FEMA's Response to Extreme Heat and Wildfires

FEMA faces criticism for not formally recognizing extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters, unlike hurricanes or earthquakes. Health care and environmental groups highlight the need for FEMA to include these threats in their regulations to unlock funding for disaster relief. Despite FEMA's argument that their current broad definition covers these events, historical data and petitions raise concerns about the agency's response to extreme heat and wildfires.