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Emergency preparedness

Louisiana's Uncertain Future with FEMA: A Tale of Rescue and Retreat

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

For two decades after Hurricane Katrina, Louisianans have made FEMA a part of their lives. But President Trump's indications to pull back on state assistance have raised concerns about the state's ability to handle the financial burden of major disaster response without federal help. Louisiana has received more public and individual assistance from FEMA ($12.6 billion) than all states but Florida ($16.6 billion) and New York ($19.4 billion) since Katrina, according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Key Takeaways:

  • Since Katrina, Louisiana has received more public and individual assistance from FEMA ($12.6 billion) than all states but Florida ($16.6 billion) and New York ($19.4 billion).
  • The state has benefited from a reduction of local financial responsibilities nine times in the past 25 years, including for hurricanes Ida (2021), Laura (2020), Ike (2008), Gustav (2008), Rita (2005), Katrina (2005), and Ivan (2004).
  • The Trump administration has already made several preliminary changes to FEMA that alarm emergency response experts, including reducing staff and asking some employees to help with hiring immigration enforcement agents instead of working on disaster relief.
  • The agency has ignored some reforms Congress enacted in the year after Katrina to strengthen FEMA, including a law requiring FEMA's director to have experience in emergency response and disaster recovery.
  • The Trump administration has denied disaster relief to several states, including liberal-leaning Maryland and Washington and more conservative West Virginia, and stalled on accepting a disaster declaration from Arkansas.
  • The president has the ability to not only approve federal assistance but also increase the share of the state or local costs that FEMA will reimburse.
  • Some experts, including former FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell, warn that states should prepare as if they won't receive extra FEMA funding.

Statistics:

  • Louisiana has received $12.6 billion in public and individual assistance from FEMA since Katrina.
  • The state has benefited from a reduction of local financial responsibilities nine times in the past 25 years, including for hurricanes Ida (2021), Laura (2020), Ike (2008), Gustav (2008), Rita (2005), Katrina (2005), and Ivan (2004).
  • The Trump administration has reduced FEMA staff and is now using some employees to help with immigration enforcement instead of disaster relief.
  • In the past year, the Trump administration has denied disaster relief to several states, including Maryland and Washington, and stalled on accepting a disaster declaration from Arkansas.

Sources:

  • NPR, "Disaster marketing: making a profit from hurricanes"
  • U.S. Senate report, "Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared"
  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "Disaster Dollar Database"
  • Reuters, "Trump administration shifts FEMA staff to help with immigration enforcement during hurricane season"
  • Associated Press, "FEMA's acting administrator has no experience in disaster response"
  • Congressional report, "Disaster Relief and Recovery"

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