Western US emergency experts say FEMA response still favors East Coast hurricanes over Western fires

Emergency management experts from Western states are raising alarms that FEMA's response efforts are skewed towards East Coast hurricanes instead of addressing the more frequent and damaging wildfires in the West. This disparity was highlighted during a meeting in Utah last week, where governors like New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham and Idaho's Brad emphasized the need for a more balanced approach to disaster preparedness. The issue underscores a critical gap in federal resources that could have significant implications for the safety and preparedness of Western communities facing frequent and destructive wildfires.