At the MACo Winter Conference, emergency management leaders across all levels of government examined how growing federal uncertainty is reshaping preparedness planning and forcing counties to rethink long-standing assumptions about disaster readiness and recovery.
The session, “Preparedness in Peril — Rethinking Readiness as Federal Stability Falters,” focused on mounting concerns about delayed federal engagement, slower reimbursements, shifting FEMA guidance, and uncertainty about when and how federal support materializes during emergencies.
Delegate Dana Jones moderated the panel, bringing a firm understanding of the pressures facing emergency managers. She has long stood out as one of the General Assembly’s most consistent advocates for emergency management and disaster readiness, including leading efforts to establish and strengthen the State Disaster Recovery Fund.
Delegate Jones drew on her ongoing work to support county response and recovery, grounding the discussion in the realities counties face before, during, and after disasters.
Panel speakers included:
- Russell Strickland, Secretary, Maryland Department of Emergency Management
- Preeti Emrick, Director, Office of Emergency Management, Anne Arundel County
- Brett Mattson, Legislative Director, National Association of Counties
- Michael Hinson, Chief Resilience Officer, State of Maryland
Russell Strickland opened with the MDEM perspective, emphasizing that preparedness planning can no longer assume timely or consistent federal engagement. He highlighted Maryland’s focus on mutual aid, coordination, and clearly defined State-local roles to ensure counties are not left waiting when federal resources lag or fail to arrive.
Preeti Emrick explained how uncertainty around FEMA reimbursement, guidance, and post-disaster support complicates staffing, training, equipment replacement, and long-term readiness. She urged leaders at all levels to take a closer look at how emergency management receives funding, emphasizing that counties are responsible for immediate response, whether federal dollars arrive late or never arrive at all.
Brett Mattson provided a national snapshot from the National Association of Counties, noting that Maryland’s experience reflects a broader pattern. Counties across the country face increasing exposure as FEMA’s future role remains uncertain and federal disaster programs become slower, more complex, and less predictable.
Michael Hinson closed with a resilience-focused lens, tying preparedness to mitigation, infrastructure planning, and continuity strategies. He stressed that upfront investment and coordination help counties remain ready even when federal disaster support is unreliable.
The session took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge, Maryland.
More about MACo’s Winter Conference:
