How long does it take to get disaster aid flowing?
FYI:
H.W. Bush, G.W. Bush, Trump = Republican Presidents
Clinton, Obama, Biden = Democratic Presidents
Critical Analysis
Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:
According to the visual above, during the presidency of H.W. Bush approximately what was the average number of days after a state’s request on disaster assistance to a president’s decision?
According to the visual above, during the Clinton administration, describe the difference in how long it took federal disaster assistance to reach Democratic versus Republican states.
Between the H.W. Bush administration and the second Trump administration describe one trend in the length of time for states to receive federal disaster assistance.
Between the H.W. Bush administration and the second Trump administration describe one trend in the party affiliation of states receiving federal disaster assistance.
“Any suggestion that disaster decisions are politically motivated does not reflect how this process works or how FEMA carries out its mission,” Daniel Llargués, an agency spokesman, wrote in an email. “FEMA continues to process federal declaration requests and deliver assistance promptly, supporting state and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes.” Why do you think Blue Democratic states have to wait so much longer than Red Republican states for federal disaster assistance?
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employs more than 20,000 people nationwide. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., FEMA has 10 regional offices located across the country. FEMA was officially created in 1979 through an executive order by then President Jimmy Carter. Under Article II of the Constitution, the President is responsible for the execution and enforcement of the laws created by Congress. Fifteen executive departments — each led by an appointed member of the President’s Cabinet — carry out the day-to-day administration of the federal government. The U.S. Constitution say absolutely nothing about FEMA. Explain how the Constitution allows the government to create agencies like FEMA?
Mr. Trump has yet to formally nominate a FEMA administrator in his second term and has largely left the agency in limbo, shrinking its work force by thousands and weighing significant changes to the way it operates. He is said to be considering nominating Cameron Hamilton, who briefly led the agency on an acting basis last year but was fired days after he testified to Congress that FEMA should not be abolished. How do you think these changes and cuts to FEMA will impact federal relief assistance in the future?
Slower moves to declare disasters could reflect the president’s desire for state and local governments to manage more disaster events without federal disaster declarations, said Pete Gaynor, who served as FEMA administrator during Mr. Trump’s first term. “If you’re committed to FEMA reform and shifting responsibility to states and locals, one way to do that is, don’t approve them all,” Mr. Gaynor said. Who do you think should be most responsible for disaster aid: federal, state, or local government?
Because of the increasing threat of climate change, many Americans - not only those on the coasts - are susceptible to natural disasters. Explain how much involvement you believe the federal government should have in providing disaster relief.
Federalism is a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government. Generally, an overarching national government is responsible for broader governance of larger territorial areas, while the smaller subdivisions, states, and cities govern the issues of local concern. How do national disasters such as the L.A. wildfires, and Hurricane Helene in different states across the country illustrate the concept of federalism?
Write and Discuss
Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.
Act on your Learning
Contact the White House. Be polite and let the president know what you think about cuts to FEMA.
Get Creative
Imagine your community was impacted by a natural disaster and FEMA did not come to the rescue (for those of you in some areas, this is not hypothetical). What do you think life would be like after a disaster and how would the lack of federal assistance change the aftermath of a disaster.
Learning Extension*
So far all the years of the 2020s have set records for weather and climate disasters. Read the government’s report on climate change and weather disasters.
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