Do We Really Need FEMA? With the Northeast contemplating the huge response that will be needed to recover from Hurricane Sandy, there's been a bit of a fuss over Gov. Mitt Romney's suggestion, during a Republican primary debate last year, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's responsibilities be given to the states and private companies. He acknowledged a need for FEMA on Tuesday, but his position last year was not unique. Should the states and private companies, take over FEMA's responsibilities for disaster recovery?