FEMA Administrator Brock Long Resigns After Two Years

Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator under the Trump administration for two years, Brock Long, resigned on Wednesday.  In statement, Mr. Long said his two years at the helm of FEMA had handled more than 220 declared disasters, including during several hurricanes that caused widespread damage in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and several U.S. mainland states.

“While this has been the opportunity of the lifetime, it is time for me to go home to my family — my beautiful wife and two incredible boys,” Mr. Long said. “As a career emergency management professional, I could not be prouder to have worked alongside the devoted, hardworking men and women of FEMA for the past two years.”

In a statement following Mr. Long’s resignation, Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett said, “I would like to thank Administrator Brock Long of FEMA for his service to this nation and to the Virgin Islands. I hope to work closely with the current acting Administrator and look forward to working with the permanent replacement when they are named. Brock Long has seen this nation respond and recover from 6 major hurricanes, 5 historic wildfires and dozens of other serious emergencies.

“The mission of FEMA is to help people before, during and after disasters. I look forward to working with FEMA in order to bring an orderly and systemic means of federal natural disaster assistance to not only the Virgin Islands but to state and local governments in the United States in an effort to carry out its responsibilities to aid all citizens.”

Mr. Long said Peter Gaynor, the deputy administrator, would serve as acting administrator. Mr. Gaynor was appointed director of Rhode Island’s Emergency Management Agency by Governor Gina Raimondo in January 2015 where he advised the governor on emergency management policy and served as the principal liaison between FEMA and local emergency management offices throughout Rhode Island, according to his profile on FEMA.

With extensive experience in coordinating response and recovery efforts for evacuations, he oversaw blizzards, floods, tropical storms, public health emergencies, mass care, special events and school safety. During his tenure, the agency responded to numerous small and large disasters, including one presidentially declared disaster and the management of at least seven pre-existing active federal disasters.

In addition, he served as the policy advisor to the Governor on emergency management matters and served as the liaison between FEMA and all local emergency management offices throughout the State. He was also the Chair of the State Interoperable Communications Committee, the State Emergency Response Commission, and was Vice Chair of the State Emergency Management Advisory Committee. He served as a Commissioner and a member for the Program Review Committee for the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) which fosters excellence and accountability in emergency management and homeland security programs across the nation.