The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Brock Long, President Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Senate easily confirmed Long in a 95-4 vote. The only “no” votes came from Democrats: Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Long was the director of Alabama’s Emergency Management Agency from 2008 to 2011. He developed Alabama’s response to the H1N1 influenza and served as the state incident commander during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Long is the executive vice president at Hagerty, an emergency management consulting firm he joined in 2011.
It’s been known since last week that Long’s nomination to lead FEMA was not controversial, as he passed the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by voice vote.
“The combination of his work for FEMA, state emergency management, and the private sector makes Brock Long well suited for this nomination by the president. Because of his experience, Brock understands it is the work done before a storm that saves lives,” Sen. Richard Burr, R-NC, said during Senate debate on Monday.
FEMA oversees the federal government’s response to disasters. The agency’s mission is to support citizens and first responders in disaster preparation, recovery and mitigation. Governors must declare a state of emergency and formally request help from the president to receive FEMA support and funds following a disaster.
Long will manage the agency’s $13.9 billion annual budget.
