(Reuters) - David Richardson, the new head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said on Thursday that states would in the future bear half the costs for responding to natural disasters, up from 25% under current cost-sharing levels.

FEMA acting chief David Richardson has laid out the agency's intent for this upcoming hurricane season, cementing plans to push more responsibility to the states for disaster response and recovery while continuing federal support “when deemed necessary.

Experts say recent turmoil at FEMA will leave millions of people vulnerable as climate change-fueled disasters get worse in the months and years ahead.