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☆ Here's why FEMA has spent about $4 billion to help destroy flood-prone homes
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Lindsey Jacobson | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

'I have no regrets'Andrea Jones accepted a floodplain buyout for her home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. CNBCAndrea Jones, 59, sold her home in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area in a floodplain buyout. On average, federal buyouts can take two to five years, though 80% of the FEMA acquisitions are approved in less than two years. Jones' buyout was delayed by the pandemic, but once she started the process up again in May 2022, things moved quickly. In addition to FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and many state and local communities fund floodplain buyouts.

Persons: Siders, Andrea Jones, CNBC Andrea Jones, Jones, Andrea Jones Jones, they're, Mathew Sanders, Sanders Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, University of Delaware's, Program, CNBC, Finance, Charitable, Congressional Research Service, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Development Locations: Charlotte , North Carolina

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow floodplain buyouts workThe U.S. government is buying up and destroying American homes. Homeowners in the floodplain are choosing to voluntarily sell their doomed properties to the government. Since 1989, FEMA has helped fund around 45 to 50,000 home buyouts. FEMA is estimated to have spent somewhere around $4 billion on the project so far but that's just a fraction of the total amount spend on buyouts, since there are programs outside of FEMA. But not everyone is convinced buyouts are a good idea.

Organizations: Homeowners, FEMA Locations: U.S

☆ Dept. of Homeland Security embraces AI and other federal agencies are likely to follow
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Bob Violino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during the third annual Axios What's Next Summit at the Planet Word Museum on March 19, 2024 in Washington, DC. When the White House issued an executive order last October to promote safe and responsible development and use of artificial intelligence in the federal government, one of the first agencies to say it was on board the AI train was the Department of Homeland Security. In one pilot, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) will test AI to help in investigative processes focused on detecting fentanyl and combatting child exploitation. The unprecedented speed and potential of AI's development and adoption presents both opportunities and risks, according to Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security. What DHS learns from the pilot projects will be beneficial in shaping how it can effectively and responsibly use AI across homeland security moving forward, he said.

Persons: Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden, Mayorkas, — Organizations: Word, White House, Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, United, United States Citizenship, Immigration Services, Homeland Security, DHS, Mayorkas, Republican Locations: Washington ,, United States

☆ Congress cut funds cities need to handle the migrant surge
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Tami Luhby | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Congress last month approved the fiscal year 2024 funding level for FEMA’s Shelter and Services Program in the federal funding package, nearly six months into the fiscal year. Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat who represents San Antonio, said that immigration is a federal responsibility. “Funding from the Shelter and Services Program (SSP) has helped Catholic Charities and other groups in my city of San Antonio offer basic migrant services without straining local resources. “Due to the substantial demand that exceeds the limited SSP program funding authorized by Congress, not all requests can be fulfilled,” a DHS spokesperson told CNN. The Migrant Resource Center opened in July 2022 as a temporary place for migrants traveling through San Antonio.

Persons: of San Antonio doesn’t, Biden, Joaquin Castro, ”, of San Antonio, Antonio Fernandez, Fernandez, Greg Abbott, Mark Ritacco, John Giles, Giles, Ron Nirenberg, he’s, Joe Biden, Carlos Kosienski, Priscilla Alvarez Organizations: CNN, of San, Resource Center, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Democrat, “, Shelter, Services, Catholic Charities, Catholic, San, FEMA, GOP Texas Gov, Democratic, Republicans, Department of Homeland Security, Congress, National Association of Counties, US Customs, Protection, US, Mayors, Migrant Resource Center Locations: San Antonio, Washington, DC, Cities, Mexico, Atlanta ; Chicago ; New York City, Albuquerque , New Mexico, Laredo , Texas, Riverside County , California, Pima County , Arizona, Mesa , Arizona, Texas

A few months ago I was helping my mom revisit her homeowners insurance to see if she should add an earthquake insurance policy. Dahl explains that homeowners insurance and earthquake insurance are two completely different policies. The California Earthquake Authority, which provides most of the earthquake insurance policies where I live, has deductibles starting at 5%. So if your home is insured for $500,000 under your earthquake insurance policy, it should also be insured for $500,000 for your homeowners insurance. Earthquake insurance includes some exceptionsWhile earthquake insurance technically includes most damage and destruction to your home in the case of a ground tremor, there are some exceptions, such as a fire.

