FEMA response questioned as Western governors discuss wildfire recovery
Iain Hoey
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Governors debate FEMA and post-fire flood policy in the United States
Governors from four Western U.S. states have announced plans to formalise a shared approach to wildfire recovery, citing challenges with FEMA and the growing impacts of post-fire flooding.
According to Source NM, the announcement was made during a panel discussion at the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The panel, titled “Flood After Fire – Enhancing Safety in Post-Fire Landscapes,” featured state governors alongside emergency response officials and a federal landslide scientist.
The governors from New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming described post-fire flooding as an increasingly widespread issue linked to hotter and larger wildfires across the region.
Source NM reported that New Mexico’s ongoing recovery from the 2022 Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire continues to be disrupted by severe flooding across the 534-square-mile burn scar, affecting communities and infrastructure including the Las Vegas water treatment plant.
State leaders share wildfire flood concerns
Utah Governor Spencer Cox said: “The first thing I thought when I drove into that community had nothing to do with the fire or the homes burned.”
He added: “What I realised was, for the next five or six years, things are going to be pretty awful for those people because of the mudslides and the runoff, the sediment that comes down.”
Source NM reported that similar issues were discussed by other governors, who said even moderate rainfall on burned terrain now results in dangerous floods and debris flows.
According to the publication, the New Mexico burn areas remain at high risk, with parts of both the northern and southern regions under active flood warnings.
At the time of the WGA event, six wildfires were burning across the state.
FEMA’s performance and future role raised by participants
Although no Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) representatives were present, the agency’s performance and uncertain future were repeatedly mentioned.
Source NM noted that FEMA was referenced more than ten times during the panel, often in the context of its limitations in addressing secondary wildfire impacts.
New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján had recently written to FEMA with criticisms of its existing policies.
In their letter, the senators said: “The agency has repeatedly struggled to respond effectively.”
They added: “Cascading disasters such as landslides, flooding and water system failures that compound damage and slow recovery continue to be overlooked.”
According to Source NM, the senators urged FEMA to update its procedures for post-fire disaster response.
Expert calls for formal agreement between Western states
Collin Haffey, a post-fire recovery leader formerly with the New Mexico Forestry Division, participated in the panel discussion.
Haffey said: “If I’m trying to build my portion of the railroad track to meet them, I don’t know how far to go.”
He added: “And I think that that lack of communication down to the local level is putting lives and recovery at risk.”
Haffey told attendees that coordination between states often depends on personal relationships, not institutional systems.
He said: “We have these peer-to-peer networks because I have their cell phone numbers.”
He added: “But that’s not necessarily the best.”
According to Source NM, Haffey called for the WGA to establish a formal agreement that would strengthen regional coordination independent of federal agency involvement.
New WGA chair supports regional wildfire recovery partnership
Spencer Cox was confirmed as the new chair of the Western Governors’ Association during the same meeting.
In response to Haffey’s remarks, Cox said: “Even if we weren’t, you know, seeing FEMA reform and changes happening there, we should have been doing this anyway.”
He added: “And so let’s do it anyway.”
Source NM reported that Cox committed to leading the development of a regional partnership between Western states to improve preparedness and response to post-fire flooding.
Participants did not outline a formal structure during the meeting but agreed to begin shaping a cooperative framework.
Discussions are expected to continue under Cox’s leadership as chair of the WGA.
FEMA response questioned as Western governors discuss wildfire recovery: Summary
Governors from Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming met at the Western Governors’ Association meeting in Santa Fe.
They announced plans to create a regional partnership for wildfire recovery.
The announcement was prompted by ongoing challenges with post-fire flooding and uncertainty around FEMA.
The event was titled “Flood After Fire – Enhancing Safety in Post-Fire Landscapes.”
It included input from emergency officials and a federal landslide expert.
FEMA was not represented at the event but was discussed more than ten times.
New Mexico Senators Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Luján criticised FEMA’s post-fire policies.
They said the agency had failed to address landslides, flooding and system failures.
Collin Haffey, a recovery leader, said poor coordination was putting recovery at risk.
Haffey called for a formal agreement between Western states.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox was named WGA chair during the meeting.
Cox said he would lead the development of a formal partnership.
No agreement was finalised, but discussions are ongoing.