‘Life or death to the most vulnerable communities’: Richmond leaders, advocates call for Youngkin to protect FEMA

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Local leaders and advocates are urging Gov. Glenn Youngkin to take a stand in protecting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), after President Donald Trump expressed interest in dismantling the agency.

A press conference was held on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Bell Tower in Richmond. City councilmembers and environmental advocates called on the governor to use his position on a FEMA review council to safeguard the agency.

Earlier this year, Trump appointed Youngkin to the FEMA Review Council, a group tasked with reforming the nation’s disaster response system. The Trump administration has floated the idea of phasing out FEMA entirely, shifting more responsibility to states and local governments for disaster preparedness and response.

Local officials warn that this move could put a significant financial burden on Virginia taxpayers and jeopardize access to critical federal disaster relief.

The call also comes amid reports that FEMA is losing key staff and facing significant funding cuts. Advocates warn this could undermine the agency's ability to respond to natural disasters.

Richmond City Councilmembers Stephanie Lynch and Katherine Jordan attended the press conference, alongside several Virginia climate organizations.

Speakers highlighted what they describe as a growing threat to Virginia's ability to recover from major storms.

"This is life or death to the most vulnerable communities in our Commonwealth. We saw it with Hurricane Helene," Lynch said, emphasizing that she came to Friday's press conference, not as a councilmember but as a mother and social worker. "We saw [that] rural communities were devastated, and still are. The economic impact of what happened still continues, and those communities still need access to funds, and they've been left with question marks."

According to Lynch, Hampton Roads has the highest sea level rise, which requires about $40 billion of funding. She emphasized that questions remain about important grants and funding streams through FEMA to "mitigate crises and improve our infrastructure," she said.

"I pray that whoever is making these decisions at the federal level and whoever has a voice for us at the state level never has to ever have a conversation with their children who have been displaced after a natural disaster," Lynch said, urging Virginians to keep up the fight.

Jordan recalled how her parents were forced to evacuate following wildfires that ripped through Albemarle County after extreme heat episodes, resulting in her father's death due to a heart attack.

She mentioned that hurricanes took over North Carolina earlier that year, forcing her in-laws to evacuate from their communities and shelter in her family home after driving several hours to Virginia.

"My father-in-law died on Christmas Day that year, and you cannot tell me that the stress of these episodes did not have an impact on that and shorten his life," Jordan said. "These are real people. These are real situations."

A signed petition demanding action to protect federal disaster programs was also presented, with over 400 Virginians calling on Youngkin to protect FEMA.

One advocate called for improving temporary housing measures for displaced communities and making sure that disaster relief is provided safely and effectively, and "with compassion," she added.

"This isn't just a Richmond issue, this is not just a Hampton Roads issue," Jordan said. "We have Virginians calling on the governor from Alexandria, Manassas, Charlottesville, Ashburn, West Springfield, Woodbridge, Arlington, North Chesterfield, Henrico, Virginia Beach, Annandale, Franklin, Fairfax, Falls Church [and] Blacksburg. I could read page after page of Virginians across this Commonwealth, urging and begging the governor to help create reasonable FEMA policies."

8News has reached out to Youngkin's office for comment, but has not yet received a response.