There could be a big change coming to how the country handles natural disasters, and it could matter a lot here.
The head of FEMA is telling states they need to prepare to manage most disasters on their own, with less help from the federal government. Administrator Cameron Hamilton told state emergency officials at a conference this week that every state should build up its financial reserves so recovery can begin without waiting on a federal disaster declaration.
According to remarks obtained by Politico, the changes could start within the next six months.
For St. Louis, that's no small thing. The region's still recovering from the deadly May 2025 tornado, and the city spent months fighting FEMA over reimbursement for debris removal and cleanup.
Critics warn many states and cities simply don't have the money or staff to absorb that kind of emergency burden alone.
