GAO’s new report (GAO-25-107474) finds extreme heat affects 97% of U.S. counties, yet FEMA funding and policies only marginally support heat as a primary hazard. No heat-only disaster declarations, few BRIC awards, and new rules curtail stand-alone heat retrofits. Federal contractors should pursue multi-hazard projects, strengthen BCA evidence, and align proposals to programs where heat is a co-benefit.

Former FEMA administrator Brock Long argues that FEMA’s survival depends on redefining its mission, curbing mission creep, and restoring focus on community lifelines, local-state-federal partnerships, and citizen preparedness. His call for a holistic, time-phased reform highlights the urgent need to rethink disaster management in the United States.