Bolstering Disaster Response: NACo’s Action Plan

Disasters are intensifying, straining counties nationwide. NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force is leading efforts to modernize policies and strengthen support for local communities.

As natural disasters become more frequent and severe, counties grapple with an urgent reality: 2023 alone saw 28 billion-dollar disasters causing over $93 billion in damage.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has formed the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force to strengthen disaster response and mitigation efforts. County officials nationwide lead this initiative to modernize federal disaster policies, enhance intergovernmental cooperation, and streamline assistance to local communities.

This effort comes at a pivotal moment. As previously reported on Conduit Street, significant cuts to federal disaster funding are under consideration in some circles, threatening to leave counties scrambling to pick up the pieces.

The Growing Challenge

Over the past decade, 173 major disasters have cost the US $1.2 trillion. Counties—responsible for nearly half of public road miles, a third of US airports, and vital infrastructure—bear the brunt. The stakes are incredibly high, given that counties rely heavily on property taxes, emphasizing the need for effective and timely federal assistance.

NACo’s Framework for Change

  • Enhance Partnerships: Strengthen collaboration among federal, state, local, and tribal governments to ensure efficient disaster response.
  • Modernize Policies: Simplify disaster assistance and increase transparency, particularly with FEMA programs and the National Flood Insurance Program.
  • Elevate County Roles: Highlight the unique challenges counties face and scale successful local policies through NACo’s peer networks.

Action Steps and Advocacy

The Task Force will engage with congressional leadership and federal agencies, review existing disaster policies, and identify critical gaps.

Critical legislative efforts include advocating for reauthorization acts, simplifying federal funding processes, and securing sustained disaster relief funding. The overarching goal is to reduce administrative burdens and speed up assistance, especially for under-resourced communities.

Counties are vital partners in national disaster response, and NACo’s proactive approach underscores the importance of empowering local leaders with the tools they need. As disasters become more frequent, this initiative seeks to ensure no community is left behind.

MACo Winter Conference Session

This year’s MACo Winter Conference session, Inclusive Response: Strengthening Emergency Management Through DEI, will explore how diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices can improve emergency response efforts.

This session will provide best practices and actionable strategies from experts to ensure emergency management plans are equitable and effective and address the needs of all communities. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how DEI can build more resilient response teams and enhance preparedness for future crises!

The 2024 MACo Winter Conference, Anticipate, Adapt, Achieve: Thriving Through Turbulent Times, will be held from December 11-13, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, MD.

Learn more about MACo’s Winter Conference: