February 5, 2026 | Makenzie Kellar

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA for short, has long been a backbone of American disaster recovery. Their website states that the organization’s mission is “to help people before, during and after disasters,” which they uphold by promoting emergency preparedness, issuing disaster declarations to alert the public, setting up recovery and community centers to assist people in the midst of a disaster, and providing grant funding to rebuild once the danger has passed.  

Colorado is no stranger to natural disasters, and—following the Elk and Lee fires last August—many assumed that FEMA would be able to assist in repairing the damage. However, in a move that surprised many, this request for aid was denied with White House Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson explaining that the president had already provided aid in the form of two firefighting planes that were used to combat the fires and that tax dollars should be used to “appropriately and efficiently by the states to supplement—not substitute, their obligation to respond to and recover from disasters.” 

With Coloradans now rightfully concerned that FEMA can no longer be relied on for support in the future, it’s worth examining how this came to be, what other resources are available, and what people can do to limit disaster losses in the meantime. 

FEMA Struggling? It Shouldn’t Come as a Surprise 

In July 2025, FEMA announced that approximately $1 billion would be cut from its programs, including emergency management. These cuts were part of President Trump’s efforts to shift responsibility for emergency response from the federal government to the states. Additionally, with dozens of employees being let go from FEMA’s Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery (CORE) teams—which make up “the backbone of the agency’s operations during and after a disaster”—at the start of the new year, the chances of FEMA being able to mount a prompt and effective emergency response is dwindling. Even if the federal government wanted to help, at this point the resources just aren’t there. 

What Do I Do Now? 

For those desperately in need of federal funds to support recovery efforts, not all hope is lost. In November 2025, Colorado joined a lawsuit with eleven other states against the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for their handling of emergency funds. If the case goes in Colorado’s favor, $320 million would be allotted to the Emergency Management Performance Grant and $1 billion to the Homeland Security Grant Program with these funds likely being distributed first to grant recipients that have already been chosen. 

However, lawsuits often take a significant amount of time to resolve and—assuming Colorado wins the case—even longer for funds to be distributed. Which of course begs the question of what people should be doing to get disaster relief in the meantime.  

For those in need of disaster recovery assistance, grants are available from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) through their Disaster Resilience Rebuilding Program. The regional managers who administer the program can not only be used to gain access to funding, but also as a resource for guidance moving forward. Keep an eye out for other agencies that offer relief and be specific about the type of disaster assistance you need when conducting research. For example, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) still has several programs running to assist with drought recovery. 

If government funding is not available at all, check in with volunteer or non-profit organizations such as the Northern Colorado Disaster Recovery Fund.  

It may be worth reaching out directly to your community for support. The services that special districts provide are essential, and people may be more willing to return the favor than one would think. 

Preparation is Key 

Grant funding and community support aside, there is one way to ensure that your district has what it needs to recover from future disasters: prepare in advance!  

Try to set aside funding for catastrophic events now if you’re not already doing so. Don’t feel discouraged if this isn’t possible, though! In these uncertain times, many special districts find themselves struggling to stay afloat, let alone set aside money for potential losses down the road.  

If budgets are tight and this isn’t possible, then focus on building your emergency response and contingency plans to make sure your available resources are used as effectively as possible. FEMA funding may not be available, but their website still has useful guides on how to lead recovery efforts. It may not seem like much, but research and planning will pay off in the long run. 

For those unsure where to start, CSD Pool’s Loss Control staff offers members free consultations and assistance building your safety manual. Our qualified risk consultants can not only help identify areas of vulnerability, but also help you create emergency action plans for when disaster does strike. 

With relief funding no longer being a guarantee and the future of FEMA still up in the air, it is more important to remember than ever that there is always a way to better equip your special district to handle a disaster. Be proactive, get creative, and make sure to utilize the resources at your disposal to their full potential.