Can States Survive Hurricane Season Without FEMA?

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With the 2025 hurricane season underway, emergency managers across the country are preparing for disaster with less support than ever before. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), once a cornerstone of national disaster response, has been gutted under President Trump’s second term. While states brace for floods, wind damage, and infrastructure collapse, they’re also confronting a reality in which FEMA’s ability to help is either limited or entirely absent.

The administration has made clear its intention to phase out FEMA, a stance repeated by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Earlier this year, she declared the agency unnecessary and proposed eliminating it altogether. Although internal memos show efforts to retain some staff, particularly the Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employees (CORE), the loss of senior leadership and experienced responders has created a hollowed-out agency.

Even Before Hurricane Season, State Budgets Are Already Under Strain

The shift of disaster response responsibilities to the states comes with major financial consequences. States are statutorily entitled to a 75% federal reimbursement for declared disasters, but additional funds have become harder to secure. The Trump administration has overridden FEMA’s recommendations for reimbursement approvals, insisting on greater scrutiny and suggesting that states should “own the problem.”

This approach is unsustainable. In North Carolina, Hurricane Helene left damages estimated at nearly $60 billion. As of May, only 10% of promised recovery funds have been disbursed. State and local leaders are warning that without federal backing, they may be forced to raise taxes or take on debt to cover basic recovery needs.

FEMA: A System in Disarray

FEMA’s internal operations have also been disrupted. The abrupt firing of acting administrator Cameron Hamilton, following his opposition to dismantling the agency, left FEMA scrambling. His replacement, David Richardson, has attempted to stabilize the workforce, but agency processes remain bogged down by new manual reviews and documentation requirements.

Senator Tim Kaine and other lawmakers have criticized these bureaucratic hurdles, saying they delay life-saving resources. Meanwhile, communities in western North Carolina and southwestern Virginia still await clarity on what expenses will be reimbursed, even as hurricane season intensifies.

A Politicized Disaster Landscape

Critics argue the dismantling of FEMA follows a broader ideological agenda modeled on the Project 2025 playbook, which seeks to downsize federal programs and shift responsibility to state governments. Unfortunately, disasters don’t respect state borders or balance sheets. When the federal government retreats, vulnerable communities are left exposed.

FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, once a key source of funding for disaster preparedness, has already been canceled. Without such tools, states must either create their own emergency infrastructure or rely on last-minute policy shifts from the White House.

Rebuilding Without Federal Help

Local officials, like Canton, NC Mayor Zeb Smathers, say the problem is not funding allocations but the absence of political will to disburse them. Despite public claims of state-federal unity, FEMA’s deterioration speaks louder. Some states, already stretched thin, now face the impossible task of rebuilding roads, homes, and hospitals with limited assistance.

As hurricanes become more intense due to climate change, the absence of a reliable federal response is more dangerous than ever. Experts warn that further delays or policy reversals will cost lives, not just money.

Should the federal government maintain full responsibility for disaster recovery? Tell us what you think.

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