Gov. Stein suggests improving, not replacing, FEMA

Gov. Josh Stein has some ideas about how the Federal Emergency Management Agency could be improved. Stein provided his input to the President’s FEMA Review Council in a letter in response to the Department of Homeland Security’s request for public input. The governor suggests offering fast, flexible funding, making permanent repairs immediately eligible for FEMA Funding, moving away from reimbursement programs to better support local governments and streamlining the process for survivors. Stein also urged the FEMA Review Council to maintain federal involvement in disaster preparedness and recovery, particularly through supporting resilience efforts in communities that are vulnerable to disasters. FEMA recently cancelled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities or BRIC program that was funding disaster preparedness construction in North Carolina