Major changes could now be coming to the way the government responds to disasters \u2014 including hurricanes in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n
A FEMA<\/a> review council created by President Donald Trump recommended a major overhaul of the federal disaster response system Thursday<\/a>, shifting more responsibility to states while speeding up how disaster aid reaches communities.<\/p>\n The council \u2014 formed through an executive order in January 2025 \u2014 included governors, emergency management officials and local leaders from across the country, including Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a Democrat on a majority Republican panel.<\/p>\n \u201cI was very pleased with this council, and really honored to be a part of it,\u201d Castor said.<\/p>\n Among the biggest proposed changes:<\/p>\n Replacing FEMA\u2019s current reimbursement system with one that sends money directly to disaster-hit communities faster<\/p>\n Using measurements like hurricane wind speeds and flood levels to determine aid eligibility instead of lengthy damage surveys<\/p>\n Limiting FEMA housing assistance to people whose homes are considered uninhabitable \u2014 not just damaged<\/p>\n Pushing states to rely less on the federal government for disaster management and recovery costs through improved training and following national standards.<\/p>\n The recommendations would still require action from Congress before any changes become official.<\/p>\n Castor said many of the ideas already mirror how Florida handles hurricanes.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we’re looking at is it’ll be sort of a reorienting where the federal government will be in support of disasters, the state will manage, and then look to locals to execute, which is really what we do here in the state of Florida every day,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n