The Trump administration has recently frequently refused to provide disaster preparedness aid funds to various states, causing dissatisfaction in many states. Last week, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rejected the Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds applied for by Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri and Oklahoma, which could have been used for disaster prevention projects such as flood control and tornado protection. A White House spokesperson said the move was aimed at controlling costs and assessing the implementation capabilities of each state. President Trump even explicitly stated that he plans to cancel FEMA after the hurricane season and delegate disaster relief authority to each state.
This practice marks a significant shift in the federal disaster relief policy. In the past, disaster reduction funds were usually automatically approved along with major disaster declarations. However, since March this year, the Trump administration has begun to strictly review such applications and rejected requests from two states for the first time in May. Missouri officials said they would appeal, claiming that the lack of the funds would weaken the community’s disaster resilience, while Oklahoma chose not to appeal as it received alternative funds.
Analysis points out that cutting disaster preparedness assistance may exacerbate the long-term risks of natural disasters. Disaster reduction funds were originally used to enhance the disaster resistance capacity of infrastructure, such as purchasing houses in floodplains or building shelters. Experts warn that the reduction supported by the federal government may force each state to bear the pressure of disaster prevention alone, sowing hidden dangers against the backdrop of frequent extreme weather.
Related Topic:
