FEMA

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FEMA Rescue Chief Resigns in Frustration

Departure follows criticism of delayed response to Texas flooding

(Newser) - The chief of FEMA's urban search and rescue unit, Ken Pagurek, has resigned, citing mounting frustration over new bureaucratic policies imposed under the Trump administration, the New York Times reports. Pagurek, who spent more than a decade with the agency and led the search and rescue branch for...

Report: FEMA Fired Call Center Workers Day After Texas Floods

Agency failed to answer thousands of calls

(Newser) - On July 5, a day after the devastating floods in Texas, FEMA's disaster assistance line received 3,027 calls and answered 99.7% of them, according to documents seen by the New York Times . The documents show, however, that hundreds of call center workers at four companies were fired...

FEMA Removed Camp Mystic Buildings From 100-Year Flood Map

Despite being located in a region known as flash flood alley

(Newser) - Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, loosening oversight as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in the years before rushing waters swept away children and counselors, an AP review found. The Federal Emergency Management Agency included...

FEMA Boss Jokes He Didn't Know About Hurricane Season

Agency has also reportedly junked its new hurricane plan

(Newser) - The recently installed head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says the agency has scrapped its new hurricane-response plan and will be using last year's plan, according to sources who spoke to the Wall Street Journal . The sources say some at FEMA aren't sure how exactly that will...

Acting Chief Is Out After Defending FEMA's Existence

Trump, Noem have expressed differing views

(Newser) - The day after he broke with the Trump administration line on eliminating FEMA, the agency's acting boss was fired. Cameron Hamilton, who was appointed by President Trump, was called to Department of Homeland Security headquarters on Thursday and dismissed, Politico reports. He was then driven back to his Federal...

US Firefighting Academy Halts Classes for Trump Evaluation

Shutdown to allow evalutation to 'ensure alignment with Administration priorities'

(Newser) - The country's preeminent federal fire training academy canceled classes, effective immediately, on Saturday amid the ongoing flurry of funding freezes and staffing cuts by President Trump's administration. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that National Fire Academy courses were suspended to allow for a "process of evaluating...

FEMA: Here's Why We're Not Testing Soil After LA Wildfires

Federal agency says it's removing 6 inches of topsoil and that's good enough

(Newser) - The Federal Emergency Management Agency is defending its decision not to carry out soil testing amid cleanup efforts in the wake of the Los Angeles wildfires after backlash erupted. FEMA originally announced that six inches of topsoil would be removed from destroyed properties, but that no testing would be done...

FEMA Fires CFO, 3 Others Over NYC Migrant Shelter Payments

City officials refute accusations that disaster relief funds were diverted to pay for migrants in hotels

(Newser) - On Tuesday, President Trump went on an online tear against the Federal Emergency Management Agency, calling the agency a "disaster" that "should be terminated" and noting that it was "under review and investigation." More official repercussions followed, with an announcement from the Department of Homeland Security...

Biden Asks for Almost $100B in Emergency Disaster Aid

President tells House speaker money is 'urgently needed' after Hurricanes Helene and Milton

(Newser) - President Biden is requesting nearly $100 billion in emergency disaster aid after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, as well as other natural disasters, telling lawmakers that the money is "urgently needed." The letter Monday to House Speaker Mike Johnson comes as lawmakers meet during a lame-duck session to finish...

FEMA Worker Fired Over Order on Pro-Trump Homes

Supervisors told employees not to help Florida homes with Trump signs

(Newser) - A FEMA worker has been fired after she directed workers helping hurricane survivors not to go to homes with yard signs supporting Donald Trump, the agency's leader said Saturday. "This is a clear violation of FEMA's core values and principles to help people regardless of their political...

SBA Out of Cash for Hurricane Victims, for Now

Congress would need to greenlight additional funding, though lawmakers are now out of town

(Newser) - The Small Business Administration has run out of money for the disaster assistance loans it offers small businesses, homeowners, and renters, delaying much-needed relief for people applying for aid in the wake of the destruction caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton. The SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to businesses...

Armed Militia Reportedly 'Out Hunting FEMA' After Hurricane
Arrest Made in Threats
Against FEMA Workers
updated
Oct 14, 2024 6:05 PM CDT

Arrest Made in Threats Against FEMA Workers

North Carolina officials say there was no armed militia patrolling the area

(Newser) - Law enforcement officials reported Monday that an armed suspect was arrested in western North Carolina on charges of making threats against federal emergency response workers helping with the hurricane recovery. The 44-year-old man was taken into custody at a supermarket where a FEMA bus was parked on Saturday, they said,...

FEMA Spent Almost Half Year's Budget in 8 Days

Unless Congress adds funding, agency could have to limit rebuilding projects

(Newser) - Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned last week that the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget might not withstand another hurricane. Hours before Milton struck in Florida, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell said in a briefing, "I'm going to have to evaluate how quickly we're burning the remaining...

Just 9% of FEMA Staff Are Currently Available

Agency 'supporting over 100 major disaster declarations' as Hurricane Milton bears down

(Newser) - FEMA did not need another disaster to deal with, but it looks like it will have one with Hurricane Milton now en route to Tampa . Assisting in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in various states, Tropical Storm Debby in New York and Georgia, flooding and landslides in Vermont, tornadoes in...

Florida's New Evacuation May Be Biggest in 7 Years

Hurricane Milton is coming, and it will test both the state and FEMA

(Newser) - Hurricane Milton is headed straight for Florida this week on the heels of Hurricane Helene, and it may force the largest number of evacuations in seven years, reports the Washington Post . In fact, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri warned Sunday that authorities would be "more assertive" about getting people...

In North Carolina, Harris Praises Neighborly Response

Governor vouches for FEMA's help with Hurricane Helene recovery

(Newser) - Vice President Kamala Harris went to North Carolina on Saturday, promising federal aid would continue to flow for recovery from Hurricane Helene while being briefed on the situation. The meeting in Charlotte included Gov. Roy Cooper and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, the Washington Post reports. "I've talked with...

WH on False Helene Rumors: Stop 'Spreading This Poison'

Conspiracy theories about disaster relief abound in the wake of deadly hurricane

(Newser) - As local, state, and federal authorities scramble to help those hit hardest by Hurricane Helene , which killed more than 220 , they've got another problem to deal with: conspiracy theories about relief efforts, per Reuters and CNN . "Disinformation of this kind can discourage people from seeking critical assistance when...

FEMA's Budget Can't Weather Another Hurricane

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said 'we do not have the funds'

(Newser) - Hurricane season doesn't wrap up until Nov. 30, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's budget may not make it until then. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Wednesday that the agency is "meeting the immediate needs" after Hurricane Helene with the funds it currently has. But "...

Emergency Alerts Sound in Halls of Government, Too

Blaring interrupts reporters' questioning at White House

(Newser) - The government was subject to the nationwide test of the nation's emergency alert systems on Wednesday. Reporters' phones began blaring just before 2:20pm ET during a White House press conference, interrupting their questioning of White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. "Well, it works," she said when...

Get Ready for Lots of Noise Wednesday Afternoon

FEMA, FCC are conducting emergency alert test

(Newser) - Starting midday on Wednesday, your cellphone will likely start making a lot of noise—and it won't be alone. FEMA, in conjunction with the FCC, will be conducting a nationwide test of both its Emergency Alert System and Wireless Emergency Alerts, with an emergency alert sent to radios and...

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