(From Todd Epp, Northern Plains News)
Denials and delays of federal disaster aid in Arkansas, Mississippi, and South Dakota mark a dramatic shift in U.S. emergency response.
President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are pursuing a “state-first” approach that is reshaping FEMA’s mission and leaving states to shoulder more of the burden.
President Trump has repeatedly called for scaling back or even eliminating FEMA, asserting in a January visit to North Carolina, “FEMA has truly disappointed us, disappointed the nation,” and “You don’t require FEMA. You need a competent state government. You should handle it yourselves,” according to a White House pool transcript from remarks in Raleigh.
In March, Trump signed Executive Order 14180, directing the creation of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review Council to assess FEMA’s effectiveness and recommend potential changes to the agency’s structure and mission.
Noem, who oversaw South Dakota’s flood response in 2024, has carried this philosophy into her national role. At a March Cabinet meeting, she reportedly said, “We’re going to eliminate FEMA,” in comments captured on video and circulated by Rep. Greg Stanton. While not included in an official transcript, public officials have widely shared the video.
She has since directed FEMA to focus only on “immediate needs” such as search and rescue and emergency supplies, leaving long-term recovery and rebuilding to the states, according to Department of Homeland Security guidance issued March 28.
Arkansas and Mississippi Tornadoes Highlight New Federal Stance
In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appealed FEMA’s April 11 denial of disaster aid for survivors of March tornadoes that killed three and destroyed homes and businesses.
“Arkansas communities are still recovering from this spring’s tornadoes, as the sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others,” Sanders said in an April 18 statement from her office.
In Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves requested a federal disaster declaration on April 1 after 18 tornadoes killed seven and caused widespread damage.
“These storms had a devastating impact on communities throughout Mississippi,” Reeves said in a statement. “We’ll do whatever it takes to help Mississippi communities rebuild and recover. This request is the next step in that process.”
South Dakota’s 2024 Floods: Noem’s State-First Model
Noem’s approach appears to be shaped, at least in part, by her handling of the June 2024 floods in South Dakota. She declared a state emergency but did not deploy the National Guard, stating at a June 25 briefing, “We have to be wise with how we use our soldiers. The National Guard is extremely expensive. That has not been necessary to this point, and I don’t expect we will have to,” according to the governor’s official transcript.
Noem waited 18 days after the official end of the flooding period (July 8) to request federal disaster aid on July 26, explaining that the delay was needed to assess damages. This timeline resulted in South Dakota residents waiting significantly longer than their Iowa neighbors for federal assistance, with Biden not approving the request until August 15.
According to state records, FEMA ultimately provided more than $9.1 million to approximately 1,100 South Dakotans for emergency expenses and repairs. While FEMA’s official total is listed as more than $2.9 million for response and infrastructure, additional assistance may have been distributed through individual or state-managed channels.
McCook Lake Controversy and Local Fallout
A longstanding levee plan in McCook Lake, executed by North Sioux City officials and state agencies, redirected floodwaters away from wealthier neighborhoods and into middle-class homes.
“McCook Lake was sacrificed for the benefit of North Sioux City and Dakota Dunes. We don’t really think that’s fair,” said Dirk Lohry, president of the McCook Lake Association, in a statement to state officials.
State officials, including Noem, said the plan protected the most people and infrastructure. “The amount of water that came this time was just too much for the system, resulting in excess water flooding into McCook Lake,” Noem said at a press conference.
Recovery Efforts and Legislative Response
Recovery in McCook Lake and other communities has been slow. Lawmakers debated House Bill 1108, which would create a McCook Lake Contingency Fund for cleanup and repairs.
During testimony before the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Chris Kassin, R-Vermillion, said, “It showed some gaps in the way we deal with disasters in the state and some of the lack of funding triggers or mechanisms that we might have to help people in need.”
South Dakota’s Delegation Responds to FEMA Changes
Even as Trump and Noem advocate for scaling back FEMA, South Dakota’s congressional delegation has pressed for continued—and in some cases expanded—federal disaster support, highlighting the tension between state-first ideology and the practical need for federal resources.
In a March 19 letter to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, Sen. Mike Rounds wrote, “Improving disaster assistance program guidelines will provide an additional certainty for American producers.”
Sen. John Thune, introducing the Livestock Disaster Assistance Improvement Act on March 6, said, “These common-sense updates to disaster programs would help provide greater and expedited assistance to producers when they need it the most.”
Rep. Dusty Johnson, in an October 2024 official update, stated, “Families facing unspeakable devastation should not have to wonder if FEMA will run out of resources for recovery because it was instead used to support illegal immigrant programs.”
The delegation’s push for stronger federal disaster assistance stands in stark contrast to Noem’s earlier reluctance to request federal aid as governor and her current efforts as Homeland Security Secretary to drastically reduce FEMA’s role, revealing the complex politics of disaster response when theory meets reality.
Trump and Noem’s Vision for FEMA’s Future
Trump’s executive order and public statements make clear the administration’s intent to reduce FEMA’s footprint.
“I will also be signing an executive order to initiate the process of fundamentally restructuring and possibly eliminating FEMA. Honestly, I don’t think FEMA is effective,” Trump said, according to the White House transcript of his January remarks in North Carolina.
Support, Criticism, and the Stakes for Communities
Supporters of the change argue it will cut red tape and empower local officials, as outlined in the Project 2025 policy document.
Critics, including the Association of State Floodplain Managers, warn that while increasing state and local capability is important, “that will never negate a need for a larger [federal] coordination level for these bigger events,” said Chad Berginnis, the association’s executive director, in a written statement.
According to disaster experts at the University of Nebraska’s Center for Disaster and Risk Analysis, the South Dakota floods and the recent tornadoes in Arkansas and Mississippi illustrate the real-world consequences of this shift. With federal support now uncertain, states and localities are left scrambling to fill the gap, and volunteer groups have struggled to meet the overwhelming needs.
As lawsuits and political fights continue in South Dakota, and as southern states wait for answers, the debate over who should lead disaster response—Washington or the states—has never been more urgent.
