Rosen Leads Senate Colleagues in Demanding More Assistance from FEMA for Wildfire Prevention and Response

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) led Senate colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ensure that all communities receive the federal resources they need to respond to and prevent wildfires. States can request financial assistance from FEMA through Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) to help cover costs relating to emergencies, fire-fighting activities, and administrative costs. After an FMAG is declared, states can request assistance to help impacted communities rebuild and mitigate future wildfire disasters through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Post Fire. However, many communities are still waiting for HMGP Post Fire funds from previous wildfire disasters, which has left them vulnerable to current and future wildfire disasters.

Senator Rosen was joined by Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

"Wildfires are one of the most frequently recurring disasters that, while once common only to western states, have recently become a major threat to communities across the country," wrote the Senators. "These wildfires can be lethal and destroy critical infrastructure and entire residential communities, negatively affect public health through harmful smoke and air pollutants, and place large economic burdens on urban and rural communities."

"Unfortunately, over 3.1 million acres have already burned across the country since the beginning of this year, which is the second largest number of acres burned in a January to July period in the past 10 years," continued the Senators. "Given these recent fires, the persistent drought across multiple states, and the expected above normal wildfire activity, it is imperative that FEMA helps communities quickly respond to wildfires and increase their resilience to future wildfire disasters."

"As we approach the summer months and prepare for above normal wildfire activity, we urge you to ensure FEMA can quickly respond to future wildfires and that FMAG and HMGP Post Fire funds are promptly approved and distributed to communities, including those in rural areas," the senators concluded.

Read the full letter HERE.

Senator Rosen has fought to ensure that Nevada has all the federal resources it needs to combat extreme weather-related emergencies. She recently sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA, urging them to respond to the extreme heat emergency in Nevada. In May, Senator Rosen introduced a bipartisan bill to help protect drinking water infrastructure during extreme heat emergencies. Last year, Senator Rosen introduced a bill to declare extreme heat as a major disaster, which would make affected communities eligible for federal emergency resources.

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