Confluence News Media

FEMA’s Future, and Ours

2026-07-09T15:33:57-07:00

Emergency Management Once Removed by Jim Mullen Note to readers: For more than a decade I’ve used this platform provided by the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security /Emergency Management to discuss issues of import to the emergency management profession. The overall trajectory of the federal attitude toward supporting state and local governments increasingly points downward, with a likely objective to force local and state governments to bear a substantial and potentially unreasonable financial burden in future disasters. Among the more radical possibilities leaked from the FEMA Review Council’s oft-delayed report now scheduled for release on May 29th, 2026 are these [...]

FEMA’s Future, and Ours2026-07-09T15:33:57-07:00

A Salute to Women in Leadership 2026

2026-04-04T09:34:58-07:00

Note to readers: For more than a decade I’ve used this platform provided by the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security /Emergency Management to discuss issues of import to the emergency management profession. In upcoming blogs I intend to emphasize two government initiatives that local and even state governments can undertake, absent a coherent federal policy regarding disaster management. The first of these focuses on public preparedness. "A Salute to Women in Leadership 2026" By Jim Mullen Leadership does not always mean being the person nominally in charge. I have seen leadership emerge from the lowest paid employee (too often, sadly, [...]

A Salute to Women in Leadership 20262026-04-04T09:34:58-07:00

A Recovery Model for Local/State Governments

2026-03-21T14:40:05-07:00

Note to readers: For more than a decade I’ve used this platform provided by the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security /Emergency Management to discuss issues of import to the emergency management profession. In upcoming blogs I intend to emphasize two government initiatives that local and even state governments can undertake, absent a coherent federal policy regarding disaster management. The first of these focuses on public preparedness. "A Recovery Model for Local/State Governments" By Jim Mullen Sometimes good ideas that didn’t catch on can be reintroduced for a new era. In my last blog I resurrected my proposal to engage with [...]

A Recovery Model for Local/State Governments2026-03-21T14:40:05-07:00

Bringing Resilience Training Home to the General Public

2026-03-07T13:01:21-08:00

Note to readers: For more than a decade I’ve used this platform provided by the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security /Emergency Management to discuss issues of import to the emergency management profession. In upcoming blogs I intend to emphasize two government initiatives that local and even state governments can undertake, absent a coherent federal policy regarding disaster management. The first of these focuses on public preparedness. "Bringing Resilience Training Home to the General Public" By Jim Mullen How can we really know if our constituents are taking basic steps to sustain themselves and those they care about in the event [...]

Bringing Resilience Training Home to the General Public2026-03-07T13:01:21-08:00

The FEMA Review

2026-03-07T12:59:14-08:00

"The FEMA Review" By Jim Mullen The FEMA Reform Council’s final recommendations have now been put off until at least March of this year. One might ask “Reform what -as in what’s left!” Experienced FEMA staff levels are already reduced; assistance grants are slow-walked or suspended, with only the courts to enforce current contractual obligations. As the devastating winter storms sweep across states whose leadership is often sympathetic with this Administration’s initiatives, might there be a sudden recognition that FEMA, warts and all, was better equipped to support state and local resources before this all started? When a disaster strikes [...]

The FEMA Review2026-03-07T12:59:14-08:00

What Constitutes Disaster Recovery

2026-03-07T12:57:45-08:00

"What Constitutes Disaster Recovery?" By Jim Mullen Disaster recovery is often messy, complicated. Frequently post disaster news stories circulate about the absence of a satisfactory post-disaster recovery – many lives remain disrupted; economic stability for many survivors is elusive, sometimes for years. The news cycle, and government attention, wanes far too soon, while people still are hurting. And it is not uncommon for resentment to persist because the recovery mission appears to have been shortchanged. While a local emergency manager in Seattle I asked a federal official – “when is post-disaster recovery achieved,” and “who decides?” His answer: “when there is no [...]

What Constitutes Disaster Recovery2026-03-07T12:57:45-08:00

NEEDED: A Plan to Combat Misinformation

2026-03-07T12:54:57-08:00

"NEEDED: A Plan to Combat Misinformation" By Jim Mullen Emergency managers have enough to do during a disaster without having to cope with fraudulent claims, sometimes from supposedly “responsible” sources. But floods, tornados, earthquakes and wildfires are not fair, either - yet deal with them (and the information demands) we must. Thinking ahead to our next disaster – whatever form it takes – is essential for emergency managers. We cannot begin to know which type of event will capture breaking news headlines, impede commerce and otherwise disrupt or even threaten our lives. In past posts, I discussed the increased concern of [...]

NEEDED: A Plan to Combat Misinformation2026-03-07T12:54:57-08:00

Another Katrina, or Worse?

2026-03-07T12:53:11-08:00

"Another Katrina, or Worse?" By Jim Mullen The recent statement by over 190 FEMA employees that another “Katrina moment” might be pending triggered some unhappy memories for this old-timer. By 2005, I had already spent several years decrying reductions in FEMA’s capability, first as a city EM director, then as Washington State’s Director of Emergency Management. Post 9/11 hysteria had prompted abject neglect of the nation’s all - hazards approach, with funds diverted from FEMA by Congress and the Administration somewhat haphazardly and often incompetently to “counterterrorism efforts.” During the Katrina episode, at Washington State’s Emergency Management Division, we spent an inordinate [...]

Another Katrina, or Worse?2026-03-07T12:53:11-08:00

A FEW THOUGHTS

2026-03-07T12:51:09-08:00

"A FEW THOUGHTS" (  I'm BA-AA-CK!) By Jim Mullen One lesson, above all others, should be learned, and applied, by elected officials in nearly every jurisdiction in the nation in the wake of the devastating flash flood in Kerr County, Texas and surrounding counties. Midst the offering of heartfelt condolences, local elected officials in the nation are quietly relieved that such a crippling disaster happened elsewhere, this time. It’s only natural. But every elected official certainly should be aware that a disaster is lurking that could bring their community to its knees, inflicting long-term damage to the population. When I became [...]

A FEW THOUGHTS2026-03-07T12:51:09-08:00

AFTER THE DISASTER–HAZARD AWARENESS

2026-03-07T12:46:53-08:00

"AFTER THE DISASTER -- HAZARD AWARENESS"   By Nancy Aird and Jim Mullen As the deadly results from the Texas Hill Country Catastrophic Floods grow, questions of fault will multiply on who had responsibility to warn local inhabitants of the danger. As is the case in most emergencies, emergency management will be pinpointed as a target. It is always easier to criticize after the incident, but all stakeholders play a part in prevention, response and recovery resilience. The public’s perception on the scope of responsibility and response of Local, State and Federal emergency management changed after the Hurricane Katrina response with FEMA [...]

AFTER THE DISASTER–HAZARD AWARENESS2026-03-07T12:46:53-08:00
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