US online disaster planning tool may go dark on Wednesday, agency website says [View all]

Source: Reuters

September 9, 2025 4:14 PM EDT Updated 11 hours ago


WASHINGTON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - An online disaster management tool that U.S. emergency managers use to communicate may no longer be supported Wednesday, according to a notice posted and later deleted from a federal government website.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Preparedness Toolkit website on Tuesday displayed a banner that said, "Note: This site may no longer be supported after Sept. 10. PLEASE back up your information as soon as possible, as it may not be accessible after that date.” The notice disappeared from the website after Reuters contacted FEMA for comment.

Emergency managers use the toolkit to communicate with neighboring state officials if they need extra help in a natural disaster, according to the National Emergency Management Association. The contract that funds the operations, maintenance and development of the toolkit website expires on September 10, according to a federal contract record reviewed by Reuters. If FEMA does not extend it, the contract will lapse in the middle of U.S. hurricane season.

President Donald Trump has pushed to reduce the role of the federal government in responding to natural disasters. Trump has said he plans to wind down FEMA, the U.S.'s disaster management agency, after Atlantic hurricane season ends in November.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/us-online-disaster-planning-tool-may-go-dark-wednesday-agency-website-says-2025-09-09/