In Memorium:
Morrie Goodman

It is with great sadness that the Emergency Management External Affairs Association (EMEAA) remembers Morrie Goodman, who passed away on February 26, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri, at age 74. 

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Born on September 9, 1951, in Kansas City, Morrie was rooted in a strong dedication to communication and public service. A veteran television journalist turned globally respected crisis management expert, Morrie intimately understood the power of communication to inform, reassure, and unite people during critical moments. This foundation led him to hold important leadership roles in government and emergency management. 

From 1993 to 1998, Morrie served as a key communications official in President Bill Clinton's administration, mainly as spokesperson and director of communications for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under Director James Lee Witt. He was the public face of FEMA during some of the most significant disasters of that era, including the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing (where he played a central role in coordinating federal response messaging with the Justice Department), and numerous hurricanes, floods, and other storms. 

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Morrie managed media affairs for hundreds of major national disasters, offering clear, compassionate, and strategic guidance that helped communities navigate chaos and start recovery. In 1996, when President Clinton elevated James Lee Witt to Cabinet-level status, Morrie emphasized the symbolic importance of the move in strengthening the agency's authority, noting the already close relationship between Clinton and the FEMA Director. 

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Following his FEMA tenure, Morrie continued in government service as press secretary for the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he worked on critical issues including trade relations with China and technology policy. He later assumed the role of NASA's top public affairs official in 2009. After leaving federal service, Morrie served as Vice President of Crisis Communications at James Lee Witt Associates, continuing to mentor and innovate in the field.

Those who knew Morrie well remember his intelligence, sense of humor, and remarkable ability to connect with people from all walks of life. As Phil Cogan, a close colleague, reflected: “Morrie was a trailblazer and an innovator in public information. While leading the Public Affairs team at FEMA under James Lee Witt, he was one-of-a-kind. He’ll be missed by all who knew him, and by those who have benefited from his skill, his wit, and his dedication to his craft and those he loved.”

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Beyond his professional legacy, Morrie cherished simple joys—he loved his dogs and his boat, finding peace and adventure in life's quieter moments. In later years, he kept in touch with his numerous friends through regular Facebook posts, which were often hilarious and, in true Morrie style, unabashedly candid.  

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Morrie's influence lives on in the higher standards of crisis and disaster communication he helped set, shaping emergency management professionals nationwide—including those in the EMEAA community—who continue to rely on his survivor-focused communication principles of clarity, compassion, and conviction. 

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On behalf of the Emergency Management External Affairs Association, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Morrie's family, friends, sister Hilda (Lee) Magilow, nephews Jeremy Lips and Jason Daniels, cousins, and all who were fortunate to know him. We honor his memory by upholding the excellence, lively spirit, and dedication that defined his extraordinary career. May he rest in peace.