Persons: Seok Dahl, Dahl, I'd Organizations: Business, FEMA, Farmers, California Earthquake Authority Locations: Los Angeles, California

And when Russia invades Ukraine, he immediately decided it was time for World Central Kitchen to step into a war zone. michael barbaroAfter the break, my colleague Adam Rasgon on what happened to the World Central Kitchen workers in that caravan. So Adam, what ends up happening to this convoy that our colleague Kim Severson just described from World Central Kitchen? adam rasgonSo what we know is that members of the World Central Kitchen had been at a warehouse in Deir al-Balah in the Central Gaza Strip. michael barbaroAnd so what is the reaction from not just World Central Kitchen, but from the rest of the world to this airstrike?

Persons: michael barbaro, ” I’m Michael Barbaro, Kim Severson, Adam Rasgon, Kim, kim, José Andrés, you’re, kim severson, tapas, He’s, severson, he’s, kim severson He’s, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Harvey, Maria, Hurricane Maria, José, he’d, Goya, couldn’t, Nobody, there’s, they’ve, — michael barbaro, Chef Olivier, We’re, we’ve, Michael Jordan, Adam, adam rasgon, Al Rashid, Israel, adam rasgon There’s, adam rasgon President Biden, —, David Cameron —, david cameron, adam rasgon —, benjamin netanyahu, adam rasgon — Benjamin Netanyahu, Herzi Halevi, WCK, rasgon, that’s, michael barbaro Adam, it’s Organizations: The New York Times, Hurricane, Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, National Guard, Kitchen, Central, Central Kitchen, Gaza, UN, Red Crescent, White, British, IDF, Jerusalem Bureau Locations: Gaza, Haiti, Spanish, America, Washington ,, New York, DC, Miami, Hurricane, Houston, Puerto Rico, José, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lviv, Israel, North Gaza, Great Britain, Asia, Central America, Deir al, Rafah, Palestine, Jerusalem, Cyprus

☆ Opinion | Kamala Harris’s Epic Fail in Puerto Rico
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Yarimar Bonilla | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Kamala Harris arrived in San Juan, P.R., last Friday for her first official visit as vice president. The trip was meant, in part, to highlight the Biden administration’s dedication to aiding the island’s recovery. Ms. Harris’s roughly five-hour visit began in the community of San Isidro, in the municipality of Canóvanas. Many of the residents lack land titles, which made them ineligible for the Federal Emergency Management Agency programs Ms. Harris aimed to promote. The area was originally an informal settlement built on public wetlands by those displaced after Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Biden, ’ missteps, Harris’s, María Ramos de Jesús, Harris, Hugo, Ramos’s, Hurricane Maria Organizations: Department of Housing, Urban, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Hurricane Locations: San Juan, P.R, San Isidro, Canóvanas, Puerto Ricans

☆ A boomer couple who moved from Minnesota to Florida said they 'lost pretty much everything' in a hurricane but don't regret the move
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Noah Sheidlower | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A boomer and her husband moved to southwest Florida from Minnesota to start her clothing business. They moved to southern Minnesota, then northern Minnesota to an off-the-grid cabin an hour north of Duluth. They knew northern Minnesota was not conducive to starting a business, so they considered Florida an ideal location. She said she's also adjusting to the fishing scene in Florida, which is mainly saltwater, compared to freshwater fishing in Minnesota. Despite all she's been through, Pelton thinks she'll stay in Florida for the time being — the only other place she's considering is India.

Persons: it's, —, Barbara Pelton, Little, Ian, Minnesota Pelton, she's, Pelton, she'll Organizations: Service, Survey, Sunshine State, Minnesota, FEMA, Day, Labor Day Locations: Florida, Minnesota, Hurricane, Duluth, snowstorms, India

☆ The immigration crisis may bankrupt cities such as New York, Denver and Chicago as federal funds fall short of needs
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Juhohn Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The recent surge of migrants has put major cities across the U.S. under significant financial pressure. But experts say more federal assistance and funding are necessary to ensure that cities can survive the ongoing crisis. For instance, the $145 million allocated to New York City is less than 10% of what the city spent on migrant services in fiscal 2023, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "These are complicated issues to manage, so the city, the state and the federal government, frankly, were not prepared for it." Watch the video above to see just how much financial pressure cities across the U.S. are facing due to the ongoing migrant crisis.

Persons: Biden, Simon Hankinson, Debu Gandhi, Muzaffar Chishti Organizations: The Heritage Foundation, The Center, American Progress, FEMA, Migration Policy Institute Locations: New York, Denver, Chicago, Washington ,, New York City, U.S

☆ A flood insurance quirk makes basements a bad place to keep your stuff
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Greg Iacurci | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The problem is: If your basement floods, your flood insurance policy likely won't cover damages to most — if any — of your belongings. What is flood insurance? To that point, 99% of U.S. counties have experienced a flood since 1998 — and more than 40% of flood insurance claims are from outside high-risk flood areas, according to FEMA. Most people who have flood insurance get it through the federal government, via FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program, experts said. Consumers concerned about flood risk and insurance coverage should consider not putting their stuff in a basement, if possible, Kochenburger said.

Persons: Johnson, Jessica Rinaldi, Peter Kochenburger, Eric Thayer, Kochenburger, NFIP, Don Griffin, it'd, Griffin, Policyholders Organizations: Boston Globe, Getty, Southern University Law Center, Insurance, FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Flood Insurance, Bloomberg, Consumers, American, Casualty Insurance Association, Census, Southern University Law Locations: Vermont, United States, U.S, Whittier , California, freezers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California cities and counties still don't know how much they'll have to pay for Gov. Gavin Newsom's pandemic program to house homeless people in hotel rooms after the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in October that it was limiting the number of days eligible for reimbursement. Homeless advocates heralded it as a novel way to safeguard residents who could not stay at home to reduce virus transmission. FEMA agreed to pay 75% of the cost, later increasing that to full reimbursement. Robert J. Fenton, the regional administrator for California who wrote the October letter, told CalMatters, which was first to report on the discrepancy last week, that the policy was not new.

Persons: Newsom's, —, Gavin Newsom, ” Newsom, Robert J, Fenton, CalMatters, ”, Brian Ferguson, Cal OES Organizations: FRANCISCO, —, Gov, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Emergency Services, Associated Press, Cal Locations: — California, California

☆ Renters are most exposed to climate hazards in these two states, a Harvard study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Jodi Jacobson | E+ | Getty ImagesMore than 18 million rental units are located in areas exposed to extreme weather hazards, according to the American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. While most states have at least one "high-risk" county with 2,000 or more rental units, many are concentrated in California and Florida. How many rentals are at risk in California and FloridaHarvard researchers found the number of rental units exposed to climate hazards in the U.S. by combining an area's risk of economic loss from natural disasters with the number of rental units in those areas, Wedeen said. Florida, for example, has many rental units as well as census tracts, or neighborhoods, that FEMA identified as having at least moderate risk, Wedeen said. Florida has 2.4 million rental units at risk, or about 89% of its rental stock, according to the Harvard study.

Persons: Jodi Jacobson, Sophia Wedeen, Wedeen Organizations: American, Harvard University's, for Housing Studies, Federal Emergency Management, Survey, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Florida Harvard, FEMA, Finance, Harvard Locations: California, Florida, Harvard, U.S

☆ Over 18 million rental units are exposed to climate hazards as extreme weather becomes more common, Harvard study finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

D3sign | Stone | Getty ImagesExtreme weather and climate hazards are becoming more frequent, posing a unique threat not only for homeowners, but for renters. Over 18 million rental units across the U.S. are exposed to climate and weather-related hazards, according to the latest American Rental Housing Report from Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies. While they're a smaller share of the rental stock, 52% of manufactured units are located in areas with extreme weather exposure. "It's sort of a compounding risk when we see these increases in climate hazards and start impacting people who can't afford to move away from the risk." Check what type of disasters are included in your renters insurance policy.

