Management
FEMA is making an example of this Florida boomtown. Locals call it ‘revenge politics’
The Biden administration is trying to punish Lee County for rebuilding flood-prone homes. The state’s Republican politicians are fighting back.
Management
Indigenous Pacific wildfire survivors on Maui can finally get FEMA help
The new fiscal 2024 spending bill has re-established Compact of Free Association citizens' access to federal safety net programs after it was inadvertently removed by the 1996 Welfare Reform Act.
Management
Rebuilding the collapsed Baltimore bridge ‘will not be quick or easy or cheap,’ Buttigieg says
Reopening the Port of Baltimore is among the Biden administration’s top priorities in the aftermath of the collapse.
Management
Disasters like bridge collapses put transportation agencies’ emergency plans to the test
Agencies have limited resources, so they typically set priorities based on how likely a given scenario is, its potential adverse effects and the countermeasures that officials have available.
Management
FEMA to overhaul its disaster aid system after decades of criticism
The agency will offer upfront cash payments to disaster survivors and slash some of its infamous red tape.
Management
With catastrophes on the rise, a new report outlines how agencies can integrate their response
A new study from the National Academy of Public Administration and the IBM Center for the Business of Government details strategies the federal government can take to absorb the shock of unprecedented national and international events and mitigate their institutional risks.
Oversight
Disaster recovery projects stall nationwide as FEMA runs out of money
The agency has paused $2.8 billion in spending as it braces for a looming government shutdown.
Management
FEMA is being sued for making flood insurance too expensive—and too cheap
The price isn't right, according to two lawsuits against the federal agency. The suits, one of which was brought by Louisiana and Republican state AGs, claim that high insurance rates could put residents at risk of economic ruin, but low rates do little to stop developments on at-risk land.
Pay & Benefits
With wildfires looming, Congress must act to prevent an exodus of firefighters
COMMENTARY | Firefighters protect communities and people, asking for little in return: equipment to do our jobs safely, benefits that recognize the inherent dangers of our work, and pay that is sufficient to take care of our families, writes one advocate.
Tech
Hawaii’s wildfires led to fast tracking federal identity tools for unemployment claims
Hawaii is the second state after Arkansas to employ Login.gov and U.S. Postal Service identity proofing options in its unemployment insurance system.
Management
How data models may shape the future of wildfire response
Data models that integrate wildfire spread and vehicle and pedestrian evacuation routes can help responder agencies get residents to safety before an incoming wildfire becomes too much to manage.
Workforce
Biden administration soliciting volunteers throughout government to deploy for disaster response
FEMA has said the assignments from other agencies could help ensure an adequate recovery effort.
News
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.
Management
Feds pre-deploy to Florida in anticipation of major hurricane
FEMA looks to manage workforce shortages as it responds to multiple crises at once.
Defense
Navy divers begin search and underwater survey in Maui
The Defense Department now has 572 people supporting relief efforts after devastating fires.
Oversight
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.
Defense
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.
Management
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.
Management
Biden grapples with the federal government’s role in a future fraught with extreme heat
Heat is a leading killer, but FEMA has not deployed for it as it has for floods and fires.
Oversight
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.
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