NOVACES Contributes to National Dialogue on FEMA Reform and Resilience Strategy

On April 24, the NOVACES Director of Economic Development & Resilience participated in a national think tank hosted by the Institute for Sustainable Development at George Mason University’s Alexandria, Virginia campus. This one-day event brought together a multidisciplinary group of experts from across the country to examine the far-reaching implications of proposed reform measures to FEMA.

Participants expressed concern that many states and key stakeholders may underestimate the scope of the coming changes. The think tank explored how states could get prepared to take on greater responsibility and what knowledge and expertise are required to do so.

Key topics included:

• • Strategies for enhancing state-level resilience and readiness

• Recommendations for federal policy changes
• The transition from an emergency management-based model to a broader resilience and risk management framework

Discussions also addressed critical areas such as insurance, infrastructure, housing, and homeland security—highlighting the need for a more integrated and proactive approach to disaster recovery and long-term resilience planning.