CHARLESTON — City officials are preparing to cover more of the costs for extreme weather events as the Trump administration looks to limit federal aid to all but the most severe natural disasters.
In light of expected funding changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency , Charleston’s Chief Finance Officer Amy Wharton recommended nearly doubling the city’s emergency funds from $600,000 to $1 million in next year’s budget. The city operates on a calendar-year budget, and is currently in the midst of setting its spending plan for 2026.
“More responsibility will be placed on state and local government to cover the cost of smaller events without reimbursement,” Wharton told City Council’s Ad Hoc Budget Committee on Oct. 8.
In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive or