Telfair County commissioner pushes FEMA reform in Washington, says rural counties need help

Commissioner Dakkia Bradshaw says FEMA’s current reimbursement system burdens small counties like Telfair and supports a new upfront grant model to speed up recovery.

TELFAIR COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Even as the federal government shutdown continues into its 27th day, county leaders are trying to make progress within the government. 

Dakkia Bradshaw, Telfair County District 2 Commissioner and a member of the Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force, was in Washington D.C. Tuesday along with other local leaders from around the country, urging congress to support disaster reform with the “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act.”

The bipartisan effort aims to address longstanding challenges in how disaster aid is delivered and distributed. Bradshaw says the current FEMA reimbursement system leaves smaller counties struggling to cover the upfront costs required to recover from disasters. She added Telfair County is one of the poorest in Georgia, and the financial strain caused by existing guidelines can be overwhelming.

“We need this assistance,” she said. “Yes, FEMA has been a broken system, but we still need help. We want to make sure that aid reaches the counties most affected by disasters.”

The task force’s proposal would shift from FEMA’s current reimbursement system to an upfront grant-based model, helping communities manage recovery costs more efficiently. 

Components of the FEMA Act recommended by NACo’s Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force include: 

• Universal disaster application: Simplifying and unifying survivor applications across federal agencies, reducing confusion, duplication and delays for disasters survivor survivors. 
• Public Assistance program reform: Transitioning from a reimbursement-based model to a grant-based model for FEMA Public Assistance, ensuring counties can more quickly restore vital infrastructure. 
• Public Assistance dashboard: Increasing transparency and visibility into the status of project approvals, obligations and disbursements. 
• Loan interest payment relief: Allowing for interest incurred on loans to be covered by FEMA Public Assistance.