To the editor:

Regarding the letter from Ken Meyer on July 17 — “FEMA won’t have your back” — my stepson has worked as an administrator at FEMA for 17 years. He shared with us that FEMA’s workforce has been reduced by 40%, thus making it impossible to respond with their usual efficiency. Further, the former head of FEMA was fired by President Trump, and his replacement has no background in emergency response management. This, coupled with the loss of nearly half the workforce has created chaos and very low morale among the remaining staff. Any criticism of the agency should be informed by the circumstances it’s now forced to cope with.

Ann Chapman,

Lawrence