The Federal Emergency Management Agency could be dismantled. President Trump making that announcement over the weekend, while touring devasted areas across the country.

For the Marianas, FEMA has been involved in helping residents impacted by storms that hit our region.

The Marianas region is vulnerable to typhoons and other natural disasters in this part of the Pacific.

Among the players involved in recovery efforts over the decades has been FEMA.

Bob Fenton Jr., regional administrator for FEMA Region 9, said during the aftermath of Typhoon Mawar in May 2023, "We need to work together on all levels of government private sector and nonprofits to go ahead on help people as quick as we can. We are doing that here in the federal government."

"One of the things FEMA brings is mitigation money."

The recovery nearly two years later is ongoing for many.

But how would we do without FEMA's help?

"FEMA is no good anymore.  That  was when we ran it.  FEMA was  very good,  but now FEMA is not good," said Trump.

Over the weekend, President Trump suggesting to get rid of FEMA.

"I do have to say FEMA is a big  disappointment.  Uh,  we had it  working well.  We had great  people,  but FEMA is not good  anymore.  What FEMA did in North  Carolina,  you know,  they still  haven't even gone to certain  areas.  They don't know what  they're doing,  and I say.  You  don't need FEMA.  You need a good  state government and when you  have a problem in Los Angeles or  when you have a problem even in  the state of California,  you  have your own essentially FEMA,   you fix it yourself.  You don't  have somebody coming in from a  state where they have no idea  like Florida,  they come in from  hurricanes they have people  staying in Alaska and now they  see,  oh this is very nice,  but  by the time they get familiar  with it,  they don't know  anything.  The FEMA is a very  expensive.  Uh,  in my opinion,   mostly failed situation we had  great people.  We did some great  jobs,  but each state should take  care of their problem and get  money from the federal government.   It would be so much better,  so  much more efficient.  So we're  looking at that because we have  had,  and you're gonna have  problems with FEMA too.  You've  already had problems with FEMA.   FEMA doesn't even show up.  It  takes weeks before they even show  up,  uh,  and what happens is the  state then relies on FEMA.  And  nobody does that.  I think  because FEMA doesn't show up,  so  it's not a good situation,  so  we'll make some recommendations  on that," he said.

President Trump signed the executive order establishing a FEMA review council.

Recently sworn in homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and secretary of defense Pete Hegseth will be members.

The council tasked to develop a report and advise the president on the existing ability of FEMA to capably and impartially address disasters.