OPINION: Cutting FEMA would be a disaster for USF students
Cue the sandbags and bottled water, hurricane season is here again.
For many USF students, the hurricane season brings flashbacks of last fall, when Hurricanes Helene and Milton tore through campus and caused widespread damage.
Related: USF students feel burnout after hurricanes: “We’re all playing catch up”
When hurricanes strike, the Federal Emergency Management Agency plays a crucial role in mitigating the most severe damage. The federally funded agency’s main mission is to “help people before, during and after disasters.”
While many USF students are preparing for summer classes or internships, they now also need to prepare for evacuations with fewer federal resources.
President Trump has been a proponent of cutting FEMA funding dramatically by over $646 million. His reason behind this reckless decision is to reduce “woke FEMA grant programs” and refocus the “agency on sound emergency management”.
If FEMA needs reform, then let’s reform it. But cutting emergency funds with vague accusations of “wokeism” isn’t leadership, it’s negligence.
Hurricane Milton is estimated to have caused over $160 billion in damages, more than Florida’s entire proposed state budget. Even if every dollar in the state were redirected, it wouldn’t be enough. That’s why FEMA exists.
This year’s hurricane season has a 60% chance of being above average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
With much of Florida still facing the aftermath of the last hurricane season, this is an unwelcome and frightening statistic.
Going into a likely above-average hurricane season without millions in funds for emergency management is reckless, ignorant and dangerous.
Related: A guide to USF’s post-hurricane resources
Last hurricane season, USF students experienced campus closures, property damage, mass evacuations and academic burnout and instability.
USF offers hurricane preparation resources, such as emergency training and preparation tips. But these resources alone are not enough.
FEMA has the unique ability to fill in the gaps that USF resources leave. Individual aid allows students to request reimbursement for laptops, temporary housing, transportation and even medical expenses.
FEMA only provides aid after a state’s request for an emergency declaration is approved by the U.S. president. In 2024, Florida had four emergency declarations, second only to Texas.
Related: USF researchers develop app to monitor flooding during hurricanes
Individual assistance is especially relevant for students, ranging from lodging reimbursement to providing money for damaged property needed for school or work.
USF students are already under enough pressure without having to worry about losing disaster aid just to serve a political agenda.
FEMA isn’t a luxury. It’s a lifeline. And students, already stressed over tuition, housing and inflation, deserve better than being told to weather the storm alone.
College is already hard enough. We shouldn’t have to choose between graduating and evacuating.
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