Oklahoma eyes FEMA reform proposal

OKLAHOMA CITY – Reforming federal disaster response operations could benefit Oklahoma and ensure more money goes directly to those who need it, a state official said.

President Donald Trump has called for eliminating or reforming the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is in charge of administering federal disaster aid and giving the funds directly to states.

Oklahoma, which is in Tornado Alley, ranks high among the states with the most disasters, according to several reports.

Since 2020, FEMA has paid Oklahoma victims about $447 million, said Keli Cain, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

The state has had eight federally declared disasters since 2020, she said.

“We don’t necessarily speculate on fully abolishing the agency, but we do believe that reforming existing programs could bring benefits,” Cain said.

The average individual assistance payout from FEMA to Oklahoma homeowners is about $6,000 for destroyed homes, she said.

“That isn’t enough obviously to help homeowners really recover from a disaster,” she said.

Cain said the agency has a lot of guardrails in place, which they don’t necessarily disagree with.

But it also has a lot of administrative costs, and officials would like to see more of those funds disbursed to impacted homeowners, she said.

Sen. Darrell Weaver, RMoore, did not respond to requests for comment. Moore has experienced several tornadoes.

Former Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, said Trump’s plan is perhaps something worth looking at.

“But there has got to be something to take its place,” he said.

Oklahoma Voice (oklahomavoice. com) is an affiliate of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization, supported by grants and donations. Oklahoma Voice provides nonpartisan reporting, and retains full editorial independence.