Counties Call on Congress to Advance Federal Disaster Reform During National Preparedness Month

WASHINGTON – To mark National Preparedness Month, counties are urging Congress to advance a set of federal disaster reforms so counties can better respond to and recover from disasters. These priorities reflect many of the final recommendations put forward by NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force and are embodied in legislation such as the Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669).

“Counties are grateful to the members of both parties who have worked on this issue, from the committee leaders who have introduced disaster reform legislation and the White House and FEMA officials who have engaged with us directly,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “These reforms reflect what county governments have learned through years of response and recovery, and they reflect a true partnership with Congress, the White House and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Counties stand ready to help our federal partners get these reforms across the finish line for the residents we all serve.”

Counties recommend five main priorities for FEMA reform: 

• Public Assistance program reform: Shifting from a reimbursement model to a true grant-based structure, with a requirement that FEMA make funding available within 120 days, so counties can restore vital infrastructure without fronting costs for years.
• Universal disaster application: Simplifying and unifying survivor applications across federal agencies, reducing confusion, duplication and delays for disaster survivors.
• Formula-based mitigation funding: Providing at least one pre-approved mitigation project per county in every state, opening a pipeline that has long been out of reach for smaller and rural communities.
• Procurement and loan interest fixes: Treating counties like states under federal procurement rules and reimbursing loan interest, removing penalties that punish local governments for acting quickly.
• Expanded Individual Assistance: Strengthening housing support, behavioral health coverage and protections for survivors without fixed addresses. 
   

NACo’s advocacy on disaster reform has already resulted in positive steps forward. As of this spring, FEMA must now publish a public dashboard tracking disaster-related reimbursements. This means real transparency on the status of counties' pending requests.

In addition, NACo is working closely with FEMA and the administration as discussions progress on FEMA Review Council recommendations, to ensure county priorities are represented and that any transition accounts for the realities facing local governments. 

About one-third of American counties experience at least one presidentially declared disaster each year. In 2025, the nation experienced 23 separate billion-dollar disasters, which resulted in $115 billion in damages. 

NACo encourages its members to use National Preparedness Month to review emergency protocols, educate county residents about emergencies and take steps to mitigate the potential impact of future disasters. 

For more information about county participation in National Preparedness Month, click here. To read the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force final report, click here. For more information about the FEMA Act, click here. For NACo resources, click here.