FEMA Halts Funds Until States Prove Population Counts

[Randy Zipser]

As if states who rely on the Federal Emergency Management Agency do not already have enough problems in handling natural disasters, now FEMA is requiring all states to prove population counts before FEMA emergency preparedness grant funding can be released (at FEMA's discretion). How can the administration justify turning FEMA's functions over to the states when many are already insufficiently funded and prepared to take on a major natural disaster, let alone with further delays to result from these population recounts (between the U.S. Census decade counts)? We are very, very fortunate that this year's tropical season has been unusually kind thus far to the U.S. while these shenanigans are going on inside FEMA. Please see the CNN article below, from October 3rd:

In unusual move, FEMA halts preparedness grant money, orders states to recount their populations excluding deported migrants - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale