WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) informed staff on Thursday that disaster worker terminations would be halted due to the massive impending winter storm set to impact at least 160 million Americans.

FEMA said in the email obtained by CNN that it would "cease offboarding" for disaster workers whose employment contracts are set to expire in the coming days. It was not specified how long the pauses would last.

Sources reported that around 300 disaster workers were let go at the start of the new year, with only a handful receiving extensions.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, visited the agency's headquarters ahead of the storm to receive a briefing on preparations.

"DHS, FEMA, CISA, USCG, and our other federal partners are closely monitoring conditions and coordinating with state and local partners to ensure readiness," Noem wrote on X. "Governors remain in the lead, and we stand ready to support. Every American in the path of this storm should take steps to prepare and protect themselves from the elements."

Noem announced in March 2025 plans to eliminate FEMA, and by May, the acting head of the agency was fired one month before Hurricane season.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said the "long-duration winter storm" will bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, and freezing rain across the central and eastern U.S. this weekend and into early next week.

Frigid temperatures, gusty winds, and dangerous wind chills will expand from the north-central U.S. to the Southern Plains, MS Valley, and Midwest, according to the agency.

“FEMA is on the ground and leaning forward, proactively supporting states in the path of this winter storm to ensure a rapid and well-coordinated response. Disasters are best when locally execute, state managed and federally supported, a role we take seriously," FEMA wrote in an internal document seen by CNN.

The National Response Coordination Center has also been activated and response teams and resources have been deployed to Texas, Virginia, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Additionally, there will be more than 200 specialists to staff call centers to support survivors needing urgent assistance.