For many decades, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been the backbone of disaster response and recovery in the United States. From coordinating emergency activities to allocating billions in grant funding for recovery, FEMA has been the ‘Go-To Partner’ for state and local governments when disasters occur. However, today FEMA is standing at a crossroads and there is evidence that the agency will soon be semi-dismantled.
Despite all the political noise, FEMA is currently operational, but its functions are being diminished. The agency now has a significantly reduced staff, less funding, and fewer resources. In July, the agency issued an emergency declaration for New Mexico, demonstrating that designations can still be made but it is obvious that the federal commitment to FEMA is no longer the same. Announcements have been made that the majority of FEMA’s responsibilities will be shifted to the states. Even the President has described a future where governors and state agencies are responsible to lead in disaster recovery in the states, with FEMA offering a more limited coordination only role.
It is obvious that federal officials will also push much of the funding responsibility of funding to the states. The reality of that will be painful to state leaders because now every state will be required to provide funding, resources, and new policy about how disaster recovery will be handled. That will be no easy task for any state.
The traditional 75% federal match for disaster recovery is not yet officially altered, but FEMA leadership is openly warning states to begin budgeting more for disasters. No formal policies are in place yet, but all comments and actions clearly point to a federal plan to FEMA’s role and returning disaster management to the states.
On Capitol Hill, a very different vision for FEMA is gaining traction. The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 is currently moving forward in the House. This legislation, if passed without changes, will make FEMA an independent, cabinet-level agency, reporting to the Department of Homeland Security. Disasters, however, won’t wait for Washington to settle its debate. In response to the pending changes, many states are launching projects and initiatives designed to replace current disaster recovery federal programs. Some states now offer resilience or hazard mitigation grants for local governments and/or individuals in high-risk areas. State-level training programs exist in other states to ensure that emergency personnel are equipped to successfully handle incidents. The commonality of all the efforts is an immediate emphasis on infrastructure upgrades, risk reduction, and faster disaster recovery assistance.
Officials at the city of Cape Coral in Florida will lead a $50 million expansion of the city’s Emergency Operations Center. With 60% of the project already funded, the only thing holding up a project launch is the anticipation of additional funding. The current facility was built in 2001, and it can no longer meet the needs of the city’s growing population. Capacity shortfalls and slow response during Hurricane Ian in 2022 highlighted a critical need for consolidated space, more equipment, resources, and preparation coordination.
Project plans call for a facility large enough to centralize emergency and disaster prevention efforts. Upgrades will include meeting rooms for coordination and planning, enhanced communication systems, and sustainability work on overall infrastructure. The project is in the design phase with construction scheduled to begin in October 2026.
A $145 million flood mitigation project is planned for the city of Alexandria, Virginia. The objective is to mitigate frequent flooding along the city’s waterfront. The region has experienced river overflows, storm sewer backflows, and limited drainage capacity.
The project is being designed for four key components: a new pump station, shoreline protection, upgraded stormwater infrastructure, and enhanced public spaces. The new pump station will have the capability to move stormwater into the river and the current stormwater sewer systems will be renovated and expanded to channel runoff water into the pump station. Additionally, a new shoreline barrier will be added for flood defense, while the redesigned waterfront plazas and streets will be made safer. Design work began in early summer 2025, and construction is planned for late 2026 or early 2027.
San Francisco’s Pier 9 bulkhead and wharf will soon undergo a $30 million earthquake-safety retrofit project. The waterfront resilience initiative will be overseen by the Port of San Francisco. Funding is available from a voter-approved $425 million Seawall Earthquake Safety Bond.
Pier 9 is a critical waterfront emergency response asset that houses the headquarters for key maritime agencies. It is also a central hub for coordinating disaster response efforts in the Bay Area. The project is designed to strengthen the bulkhead wall and wharf against seismic risk so the offices can remain functional in the event of a major earthquake.
The scope of work will call for a seismic life-safety retrofit of the bulkhead wall and wharf structures. A separate but related retrofit of the historic shed at Pier 9 is also planned and that effort has been allocated another $60 million. Design and preconstruction planning are underway currently and construction is expected to begin in mid-to-late 2026.
Boston officials have announced plans to address climate resilience by enhancing Moakley Park, one of the city’s largest public parks. A $240 million initiative will redesign the 60-acre waterfront space, and the objective is to ensure that the area can withstand impacts from sea level rises, storm surges, and major coastal flooding events. In addition to flood-protection infrastructure, the project will also deliver a wide range of community benefits, including upgraded recreational facilities, enhanced open spaces, and improved public amenities.
The multi-phased project is currently in the design and permitting phase, which is expected to be completed in 2027. Construction will begin shortly after that, and solicitations will be issued as the current phase gets closer to completion.
The Parkchester and Morris Park neighborhoods in New York City are scheduled for a $60 million project to improve flood resilience for more than 410 flood-prone acres in the Bronx. Currently, cloudbursts—sudden, heavy downpours—regularly overwhelm the city’s infrastructure, causing flooding and property damage. When completed the Parkchester and Morris Park areas will receive relief, and risks will be reduced significantly.
The project will add cloudburst infrastructure that captures and stores rainwater during intense storms. Other project upgrades will include new porous pavement, rain gardens, and bioswales to absorb excess rain and prevent overland flooding. Underground detention systems and new stormwater pipes for off-site drainage will mitigate system surcharging. The new cloudburst system will accommodate more than 2.3 inches of rain per hour — a significant improvement for the area. Design is scheduled for completion in fall 2025 and construction is planned for late 2026.
Officials at the city of San Antonio in Texas are developing a NextGen Flood Warning System to protect drivers at low-water crossings and update overall flood safety. The over $22 million initiative, a partnership between the city, the San Antonio River Authority and Bexar County, will also deliver innovative disaster detection technologies to high-risk regions throughout the San Antonio area.
Approximately 158 automated road closure gates will be added. The project will also improve predictive flood modeling and upgrade stream and rain gauges. The upgraded systems will be structured to provide more timely and accurate information in the event of natural disasters. Funding has been approved, and the project is currently in the planning and design stage. Officials have tentatively planned for solicitations to be released soon enough for construction to begin in 2026.
Private sector firms interested in collaborating with state and local officials to ensure disaster recovery services are in place when FEMA is no longer the ‘Go-To-Partner’ should be reaching out to officials soon to communicate their interest in collaborative initiatives.
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