Disaster Management

How to get federal disaster aid: FEMA is running out of money, but these strategies can help survivors of Hurricane Idalia and the Maui fires get aid faster

COMMENTARY | After a natural disaster strikes a community, determining and documenting the extent of damage to homes and property is a crucial step in receiving financial aid to recover.

Feds pre-deploy to Florida in anticipation of major hurricane

FEMA looks to manage workforce shortages as it responds to multiple crises at once.

Navy divers begin search and underwater survey in Maui

The Defense Department now has 572 people supporting relief efforts after devastating fires.

FEMA’s disaster relief fund is running low on cash. What happens now?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is facing at least a $4 billion deficit.

Hundreds of Defense personnel supporting Maui recovery efforts

Death toll in the devastating wildfires has risen to 111, with more than 1,000 people still missing.

Hundreds of federal employees deploy to Hawaii to assist in wildfire response

Agencies with offices and personnel on the island are also scrambling to accommodate staff and provide continuity of services.

Deer Park chemical fire in 2019 could have been prevented, federal investigation finds

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board found that the ITC tank farm lacked crucial equipment to warn workers about the failure that led to the three-day fire.

FEMA Is Losing Employees at an Alarming Rate

Burnout is leading to attrition as disasters spike, but watchdog also blames agency for poor workforce management.

NOAA to Improve Storm Surge Predictions Ahead of 2023 Hurricane Season

The agency upgraded its system to improve modeling and forecasting for storm surges and related flooding.

The Federal Government Accidentally Burned down Their Houses, Then Made It Hard to Come Home

FEMA told survivors of the largest wildfire in N.M. history that it aimed to put temporary housing on their land. But because of its strict, slow bureaucracy, that has happened only twice.

FEMA Wants to Confront Growing Challenges With More Personnel

The Biden administration is expecting unique challenges this disaster season, and FEMA wants to do more with more.

Federal, State Officials Weigh Plans to Increase Rail Safety

The Rail Safety Act was mentioned as part of a plan to prevent further disasters in Ohio and nationwide.

The Ohio Train Crash Happened While The Hazardous Material Regulatory Agency Had No Permanent Leader

Courtney Bublé joins the podcast to discuss the derailment and Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which has no nominee to lead it.

A Norfolk Southern Policy Lets Officials Order Crews to Ignore Safety Alerts

In October, months before the East Palestine derailment, the company also directed a train to keep moving with an overheated wheel that caused it to derail miles later in Sandusky, Ohio.

When Disasters Hit, Governments Need to Mobilize

Marc Mancher joins the podcast to discuss crisis communication centers.

After Substation Shooting, Federal Regulator Orders Review Of Security Standards

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ordered the North American Electric Reliability Corporation to review existing “physical security” rules for the components of the power system.