WASHINGTON, DC – Representing a hurricane-prone area, Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC-07) understands the importance of rapid access to medical care. He introduced H.R. 6539, the Strategic Teams Organized Response Mobilization (STORM) Act, which authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to use online platforms to quickly connect healthcare workers with communities affected by natural disasters.
“In a natural disaster, every second counts — especially for those in need of urgent medical care," said Congressman Rouzer. "Local providers are often overwhelmed or directly impacted by the disaster themselves. By leveraging technology, the STORM Act ensures FEMA can quickly connect medical experts with the communities that need them most."
As communities saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, natural disasters create a massive spike in healthcare needs, which can quickly overwhelm local doctors and hospitals — especially when those providers are also victims of the storm.
The STORM Act streamlines emergency response by allowing FEMA to use separate staffing platforms to fill medical gaps during disasters. Instead of relying on slow, manual coordination, these digital tools instantly match verified healthcare professionals with specific areas of need.
You can find the full text of H.R. 6539 here.
