Ken Pagurek

Ken Pagurek served as the head of FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue branch, overseeing a vital network of teams ready to respond to natural disasters across the United States. He resigned in 2021, citing frustration with delays in response to catastrophic flooding in Texas, attributed to bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the Department of Homeland Security. Pagurek's departure highlighted ongoing tensions within FEMA and the challenges faced during the Trump administration, which aimed to overhaul the agency. After over a decade with FEMA, he returned to the Philadelphia Fire Department, reflecting on the camaraderie and commitment of those in disaster response roles.