A recent episode of the KQED Forum podcast examines how reductions at the Federal Emergency Management Agency could affect disaster response and whether private organizations will play a larger role in helping communities recover.
The episode, “With FEMA Cuts, Is There a New Disaster Relief Economy?”, looks at FEMA’s ability to carry out its longstanding role of helping state and local governments respond to and recover from major disasters amid significant staffing and budget reductions.
The discussion also considers what could happen if a major wildfire, earthquake or other catastrophic event strikes while federal response capacity is constrained, as well as how communities might fill potential gaps in assistance.
A central part of the conversation focuses on the growth of the private disaster relief industry and the changing mix of government, nonprofit and private-sector resources involved in disaster recovery. The program also examines what it could take for FEMA to rebuild its capacity and strengthen its ability to respond.
Guests on the episode include Scott Dance, climate adaptation correspondent for The New York Times; Jennifer Gray Thompson, founder and CEO of After the Fire USA; and Bryan Koon, president and CEO of IEM.
The discussion comes as emergency management organizations and the communities they serve consider how changes in federal capacity could reshape responsibility for preparing for, responding to and recovering from major disasters.
Listen to the full episode here.