Western states say FEMA still favors hurricanes over wildfire response

Western leaders question FEMA priorities

Regional disaster managers used the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Deer Valley, Utah, to argue that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, favors hurricane response over wildfire needs.

The discussion followed a May review, as governors weighed whether future disaster policy would support state, local, and tribal governments without placing added burdens on already stretched agencies.

Utah meeting turns to disaster policy

The annual meeting included a Deer Valley disaster policy session, where governors and emergency managers examined reforms after the FEMA Review Council released its final report in May.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham joined the bipartisan gathering as officials pressed for policies that reflect hazards across large, rural Western landscapes during federal reform talks in Utah.

Federal review changes the frame

The FEMA Review Council released a May report urging the federal government to define its role as supporting, rather than leading, disaster work after major events affect communities.

That recommendation concerned Western officials because many communities already manage planning, response, and recovery efforts after natural hazards occur with limited staff, distance barriers, tight budgets, and large service areas.

Mitigation funding faces scrutiny

The council report examined the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which provides post-disaster funding so governments can reduce future losses from recurring natural hazards through approved local protection projects.

Western officials argued the program still fits hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes better than wildfires, drought, and earthquakes that shape community risks across their region during repeated hazard cycles.

New Mexico official calls report disappointing

Ali Rye, State Director of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, or DHSEM, called the council report disappointing during the Deer Valley discussion with governors.

She argued that state and local agencies already carry heavy duties, leaving little room for federal reforms that shift more disaster work away from Washington during future responses and recoveries.

The Boise summit added frustration

Rye described a wildfire summit in Boise, Idaho, where FEMA officials joined by video instead of meeting Western emergency managers in person during regional talks on hazard risk.

She linked that absence to a hurricane briefing for President Donald Trump, saying the episode matched a broader pattern Western states wanted changed in federal disaster policy decisions.

Fun fact: FEMA was created in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter signed the executive order establishing the agency to coordinate federal disaster response.

Wildfire frequency shapes the complaint

Rye contrasted hurricane focus with wildfire seasons across the West, where New Mexico and other states can face repeated incidents during long dry periods within a single year.

She told governors that New Mexico often handles several wildfires in one year, while other Western states face similar pressure across forests and dry terrain near communities and roads.

Little-known fact: Most wildfires in the United States are caused by people, and the annual average is about 85% of all wildfires.

New Mexico points to active conditions

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham noted New Mexico had at least 16 active wildfires, including several large incidents, in early July as governors met in Deer Valley, Utah, during talks.

Executive Order 2026-047 authorized up to $500,000 in state emergency funding and resources for DHSEM to support responses, including the McCauley Springs Fire and other New Mexico incidents.

Rural areas see another gap

Panelists argued rural communities in the West receive less attention from FEMA headquarters because federal programs often fit denser areas and Atlantic hurricane states more closely than remote counties.

That concern matters across the region, where long travel distances, smaller tax bases, and limited staffing can slow recovery for roads, utilities, and public services after major events.

Utah director seeks a stronger voice

Kris Hamlet, director of the Utah Division of Emergency Management, urged governors to seek more Western representation in FEMA decision-making during federal policy review talks at the Utah meeting.

He said a seat at the table would help states explain hazards federal rules may miss when policy starts from hurricane-focused models rather than direct Western experience alone.

Risks continue after fires

Hamlet also pointed to debris flows and flooding that can follow major wildfires, adding another layer to recovery planning for mountain communities near affected landscapes after severe events.

Those secondary hazards can threaten roads, water systems, and rural neighborhoods, while states wait for federal decisions on mitigation funding tied to past events in nearby affected areas.

Agency overhaul remains unresolved

President Donald Trump’s administration pursued agency changes while the Senate held a June 17 hearing on Cameron Hamilton’s nomination to lead FEMA at the Department of Homeland Security.

Hamilton told senators he would assess disaster aid requests fairly and support more efficient operations, while FEMA’s future structure remained under federal review after the May council report.

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Western states want lasting influence

The Utah discussion left Western governors with a request for more regional input as Washington weighed changes to FEMA funding, staffing, and review practices during federal reform talks.

Their central argument focused on balance, as Western states seek federal support that accounts for wildfires, earthquakes, drought, rural geography, and post-fire flooding across the region over time.

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What stands out more, the claim that FEMA favors hurricanes over wildfires, or what that could mean for disaster response across the Western states? Share your thoughts.

This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.

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