FEMA News

Mexico Beach Town Still Recovering After Hurricane Michael

Saralyn Harder’s short commute to a temporary job in a barbecue food truck at the edge of a Florida town winds through a paradise violently deconstructed. The palm trees, blanched by salt water, have turned brown and yellow. Dirty sand …

FEMA Tries to Keep Flood Insurance Program Alive During Shutdown

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is exploring how to continue issuing new flood insurance policies after earlier saying that it would halt the practice during the partial government shutdown, leading to a backlash from lawmakers and realtors. The agency is …

Too-High Illinois Levee Flooding Missouri Homes

Missouri landowners and environmentalists are urging a federal agency to sanction a levee district on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, arguing that the earthen barrier has been built above its authorized height, worsening flooding for its neighbors. Great …

Climate Groups Cringe at Virginia Tax Cut for Oft-Flooded Homes

A measure approved by Virginia voters this week to cut taxes on homes in flood-prone areas of the flood-prone commonwealth has climate experts warning that it might encourage people to remain in vulnerable areas – and could spread to other …

AAA Bond Ratings Still Being Issued to Coastal Cities Threatened by Climate Change

Last fall, after a trio of deadly hurricanes, ratings companies warned vulnerable coastal cities to get ready for climate change – or face higher borrowing costs on the $3.9 trillion municipal bond market. Climate advocates cheered, hoping the prospect of …

How Real-Time Information Can Assist Insurers During Natural Disasters

At every phase of disaster preparation and recovery, time is of the essence. Today, social media platforms allow authorities to share critical updates with the public instantaneously and coordinate relief efforts. It also allows those in need to request assistance …

FEMA Chief Slams U.S. Failure to Prepare, Evacuate Before Storms

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long angrily criticized the failure of citizens to heed evacuation warnings and leaders to better prepare for natural disasters such as Hurricane Michael. “It’s frustrating to us because we repeat this same cycle over …

S.C. Coastal County’s New Flood Map May Already be Outdated

A South Carolina county is getting new flood maps for the first time in 14 years, but it’s possible they’re already out of date. The Post and Courier reports Charleston County’s new flood maps won’t include data from floods of …

California Wildfire Victims Voice Complaints During Cleanup

One year after a devastating series of wildfires ripped through Northern California wine country, destroying thousands of homes, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ first experience cleaning up after a wildfire has turned into an expensive bureaucratic mess and California’s …

FEMA Officials Assess Wisconsin Flood Damage

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are touring Wisconsin to assess damage in communities that were hit by flooding and tornadoes in August. Five FEMA teams are assessing damage to public infrastructure and homes in order to determine whether Wisconsin qualifies …