EDITORIAL: Get a FEMA chief in place

Star-News (Wilmington, NC)

April 22--Hurricane season doesn't begin until June 1, but nobody told Tropical Storm Arlene, which churned up last week in the Atlantic basin.

Tropical storms aren't supposed to happen this early. Since 1851, only two have been recorded in April in these waters. One was Tropical Storm Ana, back in 2003. The other is Arlene.

Last year, we had a hurricane, Alex, in January. Another struck just a week before the season officially expired at the end of November.

Something odd is happening in the weather, whether you blame it on men walking on the Moon (as our grandparents did) or manmade climate change (as most scientists do).

Whatever the cause, those of us near the beach ought to be concerned.

Even more concerning: President Trump still hasn't named a director for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the government office in charge of response to natural disasters.

In fact, the White House has yet to nominate more than 450 of 554 key federal appointments that require Senate confirmation. That list doesn't include federal prosecutors. The administration is not that far behind the Bush or Clinton White Houses in filling key jobs.

Still, it seems safe to say the hurricane response is not near the top of Mr. Trump's agenda.

We wish he would kick it up a few notches. Last year, Hurricane Matthew caused millions of dollars of damage and cost 25 lives in North Carolina alone.

Folks like to grouse about worthless federal bureaucracies, but when catastrophe strikes, we pray that some agencies will arrive, fast.

It was scary enough last month when the White House's proposed budget called for massive cuts to the National Weather Service and especially its weather satellite program.

In the course of things, we can probably count on Rep. David Rouzer and Sens. Richard Burr and Thom Tillis to do the sensible thing and restore those cuts. (Come on, guys ... can't we?)

Still, we wish the folks in the White House would take hurricanes more seriously. You'd think that someone who spends so much time down in Florida at Mar-a-Lago would be aware of the risks.

If Mr. Trump is looking for a good Republican for FEMA chief, may we humbly suggest Pat McCrory? His four years as governor had their ups and downs, but McCrory performed well during Hurricane Matthew. He clearly knows the problems state and local officials will face when oceans surge, rivers flood and the power goes out for days.

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