10/21/2026
Who responds when disaster strikes?
According to this Politico article, there’s a potential shift in how the federal government expects states to prepare for and manage disasters.
Here’s my question that we all should be asking: How prepared are our states and communities to respond when resources are stretched thin?
Consider this:
• State and local authorities managed 28,469 incidents during FY2025.
• Governors issued 439 emergency or disaster declarations during that same period.
• According to a new FEMA-supported study, released October 16, local emergency management agencies are commonly understaffed and underfunded.
Emergency operations plans are essential. Emergency operations centers are critical.
However, plans and centers are only as effective as the people, resources, training, and coordination put into them.
Federal, state, and local agencies all have important roles in disaster response. Our communities, businesses, families, and individuals play an even more important role. We’re the real first responders, we’re the ones that will be on scene first and working to give victims the critical time needed for emergency services to arrive.
Preparedness isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about developing the capability to respond when it matters most.
That’s the foundation of our PrepOS™ philosophy: Assess. Prepare. Act. Adapt.
Politico article link
https://apple.news/ADQIWE_znRsi5IdEeqYP5pw
FEMA new study link
https://www.forth.news/lists/fema/Cg65GbPx4Nqjbk5B3tLfa
Readiness begins before the emergency.