Ensure Hurricane Evacuation Tools Stay Operational

PRESS DHS TO APPROVE HURREVAC BEFORE HURRICANE SEASON As a constituent, I urge you to immediately press the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA to promptly approve and execute the HURREVAC contract before the current extension expires at the end of March 2026. HURREVAC is a federal decision-support system that helps emergency managers determine when and how to evacuate communities ahead of hurricanes. Prompt approval will keep the system operational and available to emergency managers ahead of hurricane season. This is a time-sensitive issue that can be addressed immediately through a direct inquiry from your office to DHS. With hurricane season approaching in just over two months, any lapse would occur at the worst possible time. Recent reporting in The Washington Post, “FEMA hurricane evacuation tool faces funding lapse ahead of storm season” (March 24, 2026), indicates that HURREVAC - used by tens of thousands of emergency managers nationwide - is at risk due to delayed approval of the contract within DHS. This risk is compounded by broader funding uncertainty, but it is not simply a budget issue; it reflects a correctable delay in contract approval. CONTRACT DELAYS RISK LIVES HURREVAC integrates storm forecasts, historical data, and evacuation modeling to guide when and how communities evacuate. If access is disrupted, officials must rely on fragmented information, increasing the risk of delayed evacuations, traffic gridlock, and broader emergency response complications. Reports indicate that DHS approval requirements for contracts have slowed or stalled FEMA actions across the agency. This increases the risk of poorly timed evacuation decisions during fast-moving storm events. CONGRESS MUST USE OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY TO ENSURE IMMEDIATE EXECUTION - WITHOUT REQUIRING NEW SPENDING OR LEGISLATION Congress has clear authority to conduct oversight and to engage directly with DHS leadership when administrative delays undermine public safety. This action does not require new spending - it requires timely execution of already authorized capabilities. At a minimum, your office should confirm the status of the HURREVAC contract with DHS and FEMA and press for its prompt approval. CONGRESS MUST TAKE THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC ACTIONS (1) Immediately contact DHS and FEMA leadership to confirm the status of the HURREVAC contract and press for its approval before the current extension expires at the end of March 2026. (2) Submit a formal written inquiry to DHS requesting a clear explanation of the delay, including timelines for resolution. (3) Engage the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the House Committee on Homeland Security to examine the broader impact of DHS contract approval bottlenecks. (4) Support or initiate oversight hearings focused on FEMA operational readiness ahead of hurricane season. (5) Include directive language in appropriations or authorization measures requiring expedited approval of critical emergency management contracts. (6) Ensure stable and uninterrupted funding streams for FEMA preparedness systems to prevent future operational risk. FAILURE TO ACT NOW WILL LEAVE COMMUNITIES LESS PREPARED FOR APPROACHING STORMS Hurricane season is approaching, and this system faces a near-term risk. If administrative delays are not resolved immediately, emergency managers may enter the season without a critical decision-making tool. Lives, property, and public confidence in disaster response are at stake. Congress must act now to ensure this system remains operational before hurricane season begins. Thank you.