Prepared to Respond: How Counties Can Strengthen Readiness Amid Federal Emergency Management Policy Changes

Key Takeaways

From our Sponsor

This post is sponsored by Hagerty Consulting

As local leaders, you are often the first call—and the final line of defense—when disaster strikes. From hurricanes and wildfires to floods and winter storms, natural disasters are growing in both frequency and intensity nationwide. At the same time, the federal emergency management landscape is changing, with efforts underway to streamline disaster programs, expedite assistance, and place more responsibility on state and local governments.

If enacted, these changes will require counties to adopt an even more proactive role in disaster planning, response, and recovery. Counties are not just stakeholders in this process; they are essential partners in the locally executed, state-managed, and federally supported emergency management system. In 2023 alone, 849 counties experienced at least one federally declared disaster.

With hurricane season underway and the historical peak of wildfire season approaching in mid-July, the time to act is now. Below are four actionable steps counties can take to enhance preparedness and ensure their communities are ready for the challenges ahead.

Bolster Communication Between Emergency Management and County Leadership

Effective communication between emergency management staff and county leadership is always important—but it becomes crucial during times of uncertainty. Consider establishing a routine cadence of joint briefings and tabletop exercises that include key personnel such as the county administrator, emergency manager, fire and police chiefs, public health officers, and school officials. These meetings should focus on preparing for high-risk hazards, while also evaluating resource gaps and contingency plans considering possible changes to federal disaster support.

For example, before hurricane season, review evacuation zones, shelter capacity, debris clearance contracts, and emergency communications protocols. In wildfire-prone areas, simulate a scenario where your county must issue a mass evacuation with limited notice. Are your alert systems ready? Do you know where congestion may occur? Who authorizes the evacuation?

These discussions clarify roles, surface operational gaps, and empower community leaders to make timely, informed decisions when lives and property are on the line.

Maintain Strong Coordination with Your State Emergency Management Agency

Emergency management is a team effort involving a wide range of stakeholders, and state emergency management agencies are among the most critical pieces of that puzzle. This coordination is especially important now, as federal emergency management policy continues to evolve. As counties respond to and recover from major disasters, the state provides a vital link to federal resources and can help fill gaps when local capabilities are overwhelmed.

If your county is in a coastal region, contact your state agency to review joint hurricane response plans and identify potential staging areas for commodities and search-and-rescue teams. In fire-prone areas, coordinate with the state to pre-position resources such as water tenders, aviation assets, or incident management teams.

Assess Your Financial Readiness to Sustain Disaster Response

Disasters are expensive, and counties are often expected to cover costs for emergency protective measures, debris removal, and temporary housing long before federal assistance becomes available. Looking ahead, proposed changes to federal cost-sharing requirements and program eligibility could shift even more of these financial responsibilities onto counties. This means local governments may be expected to cover a larger share of disaster response and recovery costs than in the past.

Now is the time to review your county’s disaster-related reserve funds or budget stabilization accounts. Could you sustain operations for the first 30 to 60 days following a major hurricane or wildfire? Can you activate emergency contracts, open shelters, or pay for overtime without waiting for federal reimbursement? Having clarity on available funding, and a plan to access it, can accelerate your response and reduce potential recovery delays.

Grow Your Local Resource Pool

In the aftermath of a large-scale disaster, resources are almost always limited due to widespread need and prioritization across impacted communities. During these times, counties must rely on support beyond day-to-day staffing to save lives and protect property in the emergency response phase.

To support this effort, it is important to establish or update mutual aid agreements with neighboring jurisdictions for critical personnel such as emergency managers, building inspectors, utility crews, and shelter support staff. For smaller or rural counties, staff-sharing agreements that activate during declared emergencies can significantly enhance capacity when it is needed most.

Now is the time to strengthen partnerships and grow your network—both within your region and beyond. By working together to establish mutual aid or pre-event staff support agreements, counties can help ensure that critical resources are available when disaster strikes. Strong partnerships built before disaster strikes help communities respond faster, support each other more effectively, and strengthen long-term recovery efforts.

Additionally, do not overlook the resources available through your state’s participation in the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which allows states and counties to share assets nationwide. After major hurricanes, for example, counties have received EMAC support in the form of out-of-state search and rescue teams, emergency medical service (EMS) units, and emergency operations center personnel. Ensure your county’s emergency management team understands how EMAC requests are processed and how your county could benefit from or contribute to this vital national mutual aid network.

The Road Ahead

As the federal government explores reforms to streamline disaster programs and expand state and local flexibility, counties must be prepared to lead. That leadership starts with strong internal coordination, trusted partnerships with state agencies, sound financial planning, and reliable access to operational support.

Acting now ensures your community is not only ready to weather the next disaster but positioned to emerge stronger, more connected, and more resilient in its aftermath.

Lee Mayfield is the Director of Response Programs at Hagerty Consulting. He is a proven emergency management leader with over 17 years of experience in disaster planning, response, and recovery—specializing in state and local coordination, training, exercises, mass care, evacuation prioritization, and crisis response. Prior to joining Hagerty, Lee served as the Director of Public Safety and Emergency Management for Lee County, Florida, where he oversaw the county’s response to and recovery from Hurricane Irma in 2017.

To learn more about the unique preparedness, response, and recovery solutions Hagerty Consulting offers disaster-impacted communities, visit our Services page.