FEMA pools national resources to help states quickly manage disasters. Without that federal support, each state would be left to build its own expensive response capabilities.

President Trump, who calls FEMA “not good,” has issued an executive order and established a commission to look at ending the agency. He favors having states respond to their own disasters, but they may not have adequate resources.

State and local emergency managers are facing a serious question in the wake of President Donald Trump's first few weeks in office: When disaster strikes, will they be able to count on the federal government?