Mullin Confirmed DHS Secretary as Hawai'i Begins Recovery From Worst Flooding in 20 Years; Aftermath will Serve as First Test in FEMA Oversight

March 25, 2026 - Hundreds of Disaster Survivors from Across the Country Send Letter to Mullin Requesting Meeting and Urging Agency to Prioritize Disaster Preparedness and Response over Political Loyalty

O‘ahu and Maui, Hawai’i – Following Sen. Markwayne Mullin's confirmation as the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary, disaster survivors from across the country stand ready to hold Mullin accountable for his leadership on federal disaster assistance, which was severely damaged under the previous DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

In a letter to Secretary Mullin, released Monday, hundreds of disaster survivors urged him to clear the catastrophic backlog of disaster applications, rebuild and stabilize FEMA’s workforce, prioritize disaster preparedness and response over political loyalty, and fight for disaster funding that communities depend upon.

Secretary Mullin's confirmation comes as the central Hawai’ian islands of Oahu and Maui are reeling from 11 consecutive days of torrential rain, the worst storm the islands have seen in years. Flash flooding has caused critical infrastructure damages, with 5,500 people evacuated; authorities anticipate that the cost of the storm could exceed $1 billion. FEMA has yet to issue a disaster declaration.

The following statement can be attributed to Hawai‘i State Representative Amy Perruso, who is involved with relief efforts with Our Hawai‘i and represents the heavily impacted region of Waialua and the North Shore:

“Hawai‘i will be recovering from the widespread infrastructure damages of this storm for years to come. Even though the Wahiawā Dam held, the impact of displacement and a preexisting lack of affordable housing for local working families in Hawai‘i will be catastrophic to our communities. Now more than ever, we need a strong, responsive, and independent FEMA, and leadership that believes in effective recovery and resilience.”

The full text of the letter from disaster survivors to Secretary Mullin can be read here.

ABOUT ORGANIZING RESILIENCE

Led by disaster survivors, Organizing Resilience is changing how we respond when disaster strikes: moving rapid response support to organizations on the ground in the immediate aftermath; bringing disaster survivors together to build capacity over the long term; and driving campaigns to overhaul the national disaster response system. Visit us at organizingresilience.org.