Storms Need All Hands: Why Removing Workers Hurts Us

In the coming months, hurricanes, fires and floods are expected to be stronger than ever. The country is not ready because the federal agency that helps during disasters, FEMA, has lost money and power. The government says local groups should lead rescue work instead of the federal office. At the same time, immigration rules are taking away people who normally help fix damage after storms. Many of these helpers are immigrants, making up a large part of the repair crews that climb roofs in the southeast, clear dangerous debris after wildfires and rebuild homes hit by floods. If they are deported or scared of being taken away, fewer skilled workers will be on the ground when a disaster hits. The new head of Homeland Security is known for hard‑line immigration views. He has used the agency that enforces immigration to remove workers who are essential for recovery efforts. This means more danger for everyone, because the teams that bring communities back together will be smaller and less experienced.

A better plan would let federal, state and local groups work smoothly together. FEMA should have enough funding to do its job without politics getting in the way. Workers who help after disasters should be able to stay and do their jobs without fear of deportation. Some progress has been made: a court order helped FEMA restart climate‑resilience grants, but that should not be the only way to keep the agency running. The nation used to unite in times of crisis, putting politics aside to help neighbors. We need that spirit again. The issue is practical: keeping people safe during storms depends on having enough trained workers and a strong federal agency. If we lose those workers, the cost of recovery will rise and more people could be harmed. We must act now so that when the next storm comes, everyone can rely on a ready and focused team to protect communities.

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