Craig Fugate Discusses FEMA’s Challenges in a Changing Climate

Craig Fugate, who served as the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during the Obama administration, guided the agency through some of the most challenging disaster years on record. In a conversation on the PBS News podcast, “Settle In,” journalist Amna Nawaz spoke with Fugate about the impact of climate change on disaster management.

The discussion focused on how climate change has dramatically altered the way FEMA operates. Increased frequency and intensity of natural disasters have posed new challenges for the agency. Fugate shared insights on the strategies FEMA has adopted to cope with the growing demands.

Additionally, the conversation addressed recent critiques regarding the politicization of FEMA. Fugate offered his perspective on this issue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the agency’s focus on its core mission of disaster response and recovery.

Amna Nawaz, a co-anchor and co-managing editor of PBS News Hour, conducted the interview. Her conversation with Fugate provided listeners with a deeper understanding of the current challenges facing FEMA and the evolving landscape of disaster response in the context of climate change.