Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council; Notice of Meeting

A retired military special operations officer and former Senior Intelligence Officer for the Department of Defense proposes a radical restructuring of FEMA into a new "National Disaster Response Agency" (NDRA). The commenter argues that FEMA's current culture is burdened by bureaucracy and "mission creep," and advocates for a "cultural reset" involving stricter performance standards, austere training, and a more disciplined, military-style organizational model.

The Missouri Association of River Commissioners (MOARC) supports the FEMA Review Council's recommendations but urges specific improvements regarding flood insurance pricing and public assistance. They advocate for a process that allows levee owner-operators to submit data for risk assessments and request spending guardrails to prevent the claw-back of federal funds during audits.

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management provides feedback on the FEMA Review Council Final Report, advocating for reforms that recognize underinsurance and insurance delays as factors for federal assistance. The County supports expanding eligibility for underinsured survivors and opposes increasing the federal cost share for public assistance or raising the per capita disaster declaration threshold.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) supports the FEMA Review Council's report and advocates for a more robust, independent, and well-resourced FEMA. They specifically call for sustained funding for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, a fully staffed agency, and the integration of stronger building codes and professional architect credentials into disaster response frameworks.

Artanis Capital, LLC, representing its emergency housing platform, supports the FEMA Review Council's goal of reducing administrative costs and waste in disaster housing. They argue that the Final Report fails to include specific "redeployable" asset standards, which they believe are necessary to prevent states from continuing to purchase disposable, single-use trailers.

Artanis Capital, LLC, representing its emergency housing platform, supports the FEMA Review Council's goal of reducing administrative costs and waste in disaster housing. They argue that the Final Report fails to include specific "redeployable" asset standards, which they believe are necessary to prevent states from continuing to purchase disposable, single-use trailers.

An anonymous citizen argues that FEMA needs to address "Zoolutoon" management—supervisors who undermine their subordinates' success and create a toxic work culture. The commenter advocates for removing these managers, improving federal workplace patriotism (including flags and patriotic music), and ensuring more qualified individuals are in leadership positions.

The commenter supports the FEMA Review Council's goals but provides a detailed list of 12 specific recommendations to strengthen the agency. They argue for a balance between faster funding and accountability, expanded state/local capacity, a national disaster workforce strategy, and improved technology and integration with public health.

Mitchell Berger, writing in a private capacity, expresses support for the FEMA Review Council's work and provides specific recommendations to improve emergency management. He suggests establishing an innovation center, expanding tribal sovereignty, streamlining grant processes, and exploring international best practices and tax incentives for disaster preparedness.

The SmarterSafer Coalition, a national coalition of environmental, taxpayer, and insurance organizations, supports the FEMA Review Council's final report and its recommendations for disaster preparedness and mitigation. They specifically advocate for strengthening pre-disaster mitigation, improving the long-term fiscal sustainability of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through risk-based pricing, and streamlining administrative processes to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.