What’s Changing Between FEMA and the States

• Emergency management is shifting toward a more state-led model, with states, territories, tribes, and local governments expected to take a larger operational role while the federal government provides support. 

• Disaster declaration and assistance thresholds are being reconsidered, which could mean fewer incidents qualify for traditional federal intervention and more events are handled through state-managed pathways. 

• Funding approaches are being redesigned to move faster and with less administrative burden, including simpler procedures, more predictable awards, and quicker access to recovery dollars. 

• There is a stronger emphasis on mitigation and resilience, with more attention on pre-disaster planning, preapproved projects, and investments intended to reduce long-term recovery costs. 

• FEMA itself is being reshaped through proposed structural and program reforms aimed at simplifying delivery, clarifying roles, and redefining the agency as a faster, more focused federal partner. 

How SummitET Supports State‑Led Emergency Management  

SummitET helps states operationalize the direction outlined in the FEMA Review Council’s report by building real, executable capability—not just documentation. 

Our work aligns directly with the report’s emphasis on preparedness, state leadership, and execution: 

• Emergency Management Planning designed for state‑led operations 
• Exercises that test leadership, authorities, and coordination under realistic conditions
• Training and advisory services focused on decision‑making, not optics 
• Operational readiness assessments identifying real‑world gaps before disaster exposes them 

See our previous work with FEMA and emergency management initiatives at the state level for examples of our experience and impact.

Previstar®: Enabling Leadership at the Point of Impact

As authority shifts closer to the incident, states require shared situational awareness and coordination tools that support leadership without adding bureaucracy. 

Previstar® is SummitET’s platform designed to support: 

State‑led incident management 
Shared situational awareness and a common operating picture, so leaders and partners can see the same information, track status, and coordinate action without adding bureaucracy.

Cross‑agency coordination 
Supports coordination across agencies and partners by making roles, requests, and operational priorities visible in one place, reducing delays and handoff friction. 

Operational visibility before, during, and after incidents 
By improving tasking, status tracking, and operational visibility, Previstar helps decision-makers move from information to action more quickly and with greater confidence. 

Alignment with federal frameworks without dependency on federal systems 

The result is faster, simpler, and more transparent emergency management operations.

Our exercises and evaluation approach are HSEEP-aligned, and Previstar serves as a supporting capability that strengthens delivery without redefining it. 

Together, this approach gives agencies clearer coordination, more consistent execution, and stronger operational readiness without adding unnecessary process burden.

Speak directly to our team