AHEAD OF HURRICANE SEASON, WICKER & HYDE-SMITH SEEK TO ENSURE FEMA PREPARED FOR WORKFORCE SHORTAGE
Lawmakers Question Demands on Agency Taxed by COVID-19 Response & Border Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) are among a group of Senators from coastal states seeking to ensure the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) workforce is ready for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
The Mississippi Senators signed a letter to FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell requesting information on the FEMA workforce and capabilities ahead of hurricane season in light of ongoing agency obligations to disaster response, COVID-19 assistance, and the border crisis.
Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) led the letter, which was also signed by Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.).
“While FEMA performed admirably under the difficult circumstances the past year presented, we are concerned by the strain that has been placed on FEMA and the potential impact on preparation and readiness for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1,” said the letter.
The Senators requested a response to the following questions:
- What is the state of FEMA’s current workforce posture? How many employees does the agency have on hand for emergencies?
- How does FEMA intend to handle a workforce shortage that could arise in the event of hurricanes and natural disasters?
- What steps has FEMA taken to ensure state and local governments are as prepared as possible for the upcoming hurricane season?
The letter is available here and below.
Dear Administrator Criswell:
We are grateful for the work that you and the employees at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) do to keep Americans safe and respond to disasters. The last year presented significant challenges as the COVID-19 pandemic demanded an immense investment of time, resources, and staffing power. All the while, natural disasters continued their course. While FEMA performed admirably under the difficult circumstances the past year presented, we are concerned by the strain that has been placed on FEMA and the potential impact on preparation and readiness for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins on June 1.
FEMA has provided critical resources, expertise, and manpower to state and local governments throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This work continues as FEMA operates and assists in vaccination sites across the country to help reopen our economy fully and safely. As you are aware, the Biden Administration has also activated FEMA to respond to the ongoing crisis on the southern border. These demands add to FEMA’s heavy load that included significant wildfires in the West, severe weather in Texas, and tornadoes throughout the country.
Given the extensive demands placed on FEMA’s workforce and capabilities, we ask that you provide Congress with information on the following questions:
- What is the state of FEMA’s current workforce posture? How many employees does the agency have on hand for emergencies?
- How does FEMA intend to handle a workforce shortage that could arise in the event of hurricanes and natural disasters?
- What steps has FEMA taken to ensure state and local governments are as prepared as possible for the upcoming hurricane season?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
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