As the frequency of disasters rises with the changing climate, their politicization amplifies at an even faster pace. Most recently, we saw Democrats playing the blame game after the Los Angeles fires, insidious social media campaigns to undermine FEMA in North Carolina, and the Trump administration threatening to abolish the disaster agency. But the politics of disaster relief span decades. Come hear stories from Katrina to Helene and beyond from those who know it best.

Featuring former senior FEMA official and IOP Pritzker fellow Justin Ángel Knighten, Michael Brown, US Undersecretary of FEMA during Hurricane Katrina, and more.

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact iopevents@uchicago.edu.

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

5:30 p.m. CDT

Ida Noyes Hall, Cloister Club