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Emergency Management warns federal funding shifts could affect local operations
Summary
Emergency Management Director Mike Anderson presented the 2026 budget and told commissioners federal FEMA and other funding changes "may affect local emergency management operations and the amount of funding received"; the department requested CIP and maintenance funds and continued readiness exercises.
Mike Anderson, Harvey County Emergency Management Director, summarized the department’s 2024 accomplishments — multi-agency exercises, maintaining Emergency Operations Center readiness, and coordinating the response to the May 19, 2024 straight-line wind event — and presented the 2026 budget request. He warned that changes to FEMA and federal funding "may affect local emergency management operations and the amount of funding received that offsets some of the expenses of his department." Anderson requested funding for ongoing preparedness work and routine CIP items including outdoor siren maintenance.
Anderson told the commission the department continues to coordinate with regional partners (Kansas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, LEPC, health coalition) and plans two exercises and an integrated preparedness workshop in 2026. The draft 2026 budget shows personnel and contractual increases tied to training and equipment maintenance; commissioners did not take formal action at the hearing.
