Project HOPE’s Response to Dismantling FEMA 

Arlan Fuller, Project HOPE’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response has shared the following statement in response to reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be dismantled following hurricane season:  

Dismantling FEMA and slashing resources for emergency response without first establishing an alternative robust and well-resourced emergency response framework in its place would be irresponsible and have devastating and deadly consequences for countless Americans. Research and recent experience show that natural disasters and weather events are only increasing in frequency and intensity due to climate change, placing more communities at risk than ever before.  

Ensuring public safety is a fundamental responsibility of government and, in times of crisis, the U.S. government has a duty – as well as a moral obligation – to stand with its people. There is no justifiable reason to weaken our national disaster response capacity and undermine decades of progress in emergency preparedness. 

At the heart of Project HOPE’s mission is the humanitarian principle to stand by and support those in greatest need, regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, nationality, or political affiliation. We will continue to assist those in greatest need, both at home and abroad. Over the past year in the United States, we responded to the wildfires in Los Angeles, Hurricane Milton in Florida, and Hurricane Helene in North Carolina, and will continue to standby those impacted.  

Project HOPE has team members available for interviews. For media inquiries, contact media@projecthope.org