Persons: Sophia Wedeen, Jeremy Porter, Wedeen, Porter Organizations: Harvard University's, for Housing Studies, Harvard, FEMA, Survey, Joint Center for Housing Studies, Finance, NOAA National Centers for Environmental, First Street Foundation Locations: U.S, New York

Nearly half of all flash flood deaths are vehicle-related, experts say, which is why you should never drive into a flooded street. Here’s what to do in advance — and in the moment — to get through a flash flood safely. A “flash flood warning” means a flash flood is imminent or already occurring, and you should immediately move to higher ground if you’re outside or in a basement apartment. The most dire alert is a “flash flood emergency,” which indicates that not only is flooding occurring, but it’s posing a severe threat to human life. “People need to realize that most people who lose their footing in a flash flood don’t get out,” she said.

Persons: there’s, ”, Bonnie Schneider, Schneider, it’s, Hurricane Ida, You’ll, Ready.gov, David Markenson, ‘ It’s, Sabine Marx, I’m, Julie Munger, Munger, “, Dr, Markenson, you’re, don’t, they’re, Ms, Lynn Burttschell, Burttschell, Eugene Resnick, ’, ” Susan Shain Organizations: National Weather Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cross Training Services, Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Sierra Rescue, FEMA, Wimberley, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Times Locations: United States, New York City, New York, Madison, Wis

☆ US Launches Disaster Relief Reforms as Climate-Driven Events Rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's administration on Friday said it was launching the most major reforms to disaster management relief in two decades as climate change-driven extreme weather events, such as floods and fires, increase. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reforms of its federal assistance policies and expanded benefits for disaster survivors aim to cut red tape that victims have said makes it difficult for them to access resources after a disaster. FEMA said the reforms follow feedback from disaster survivors. Previously, the payment was assessed on a disaster-to-disaster basis. FEMA said the changes will take effect for new disasters declared on, or after March 22, 2024.

Persons: Joe Biden's, ”, Deanne, Valerie Volcovici, Sharon Singleton Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, U.S, Small Business Administration Locations: U.S, Maui, California

☆ As Climate Shocks Worsen, U.S. Disaster Agency Tries a New Approach to Aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | More About Christopher Flavelle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Those changes would especially help renters and people with low incomes, according to Frank Matranga, who runs the agency’s aid programs for disaster survivors. And because people in those groups are more likely to be people of color, the changes should reduce the racial inequity in federal disaster aid, he said. About one million Americans each year receive some sort of direct aid from FEMA, according to the agency. Weather-related disasters pushed more than 3.3 million American adults out of their homes in 2022, census data shows. “We heard that survivors found it confusing and challenging to apply for an S.B.A.

Persons: Frank Matranga, “, ” Ms, Criswell Organizations: FEMA, Small Business Administration

New rules announced Friday by the federal agency in charge of emergency management aim to simplify and speed up the process. With natural disasters now affecting more people across the United States, insurance markets in many states are buckling under the weight of payouts to those hit by wildfires and hurricanes. Previously, FEMA couldn't help them because their insurance payout already exceeded the agency's assistance cap of $42,500 per disaster. GETTING RID OF THE LOAN RULEUnder previous rules, disaster survivors first had to apply for a loan with the Small Business Administration and get rejected before they could apply for FEMA assistance. And FEMA is creating a new category of aid called displacement assistance, designed to help those who can't return to their home.

Persons: —, Deanne Criswell, Nature, ” Criswell, ”, Criswell, deductibles Organizations: WASHINGTON, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Small Business Administration, SBA, https Locations: United States, Louisiana, Florida, California

West Maui's tight housing market, which is heavily populated by expensive vacation rentals, is one reason. Lawmakers said solutions to these problems are badly needed for Maui but would also help communities across the state. Fire mitigation would a top Senate priority, Senate President Ron Kouchi, a Democrat, said. Hashimoto said lawmakers know Lahaina Strong wants stable housing for the people of Lahaina. Last year lawmakers didn't increase funding for behavioral health care but she hopes they will this year.

