As hurricane season accelerates and extreme weather events grow in frequency and intensity, communities face a pivotal moment. For decades, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) served as the nation’s anchor for national disaster response and recovery, but changing funding priorities, growing demands and political realignments have shifted the burden of preparedness and response to states and communities.
Now, the new reality is driving a shared-responsibility model – one where federal agencies act as enablers rather than responders, and where states, communities and even individual citizens take on responsibility for their own preparation and resilience.
“States and communities should be prepared to take on more ownership,” says Eric Leckey, a former FEMA associate administrator and long-time senior leader in emergency management. “FEMA always said it operated under a locally executed, state managed, federally supported model, but now, the federal government means it.”
In recognition of National Preparedness Month, let’s examine the changing landscape of disaster preparedness, the tools communities can leverage today, and the evolving strategies that will empower communities to prepare for tomorrow’s threats.
A Shifting Landscape: The FEMA Reliance Gap
For years, FEMA coordinated disaster response across the nation, providing funding, logistics and boots on the ground during emergencies. But that model is undergoing a fundamental review and transformation. FEMA is increasingly focused on supporting catastrophic, multi-state events while shifting greater responsibility for readiness and resilience onto state and local governments.
“There will always be a need for a national crisis-level capability,” Leckey explains. “When you have multiple states impacted by something like a major hurricane or wildfire, FEMA’s role will be to coordinate resources across states and regions, adjudicate logistics and other resources, and provide the broader common operating picture. But we’re entering a paradigm where more day-to-day preparedness and response will be owned locally.”
Mike Korba, Director of National Security at RELI Group, has spent much of his career supporting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs across FEMA, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). He’s seen firsthand how emergency management priorities are shifting, and explains that FEMA’s evolving role means states and communities must take on greater responsibility for preparedness, planning and recovery than ever before.
“As FEMA evolves, we’re going to see more responsibility falling on state and local governments,” says Korba. “There will be some federal resources available, but local agencies need to plan, train and coordinate more closely than ever because the expectation is shifting from federal response to local readiness.”
Several factors are driving this shift. Federal funding streams are tightening, requiring states to compete for and maximize available resources. At the same time, extreme weather events are making disasters more frequent and severe – wildfire seasons are longer, hurricanes more destructive and infrastructure vulnerabilities harder to ignore. And preparedness isn’t just about natural disasters. As Leckey noted, cybersecurity and geopolitical risks are becoming a central part of emergency planning, with aging infrastructure and interconnected systems leaving critical services like power, water and transportation increasingly vulnerable to attack. Korba adds that events like the Colonial Pipeline breach show how cyber incidents can quickly escalate into national emergencies, requiring the same level of planning and coordination as physical disasters.
The result is a growing reliance gap. While FEMA remains critical for large-scale coordination, states, communities and even individual citizens must strengthen their own operational readiness. Building core capabilities, from communications and logistics to interagency collaboration, has never been more urgent.
Federal Tools States Can Leverage Now
Although the responsibility for preparedness is shifting, states and local governments are not alone. A range of federal tools and platforms exists to help communities plan, train and respond more effectively.
One impactful resource is TSA’s Exercise Information System (EXIS), managed by RELI Group and lead by Teiana Barney, RELI Group Project Manager and certified Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) practitioner. EXIS is a free, web-based platform designed to help transportation agencies plan, execute and evaluate preparedness exercises.
“EXIS lowers the barrier to entry,” explains Barney. “It allows agencies of any size to design exercises using prebuilt templates, connect with TSA-certified inspectors, and evaluate real-world response plans without having to develop everything from the ground up.”
Leckey and Barney also recommend FEMA’s Preparedness Toolkit, which provides agencies with templates, planning guides, evaluation checklists and corrective action tracking tools. It enables state and local governments to conduct joint exercises, compare lessons learned and measure readiness improvements over time. Additionally, Leckey highlights the value of data-driven decision-making tools like FEMA’s Resilience Analysis & Planning Tool (RAPT), which helps agencies visualize hazards, vulnerabilities and populations at risk when determining where to allocate resources.
Leckey also stresses the importance of going beyond tools and building comprehensive, sustained preparedness strategies. He recommends that states fully leverage federal and state funding streams, including hazard mitigation grants and flood mitigation assistance, to invest in resilient infrastructure. He also points to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and other mutual aid agreements as critical mechanisms for sharing resources and coordinating response efforts across jurisdictions.
“Preparedness isn’t just about stocking a toolkit,” Leckey explains. “It’s about building the partnerships, funding strategies and information-sharing frameworks that let agencies act decisively when it matters most.”
Expert Perspectives: Evolving Preparedness Mindsets
While tools like EXIS provide critical support, true resilience depends on how states, communities and individuals adapt to a changing preparedness landscape. Experts agree that meeting this moment requires a shift in mindset, from relying primarily on federal responses to embracing shared responsibility at every level.
Leckey emphasizes that this shift goes beyond government agencies. “Preparedness isn’t just about what FEMA or the state can provide,” he explains. “Citizens need to take more ownership of their personal risk – where they live, how they build, and what steps they take to protect their families and neighborhoods.” That broader sense of accountability is reshaping expectations for state and local governments facing growing pressure to prepare communities while also empowering individuals to take proactive steps.
Korba echoes the need for new approaches and highlights the importance of thinking well beyond immediate response. “Communities are used to thinking about response – what happens in the first 24 to 48 hours,” he says. “But recovery lasts much longer. States and communities need to plan for the long game – months or even years after the disaster, not just while the disaster is in the headlines.” Limited budgets, small teams and competing priorities make this difficult for many jurisdictions, which risk being overwhelmed as FEMA focuses more on catastrophic, multi-state events and less on day-to-day response.
Korba also points to one of the most persistent challenges in emergency management: interoperability. Even today, many local, state and federal responders lack seamless communication during emergencies due to incompatible systems, siloed planning and outdated infrastructure. Without coordinated planning and tested protocols, critical information can get lost in the moments when speed and clarity matter most. This is supported by Barney, who shares, “Emergencies rarely stop at jurisdictional lines. Agencies have to work from a common framework so when an incident happens, everyone already knows their role and how to coordinate effectively.”
As Leckey notes, the path forward depends on smarter strategies and shared accountability. “We need to stop cycling and recycling the same damages and rebuilding in the same way,” he says. “Preparedness means looking ahead, from personal decisions to regional coordination, and making better choices before the next disaster strikes.”
Key Takeaways for States and Local Communities
Rethink Reliance
FEMA’s role is evolving, and states, communities and individuals must build stronger capabilities to manage localized crises. Preparedness today means owning more of the planning, response and recovery responsibilities.
Leverage Federal Resources
Tools like EXIS, FEMA’s Preparedness Toolkit and RAPT give agencies cost-effective ways to strengthen planning, conduct exercises and allocate resources where they’re needed most.
Strengthen Regional Coordination
Disasters rarely respect boundaries. Building shared frameworks, testing response plans together, and leveraging mutual aid agreements like EMAC are critical for faster, more effective recovery.
Invest in Technology and Continuous Training
Advances in AI, predictive modeling, real-time data sharing and geospatial analytics enable earlier risk detection and better decision-making. Preparedness isn’t one-and-done; agencies must train regularly, track lessons learned and adapt plans based on new insights.
The frequency, intensity and complexity of disasters are accelerating, and the traditional federal-first response model can no longer keep pace. Building true resilience requires a collective effort: federal agencies providing the tools and frameworks, states and local governments strengthening capacity and coordination, and individuals taking responsibility for understanding and managing their own risks.
By leveraging resources, agencies can test plans, identify vulnerabilities, and improve collaboration across jurisdictions. But preparedness doesn’t end with a single exercise or investment – it demands continuous planning, shared learning, and a commitment to adapt before the next crisis strikes.
Resilience isn’t built by any one system, agency or community alone. It is forged through partnerships, innovation and action at every level. The opportunity now is to prepare smarter, coordinate better, and strengthen the systems and relationships that will protect lives and livelihoods when the next disaster comes.