Federal Emergency Management Agency News

PG&E Fire Victims Fight FEMA Over Multibillion-Dollar Payout

Victims of wildfires blamed on PG&E Corp.’s power lines and government agencies that provided them disaster relief are tussling over a payout from the bankrupt utility. PG&E reached a settlement with fire victims to pay a total of $13.5 billion …

Puerto Rico Earthquake Aftermath Deepens as Government Seeks Help

SAN JUAN — More than 2,000 people in shelters. Nearly one million without power. Hundreds of thousands without water. The aftermath of a 6.4-magnitude earthquake that killed one person, injured nine others and severely damaged infrastructure in Puerto Rico’s southwest …

Feds Review Hurricane Irma Invoices From 3 Florida Cities

MIAMI — Three South Florida cities are being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General for “questionable invoices” and other documents submitted by consultants for reimbursement of debris cleanup from Hurricane Irma. The Federal Emergency Management …

The Small Riverside Town of Mosby, Missouri, is Disappearing One House at a Time

MOSBY, Mo. — Tammy Kilgore raised the giant claw of a John Deere excavator high in the air, then slammed it down on the roof the house where she had spent nearly her entire adult life. The shingles crunched, but …

FEMA Urged to Adopt Parametric Insurance and Blockchain to Address Coverage Gap

Blockchain technology and parametric insurance should be included in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s toolbox as it strives to close the nation’s flood insurance coverage gap, according to a draft report by an advisory committee that makes recommendations to the …

Thousands Face Life-Threatening Floods From Aging Dams

On a cold morning last March, Kenny Angel got a frantic knock on his door. Two workers from a utility company in northern Nebraska had come with a stark warning: Get out of your house. Just a little over a …

In Colorado, 24 High-Hazard Dams Are Seen as Problematic

Two dozen aging dams in Colorado were in unsatisfactory condition and are located in places where their failure would likely kill at least one person, according to an Associated Press investigation that found at least 1,688 such dams nationwide. The …

Advocates Push Model Law for Private Flood, Quibble about Education Mandate

An organization of state lawmakers is moving ahead toward adoption of a “model law” designed to encourage the sale of private flood insurance, even though insurers don’t think any new state laws are necessary and agents think the current draft …

FEMA Bought 44,000 Flood-Prone Homes and May Have to Buy Millions More

As the climate crisis worsens, more Americans will be forced from their homes. Many won’t be able to afford it, and the U.S. isn’t prepared for a massive, government-subsidized migration away from flood-prone areas, according to the first comprehensive analysis …

Recovery Stalls After Fast Start Following Deadly Tornado

When a deadly tornado ripped through Ruston and Louisiana Tech University in the early morning darkness of April 25, hundreds of volunteers fanned out for rescues and cleanup. Everyone from NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone and energy magnate James …