FEMA’s Approach to Disaster Funding Needs Improvement

The Pew Charitable Trusts submitted comments to the Federal Emergency Management Agency on April 12 in support of its public assistance deductible proposal, which rewards states for reducing their risk of damage from natural disasters. Pew described the deductible concept as an important step toward improving FEMA’s process for funding disaster recovery and encouraging more state investment in mitigation and preparedness. It also called on FEMA to include stakeholder input during the public comment process. Joseph P. Riley, a Pew distinguished fellow and the former mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, also submitted comments in support of the proposal.