Ever wonder why it takes so long for FEMA funds to get into the hands of the people who most need the money? In a word: bureaucracy.
And as David Richardson, former acting head of FEMA during the 2025 Texas floods, described: It’s probably even more bureaucratic than you imagine.
It’s so bad, in fact, that if your home is hit by a massive natural disaster, you’re better off just rebuilding yourself. Don’t wait on government; don’t wait on FEMA, Richardson said.
He wrote a book after his tenure as acting FEMA chief detailing some of the problems with natural disaster response, and offering some solutions — and the title alone speaks volumes. It’s called “Texas Flood 4 July 2025: Power, Money, Politics, History, Bureaucracy and Tragedy.”
For more on the behind-the-scenes look at what happens during a natural disaster and how FEMA responds, tune in with David Richardson.
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