FEMA cuts will not impact North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Several media organizations report that FEMA plans to lay off some of its workers. The federal government paused the dismissals during January’s severe winter storm, but they have since resumed.

North Dakota manages its own disasters, unlike other states that depend on FEMA.

“In North Dakota, all the disasters and emergencies start local, and when they need assistance, they would request that from the state, and when we need assistance, we’re gonna ask for that from the federal government,” said Darin Hanson, director of Homeland Security & Emergency Management with the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

According to NPR, the emergency organization is planning to cut thousands of positions within the agency. The contract workers are often the first to arrive at a disaster and help survivors with the essentials like housing and food.

Hanson said the downsizing of FEMA should not impact North Dakota going forward.

We have had the agency involved in our state with some major events. The EF5 tornado in 2025, which struck the town of Enderlin, destroyed farmsteads and homes. The twister killed three people in the eastern part of the state.

There was also a major response when Bismarck was hit by a flood in 2011, before the state had as many resources as it does now.

“There’s a few ways that FEMA could be involved in a disaster in North Dakota,” said Hanson. “If it was a large one that exceeded both state and local capability, we could request assistance from FEMA to help us both process disaster funding after the fact, as well as to bring people in with a response.”

While a large percentage of FEMA workers could be cut, the state’s self-reliance in disaster management should come as peace of mind to the residents of North Dakota.