FEMA News

Officials Reflect on Superstorm Sandy 5 Years Later

It’s been five years since Superstorm Sandy struck the Eastern seaboard late during the 2012 hurricane season. Recently, local city and government officials were interviewed to give their perspective on the storm in a five-year overview video created by James …

Senate Passes $36.5B Disaster Aid Bill; President Signature Next

The Senate passed a $36.5 billion emergency aid measure Tuesday to refill disaster accounts, provide a much-needed cash infusion to Puerto Rico, and bail out the federal flood insurance program. The 82-17 vote sends the measure to the White House, …

Common Reasons for FEMA Denial of Funds After Disasters

Local governments and nonprofits trying to recover from major disasters have sometimes learned the hard way that money spent on protective measures, cleanup and rebuilding is not always reimbursed by the U.S. government. The Associated Press analyzed more than 900 …

House Passes $36.5B Hurricane, Wildfire Relief Aid

The House backed President Donald Trump’s request for billions more in disaster aid, $16 billion to pay flood insurance claims and emergency funding to help the cash-strapped government of Puerto Rico stay afloat. Thursday’s hurricane aid package totals $36.5 billion …

After Hurricanes, Focus Turns to Assessing the Effectiveness of Building Code Adoption

As residents and businesses continue to recover after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, focus is beginning to turn to mitigation. In Florida, where experts say better buildings codes resulted from Hurricane Andrew 25 years ago, analysis will include how improved codes …

FEMA Head Points to Politics as Reason for Slowed Response in Puerto Rico

The Trump administration’s emergency management director said political infighting in Puerto Rico has slowed the pace of recovery from Hurricane Maria. “Politics between Republicans and Democrats is bad enough – but in Puerto Rico, politics is even worse,” Brock Long, …

FEMA to Release New Coastal Flood Map in Georgia

Experts say a new federal flood map of Glynn County along Georgia’s coast may lower insurance premiums next year – but not the risk of flooding. The updated Flood Insurance Rate Map, drawn by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will …

Trump: End Flood Insurance for New Homes Built in Flood-Prone Areas

President Donald Trump proposed ending federal flood insurance for new homes in areas most at risk of flooding, a change that could curtail new construction in vast parts of Florida, Louisiana and along the Eastern Seaboard. Trump’s plan would radically …

After Hurricanes White House Seeks $29B Disaster Aid Package

The Trump administration is finalizing a $29 billion disaster aid package that combines $16 billion to shore up the government-backed flood insurance program with almost $13 billion in new relief for hurricane victims, according to a senior administration official and …

Insurance Fights Over Sandy Rage On

The destructive floodwaters of Superstorm Sandy receded quickly, but some storm victims are still neck-deep in a battle over insurance payouts. And many victims of this year’s storms in Texas, Florida and elsewhere should brace themselves for a similar fight, …