Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem did not authorize the deployment of Federal Emergency Management Agency urban search-and-rescue teams in the Texas Hill Country flood disaster until more than 72 hours after the crisis began, CNN reported on Wednesday.This follows rule changes th...
Would it be possible for FEMA to have just gone on their own accord on the ground that any reasonable Secretary of Homeland Security would have asked them to go?
No
This is correct, as a federal entity, FEMA will only show up after being invited by the governor of the state that needs assistance. Thats why search+rescue is usually handled by local authorities and FEMA focuses on clean up, logistics, and rebuilding. This does not exclude them from assisting with S+R, but they will almost never be the first ones on scene.