Nevada is facing a "9/11 equivalent" for emergency management services because of changes happening at the federal level, the state's top homeland security official said this week. 

The comments from Brett Compston, the chief of the Nevada Office of Emergency Management, came the same day that a panel appointed by President Donald Trump released a series of proposals to shift scores of responsibilities from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to state governments. 

Under the federal proposals, it would be harder for the state to secure emergency aid. Thresholds would increase for what is considered a disaster, and the state would have to be more judicious in how to spend certain dollars, said Compston, who is also Gov. Joe Lombardo's (R) homeland security adviser.

Many of the proposals still require congressional approval, but they would mark a significant change in emergency management operations.

"The position of the federal government is that state and locals will own disasters," Compston said. "We should expect that FEMA will only come to the biggest of disasters: war, major earthquakes, major hurricanes."

The Thursday comments prompted questions from some Nevada lawmakers, including Sen. John Steinbeck (R-Las Vegas), the former Clark County fire chief, who brought up the effect of the changes on the state agency's budget.

Compston said his office can no longer depend on federal dollars. In the current budget year, 81 percent of its budget is from federal dollars, including the salaries for 84 percent of the staff. The federal changes are affecting how the agency builds its budget in coordination with the governor's office.

In a statement Saturday, Drew Galang, a spokesperson for the governor's office, said it "has been working closely with the Office of Emergency Management on proactive measures to respond to a shifting federal approach."

These proposals came after the 118-day shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stymied emergency management efforts in Nevada, including the disbursement of grants to local governments. The state has also dealt with unexpected changes to federal grants, and the federal government is deploying fewer on-the-ground resources in the aftermath of emergencies.

The federal government is a backstop to local and state governments that do not have enough resources to respond to emergencies. Under the Trump administration, FEMA has faced backlash for delays in providing relief services, such as in the aftermath of the 2024 hurricane in North Carolina.

In response to the federal changes, the state office is creating a reserve program and pursuing pre-negotiated contracts with outside groups so that when there is an emergency, a contract can start immediately. The state has also made agreements with other states on pooling emergency resources.

Compston said he also wants to create an app that can serve as a one-stop shop for Nevadans in the case of an emergency.

"What is Nevada doing? Everything I possibly can," Compston said.

The potential changes come at a precarious time for the state. Cyber threats are becoming more advanced, particularly because of the explosion of AI, and the state has to deal with the ever-present threat of wildfires, especially this year because of lower than usual snowfall. 

"We expect that we will probably pay our dues this summer in regards to fire here in this state," he said.

Updated on 5/9/26 at 8:25 a.m. to include a statement from the governor's office.