11/8/25 – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not just battled nature’s extremes this year. It has also battled political superstorms that have left both employees and citizens exposed and uncertain.
Disasters So Far in 2025
Despite a quieter than normal hurricane season so far this year, the U.S. has suffered:
Wildfires in Southern California that burned 57,529 acres and more than 18,000 structures. They cause 200,000 people to evacuate and killed up to 440 people.
A outbreak of 118 tornados across the Mississippi Valley from Illinois to Louisiana between March 13 and March 16, killing 43 people and causing an estimated $11 billion in damage.
It’s not that FEMA was unresponsive in these events. It’s just that the agency has been hampered by political crosswinds and uncertainty. Early in the year, the Trump administration announced that it wanted to eliminate FEMA. But more recently, as disasters piled up, the administration has said it wants to restructure FEMA.
At the same time, FEMA has eliminated the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The exact value of such grants is unknown. However estimates range from almost $900 million to $3.6 billion.
FEMA’s own budget could be cut, too. Though not yet fully enacted, the administration’s FY2026 budget proposal included a cut of about $646 million for FEMA from prior levels.
Why Response at Federal Level Makes More Sense for Rare Disasters
The Administration has said it wants state and local governments to take on the cost for disaster recovery. State and local governments already provide much of the funding for minor disasters. But can they provide the funding needed for the type of major disasters mentioned above?
Shortly before the government shutdown started, the Wall Street Journal ran an illuminating article about the changing focus at FEMA.
“The city [St. Louis] doesn’t have the finances, institutional knowledge or equipment to rapidly respond to catastrophic disasters like the tornado that struck in May, which the city estimates caused $1.6 billion in damage,” it said.
“Any one individual municipality, county or even state can go years to decades without a major disaster that they have to respond to,” continued the article in the Balanced Weather Blog.
“The idea that these levels of government are going to maintain the large, complex infrastructure needed to effectively and adequately respond to rare catastrophic events is not only nonsensical, it would be an incredibly poor use of taxpayer money,” it continued.
“Having a robust FEMA enables the ongoing maintenance of the needed disaster response infrastructure at a federal level which can then be deployed when and where it is needed.”
Economies of Scale
That makes sense to me. Would you ask each state to provide its own Army, Navy and Air Force? Of course not.
Certain tasks require economies of scale to match threats. That’s what FEMA provides. The ability to shift people and resources where they’re needed when they’re needed makes more economic sense than forcing each of 50 states to duplicate those resources for a disaster that may never strike in a lifetime.
That said, I believe it’s also incumbent on cities, counties and states to shoulder as much of the burden as they can.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/8/2025
2993 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/federal-emergency-management-agency-fema-logo-png_seeklogo-397813.png?fit=1100%2C601&ssl=16011100adminadmin2025-11-08 21:14:362025-11-09 09:43:31Why We Need FEMA
Faced with that potential loss, you would think HCFCD would be scurrying to launch projects. But the last two commissioners court agendas offer a glimpse into an institution hampered by malaise.
October 30 Agenda
The October 30th agenda showed just four items under Flood Control District.
One had to do with recognizing a vendor name change
Another had to do with buying out a single property to prevent future flood damage to it
Two had to do with purchasing four tracts of land for stormwater conveyance improvements.
In fairness, the agenda included several additional Flood-Control items under the Purchasing department. They included:
Five vendor name changes
Two maintenance contract extensions
Feasibility study for a detention basin in the Greens Bayou watershed
A bid calendar
A professional services procurement policy
Under Transmittals, Commissioners received a Preliminary engineering report for mainstream improvements to Halls Bayou that was completed 4.5 months earlier. They also received notice that two mowing contracts would be advertised for bidding.
The agenda included no capital-improvement or construction contracts that would actually reduce flood risk.
Ironically, all that could harm disadvantaged constituents that the majority on commissioners court says need help the most – minorities with low-to-moderate incomes. Reportedly, more than 70% of the $322 million in projects endangered by a looming February 28, 2026 deadline would benefit that group.
