Fully fund FEMA grants to secure emergency preparedness

States are sounding the alarm over critical funding delays and potential cuts to FEMA grant programs that support essential emergency preparedness and response capabilities across the country. With the agency blowing past statutory deadlines to open grant applications and the Department of Homeland Security now requiring review of all grants over $100,000, there are grave concerns about the future availability of this vital funding.   FEMA grants provide the vast majority of emergency management budgets for many states, with some relying on federal dollars for over 90% of their funding. This money enables core functions like staffing emergency managers, providing training, and securing necessary equipment - allowing communities to prepare for and respond to disasters effectively. Cuts or delays threaten to undermine this crucial work.   The impacts could be devastating, especially in rural and lower-income areas that heavily depend on these grants to maintain basic emergency services. After Hurricane Helene, a scathing report criticized North Carolina's over-reliance on federal grants but acknowledged the state lacked resources to fund emergency operations itself. Stripping this funding with no transition plan risks leaving communities ill-prepared for the next crisis.   As representatives, you must act urgently to ensure the full and timely funding of FEMA's grant programs. Failing to do so jeopardizes public safety and could cost lives when the next disaster strikes. Provide robust funding, streamline approval processes, and work towards a responsible plan to sustainably support emergency preparedness nationwide. The security of our communities depends on your leadership.