GEMA flags federal EMPG uncertainty and seeks clarity on $2M for emergency services

The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency told senators it faces federal funding uncertainty and local emergency-service needs that require clearer appropriation instructions.

GEMA presenter Greg Koehler said the agency expects the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) NOFO to be delayed amid a federal shutdown and warned the period-of-performance language could revert to a one-year cycle, forcing the state to match overlapping federal fiscal years. "Our FY, '25 EMPG performance grant has reverted back to its original 1 year period of performance... Our concern is this," Koehler said, describing the administrative burden and funding timing risk.

Koehler said the state has experienced a roughly $928,815 federal reduction tied to EMPG changes and recommended restoring that amount to the base budget rather than continuing an annual shortfall. He also described a $2 million line item intended to support local fire stations and emergency services, but said GEMA lacked specific location-level breakdowns and was still gathering data to justify distributions.

Senators asked for prompt follow-up because the committee will finalize FY27 recommendations this week; GEMA said it would provide the requested details if available.