At the current rate of one new construction project a month, it could take HCFCD another 11 to 12 years to complete the 137 projects remaining in the Flood Bond.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/7/25
2992 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Forest-Green-Location-Map-2-scaled-e1762557412221.jpg?fit=1100%2C688&ssl=16881100adminadmin2025-11-07 17:46:442025-11-07 18:19:55Harris County Commissioners Court Agendas Reflect HCFCD Slowdown
11/6/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger has scheduled another round of Median Madness for November 15. The focus this time will be a stretch of Northpark near the Kroger at the intersection with West Lake Houston Parkway.
Median Madness events not only beautify Kingwood medians, they improve traffic safety by improving visibility and removing roadway incursions.
The November 15 event will make up for one last May that had to be rescheduled because of rain.
How to Sign Up
Flickinger invites residents to join in continuing these efforts to keep District E beautiful. Those interested in volunteering can contact the District E office at districte@houstontx.gov to get involved.
Said Flickinger, “Your teamwork and commitment continue to make a tremendous impact on our community medians and the overall appearance of our city.”
Thank You to All Supporters
Flickinger also thanked the Houston Police Department, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Houston Toolbank, Council Member Julian Ramirez and generous sponsors for helping to make this upcoming event a success in the spirit of past events.
Sponsors for this event include Chick-Fil-A, Trees for Kingwood and Houston Parks and Recreation.
Read more about the community’s efforts and see photos from the last event here:
Please bring water, gloves, and shears. And wear closed-toed shoes. All ages are welcome, but those under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/6/25
2991 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/20251106-Screenshot-2025-11-06-at-8.23.03-PM.jpg?fit=1100%2C700&ssl=17001100adminadmin2025-11-06 20:28:152025-11-06 20:31:46Save the Date: Median Madness Round 4 Scheduled for November 15
Why We Need FEMA
11/8/25 – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has not just battled nature’s extremes this year. It has also battled political superstorms that have left both employees and citizens exposed and uncertain.
Disasters So Far in 2025
Despite a quieter than normal hurricane season so far this year, the U.S. has suffered:
Political Crosswinds Create Uncertainty
It’s not that FEMA was unresponsive in these events. It’s just that the agency has been hampered by political crosswinds and uncertainty. Early in the year, the Trump administration announced that it wanted to eliminate FEMA. But more recently, as disasters piled up, the administration has said it wants to restructure FEMA.
Still, during a government shutdown, attention to the FEMA Reform Act has been diverted, putting the agency and its people under strain. FEMA began the 2025 hurricane season with only about 12% of its incident-management workforce available for deployment, according to the Government Accountability Office.
According to Government Executive, the shortage is partly due to attrition, burnout from concurrent major disasters, and a backlog of missions. With the workforce so thin, FEMA’s ability to surge in response to large disasters is seriously compromised.
At the same time, FEMA has eliminated the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The exact value of such grants is unknown. However estimates range from almost $900 million to $3.6 billion.
FEMA’s own budget could be cut, too. Though not yet fully enacted, the administration’s FY2026 budget proposal included a cut of about $646 million for FEMA from prior levels.
FEMA has also reportedly blocked or delayed nearly $10 billion in disaster-aid over concerns about undocumented migrant eligibility.
And the administration has stopped automatically approving Hazard Mitigation Grant Funds for disasters that it declares.
Why Response at Federal Level Makes More Sense for Rare Disasters
The Administration has said it wants state and local governments to take on the cost for disaster recovery. State and local governments already provide much of the funding for minor disasters. But can they provide the funding needed for the type of major disasters mentioned above?
Shortly before the government shutdown started, the Wall Street Journal ran an illuminating article about the changing focus at FEMA.
“The city [St. Louis] doesn’t have the finances, institutional knowledge or equipment to rapidly respond to catastrophic disasters like the tornado that struck in May, which the city estimates caused $1.6 billion in damage,” it said.
Other observers responding to the WSJ article pointed out that “This is the exact reason why a robust FEMA is SO critical to our nation.”
“Any one individual municipality, county or even state can go years to decades without a major disaster that they have to respond to,” continued the article in the Balanced Weather Blog.
“The idea that these levels of government are going to maintain the large, complex infrastructure needed to effectively and adequately respond to rare catastrophic events is not only nonsensical, it would be an incredibly poor use of taxpayer money,” it continued.
“Having a robust FEMA enables the ongoing maintenance of the needed disaster response infrastructure at a federal level which can then be deployed when and where it is needed.”
