National Preparedness Month

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Counties (NACo) recognizes September as National Preparedness Month, an opportunity to highlight the essential role of counties in preparing for and responding to disasters. Counties will advocate throughout the month for passage of the FEMA Act (H.R. 4669), which was approved last Tuesday by the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee by a vote of 57-3. 

“When disasters strike, county emergency responders are first on the scene, and long after, counties take the lead on rebuilding our communities,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “This robust role depends on an effective intergovernmental partnership, and the FEMA Act includes a range of county priorities that will improve our ability to serve and support our residents in their greatest time of need.” 

Components of the FEMA Act recommended by NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force include: 

• Universal disaster application: Simplifying and unifying survivor applications across federal agencies, reducing confusion, duplication and delays for disasters survivor survivors.
• Public Assistance program reform: Transitioning from a reimbursement-based model to a grant-based model for FEMA Public Assistance, ensuring counties can more quickly restore vital infrastructure.
• Public Assistance dashboard: Increasing transparency and visibility into the status of project approvals, obligations and disbursements.
• Mitigation program reforms: Modernizing FEMA’s mitigation programs to allow counties to proactively address vulnerabilities before disasters strike. 

“Counties thank our federal partners for giving us an active role in developing this bill – one we believe will streamline disaster support and facilitate a strong intergovernmental partnership in times of need,” said Chase. “A universal disaster application, a public dashboard for the Public Assistance program, and reforms to FEMA’s mitigation programs are all ways to ensure county governments and our residents have a pathway to more timely, coordinated and effective disaster assistance.” 

Beyond this advocacy effort, counties will spend Preparedness Month encouraging residents to consider their own disaster preparedness. FEMA’s theme for the month this year is “Preparedness Starts at Home,” aligning with county efforts to educate residents around making an emergency plan, building a supply kit, and other critical actions for disaster readiness. Counties will post on social media, issue proclamations, engage with local media, host events and roll out other creative public awareness campaigns.

In 2023, 1,027 counties – over one-third of all counties – experienced at least one federally declared disaster, with hundreds of lives lost. Twenty-seven disaster events passed the billion-dollar mark in damages, and in total disaster damages cost $182.7 billion. These figures mark a steep jump in recent years.

For more information about county participation in National Preparedness Month, click here. For more information about the FEMA Act, click here.