Persons: Ron Kouchi, ” Kouchi, Scott Saiki, Saiki, “ It’s, ” Saiki, “, haven’t, Nadine Nakamura, Sen, Troy Hashimoto, “ We've, ” Hashimoto, ”, Jordan Ruidas, ” Ruidas, Hashimoto, Joy San Organizations: Wednesday, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, University of Hawaii, Democrat, Protesters, Capitol Locations: HONOLULU, Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, West Maui, Honolulu, Oahu, Joy San Buenaventura

☆ India's Byju's founder pledges homes for funds to pay staff- Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Byju's logo is seen in this illustration taken, June 22, 2023. The infusion of funds would help pay 15,000 employees in the embattled company's parent firm, Think & Learn Pvt., the report added. The company is facing a string of setbacks, including investors cutting its valuation and its auditor and board members quitting. Reuters reported in November that India's federal financial crime-fighting agency had issued a show-cause notice to Byju's for alleged violations worth over 93 billion rupees ($1.12 billion) under the Foreign Exchange Management Act(FEMA). ($1 = 83.3480 Indian rupees)Reporting by Ashna Teresa Britto in Bengaluru; Editing by Sohini GoswamiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Byju Raveendran, founder's, Ashna Teresa Britto, Sohini Goswami Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Bloomberg, Reuters, Foreign Exchange Management, FEMA, Thomson Locations: Indian, Bengaluru

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is asking lawmakers for more than $23 billion in emergency funding to help the government respond to the tornadoes, wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters that have ripped through the U.S. this year. That request is part of a broader package being sent to Capitol Hill Wednesday that asks for additional investments in child care programs and broadband expansion. And that’s on top of the separate, nearly $106 billion request the Biden administration made last week for aid to Ukraine and Israel, as well as other national security priorities. About $2.8 billion is set aside for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to deal with housing needs arising from natural disasters, while another $2.8 billion is allocated for aid funneled through the Department of Agriculture to farmers and ranchers who have suffered from crop losses. The White House is also asking for money to repair damaged roads, help schools in disaster-hit areas and bolster loans for small businesses in such communities.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Idalia Organizations: WASHINGTON, U.S, Capitol Hill, Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Department of Housing, Urban Development, Department of Agriculture Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Hawaii, Florida, California, Vermont, Fla

Some are bouncing from hotel room to hotel room, in some cases to make way for the return of tourists who are crucial to the local economy. That’s trickier on Maui, an island of about 150,000 people that's a 30-minute plane ride from the nearest major city, Honolulu. She signed a lease on Wednesday, paying the first month's rent and a deposit using aid money and $2,000 from a cousin. Some landlords wanted as much as $8,000 to $10,000 a month, saying they could get that from tourists, Jachowski said. The agency has identified four sites — three in Lahaina and one in central Maui — near power, water and sewer infrastructure.

Persons: — Charles Nahale, Nahale, ” Nahale, Bob Fenton, ” Fenton, Gail McGovern, Josh Green, Tiffany Teruya, ”, Teruya, Matt Jachowski, Jachowski, —, Fenton, Richard Bissen, Roland Cazimero, Jennifer Sinco Kelleher Organizations: Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, Red, Catholic Charities, Maui, Associated Locations: LAHAINA, Hawaii, Lahaina, U.S, Maui, Honolulu, Green

☆ Hamas Attack: Hundreds Killed and Israeli Hostages Taken Into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Why You Just Got a FEMA Emergency Alert on Your Cellphone FEMA sent emergency alerts to cellphones, TVs and radios on Wednesday on a nationwide scale. WSJ looks at why this alert happened and explains how the technology of the alerts has evolved. Photo: David Becker/Zuma Press

Persons: David Becker Organizations: FEMA, Zuma

☆ WSJ Correspondent Describes Biggest Attack on Israel in Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: David Becker Organizations: FEMA, Zuma

☆ Israel Declares War on Hamas Following Unprecedented Wide-Scale Attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Persons: David Becker Organizations: FEMA, Zuma

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