Economies of Scale
That makes sense to me. Would you ask each state to provide its own Army, Navy and Air Force? Of course not.
Certain tasks require economies of scale to match threats. That’s what FEMA provides. The ability to shift people and resources where they’re needed when they’re needed makes more economic sense than forcing each of 50 states to duplicate those resources for a disaster that may never strike in a lifetime.
That said, I believe it’s also incumbent on cities, counties and states to shoulder as much of the burden as they can.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/8/2025
2993 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Harris County Commissioners Court Agendas Reflect HCFCD Slowdown
11/7/2025 – Seven years into what was supposed to be a ten-year flood bond, less than 40% of the money has been spent. As a result of slower than expected project execution, Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) is running out of time to complete projects associated with hundreds of millions of dollars in matching grants. It has also lost hundreds of millions of dollars in purchasing power due to inflation.
Faced with that potential loss, you would think HCFCD would be scurrying to launch projects. But the last two commissioners court agendas offer a glimpse into an institution hampered by malaise.
October 30 Agenda
The October 30th agenda showed just four items under Flood Control District.
In fairness, the agenda included several additional Flood-Control items under the Purchasing department. They included:
Under Transmittals, Commissioners received a Preliminary engineering report for mainstream improvements to Halls Bayou that was completed 4.5 months earlier. They also received notice that two mowing contracts would be advertised for bidding.
The agenda included no capital-improvement or construction contracts that would actually reduce flood risk.
November 13 Agenda
The 11/13/25 Commissioners Court Agenda lists five items under Flood Control District.
However, the Engineering Department did ask permission to buy or condemn several pieces of property related to HCFCD channel improvements.
Also, under Purchasing, Flood Control listed:
HCFCD also transmitted several documents to Commissioners:
So, out of those two meetings…
That’s the Forest Green Regional Detention Basin at FM2100 and FM1960.
Comparison to Previous Management
Flood-mitigation spending at HCFCD has fallen to less than half of what it was under previous management.
Commissioners Court agenda’s in recent years reflect that. I opened a random selection of agendas both before and after the peak shown above.
Most agendas sampled after the peak contained half the number of HCFCD items compared to agendas before the peak.
I asked a half dozen sources why. They pointed to a combination of factors. Most frequently mentioned:
Ironically, all that could harm disadvantaged constituents that the majority on commissioners court says need help the most – minorities with low-to-moderate incomes. Reportedly, more than 70% of the $322 million in projects endangered by a looming February 28, 2026 deadline would benefit that group.
At the current rate of one new construction project a month, it could take HCFCD another 11 to 12 years to complete the 137 projects remaining in the Flood Bond.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/7/25
2992 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Save the Date: Median Madness Round 4 Scheduled for November 15
11/6/25 – Houston City Council Member Fred Flickinger has scheduled another round of Median Madness for November 15. The focus this time will be a stretch of Northpark near the Kroger at the intersection with West Lake Houston Parkway.
Median Madness events not only beautify Kingwood medians, they improve traffic safety by improving visibility and removing roadway incursions.
Carrying On a Tradition of Community Involvement
The Median Madness initiatives bring together volunteers of all ages, city departments, and community partners for clean-up and beautification efforts. The first three events have been resounding successes.
The November 15 event will make up for one last May that had to be rescheduled because of rain.
How to Sign Up
Flickinger invites residents to join in continuing these efforts to keep District E beautiful. Those interested in volunteering can contact the District E office at districte@houstontx.gov to get involved.
Said Flickinger, “Your teamwork and commitment continue to make a tremendous impact on our community medians and the overall appearance of our city.”
Thank You to All Supporters
Flickinger also thanked the Houston Police Department, Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Houston Toolbank, Council Member Julian Ramirez and generous sponsors for helping to make this upcoming event a success in the spirit of past events.
Sponsors for this event include Chick-Fil-A, Trees for Kingwood and Houston Parks and Recreation.
Read more about the community’s efforts and see photos from the last event here:
Median Madness Volunteers Made a Huge Difference Again.
And Don’t Forget…
Please bring water, gloves, and shears. And wear closed-toed shoes. All ages are welcome, but those under 16 should be accompanied by an adult.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 11/6/25
2991 Days since Hurricane Harvey