The News.
ABC News: Maui braces for possible end to FEMA rental assistance
Nearly 1,000 households displaced by catastrophic wildfires in Maui are anxiously awaiting word on whether federal assistance helping them stay housed will be left to expire, forcing them to find new housing or pay more for it in one of the tightest and most expensive rental environments in the country.
WMTW 8: Federal help now available for businesses, nonprofits hurt by Maine's cold, wet spring in 2025
Maine dealt with a lot of cool, wet weather last spring, and now there is federal help available to small businesses and private nonprofits that were affected.
13WMAZ: 'One group alone can’t tackle this' | Local volunteers help rebuild homes after Hurricane Helene
More than a year after Hurricane Helene tore through Central Georgia, many families are still living with damaged homes, debris-strewn yards, and roofs covered in blue tarps.
California Governor’s Office: As federal aid stalls, Governor Newsom announces proposed effort to close insurance gaps for LA fire survivors, expands mortgage relief
One year after catastrophic wildfires tore through Los Angeles, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new actions to help survivors rebuild and remain in their homes, including expanding access to the successful CalAssist Mortgage Fund eligibility to provide additional support and reach more survivors.
Kiro 7: Disaster assistance centers open as King County moves into flood recovery phase
King County is transitioning from round-the-clock emergency response to recovery efforts after weeks of flooding and hazardous weather, according to King County officials.
The Blue Ridge Times: From Recovery to Results: Western North Carolina Shows What Fast Disaster Response Should Look Like
When hurricanes struck Western North Carolina, the storms’ immediate damage was only the beginning. The true test came afterward, as it usually does, when families wait to see how quickly help arrives and how effectively recovery efforts turn plans into rebuilt homes and rebuilt lives. Compared with past storms, this recovery effort is standing out for one reason above all others: speed.
NJ Spotlight News: Disaster survivors denounce proposed FEMA downsizing
Flood, storm and fire survivors gathered in Washington, D.C., Monday to express their alarm over a leaked report from the FEMA Review Council that proposes halving the agency’s workforce and scaling back federal disaster assistance.
Hoodline: Oregon Unveils New OEM Grants Platform to Streamline Disaster Recovery Funding Management
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) has rolled out a new tool aimed at making life a little easier for organizations looking to manage FEMA Public Assistance funding when disasters strike. Launched on Tuesday, the OEM Grants platform promises a more streamlined approach for keeping tabs on the funds from the moment they're awarded until the final sign-off. As Oregonians know, natural calamities wait for no one, and neither should the support systems in place to aid in their recovery.
WRDW: Georgia launches special savings accounts for disaster recovery
Georgia homeowners will soon be able to open catastrophe savings accounts to help cover disaster-related expenses as insurance deductibles keep rising.
AP News: Puerto Rico sues Luma in first push to cancel contract with private power company
Puerto Rico’s government has sued Luma Energy in the first legal step to cancel its multimillion-dollar contract with the private power company as the U.S. territory battles chronic outages, increases in power bills and the slow reconstruction of a grid razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017.
The Washington Post: Destructive flooding hits Washington state, with six rivers at dangerous levels
An atmospheric river, whose moisture spanned a remarkable 7,000 miles across the Pacific from the Philippines to the Pacific Northwest, caused record river levels and destructive flooding across Washington state this week.
CNN: Exclusive: Trump’s FEMA council to recommend dramatic downsizing and overhaul – but not elimination – of the agency
A task force created by President Donald Trump plans to recommend the most sweeping overhaul of FEMA in decades, dramatically reducing the federal agency’s role in disaster response by cutting its workforce in half and rolling out a new block grant system designed to get aid to communities faster and with less bureaucratic hassle.
The City of Asheville: City Council takes action on Helene Recovery items at December 9 Council Meeting
At the December 9 City Council meeting, Council members undertook consideration of several Helene Recovery agenda items as the City and community continue to move forward with recovery related projects and needs. Below is a list of the items, grouped by topic or category, actions, and impacts.
ST PETE CATALYST: City announces opening date for disaster recovery assistance
Mayor Ken Welch announced Monday that the city would open applications for the $159.8 million Sunrise St. Pete program Dec. 15. The government shutdown delayed the launch of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-funded disaster recovery initiative.
CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR’S OFFICE: Governor Newsom meets with congressional leaders to press for long-delayed LA wildfire aid
Governor Gavin Newsom spent the day on Capitol Hill meeting with key congressional leaders in both parties as part of his continued push to secure long-delayed federal wildfire recovery funding from the White House for Los Angeles families nearly one year after the catastrophic Palisades and Eaton Fires.
WPN: Apple’s Tim Cook Pledges Donations for Asia Disaster Relief
Apple CEO Tim Cook pledged donations for relief and reconstruction in Asia following devastating storms, floods, and fires in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong. This aligns with Apple's history of crisis support, blending philanthropy with safeguarding its vital supply chain in the region.
Reuters: Death toll from Indonesia floods and landslides passes 700
The number of people killed by floods and landslides on Indonesia's Sumatra island rose to 708 on Tuesday, the disaster agency said, as authorities rushed to repair infrastructure and deliver aid to cut-off areas.
HOUSE.GOV: Rep. Steube Reintroduces Clean Up DEBRIS Act
U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) reintroduced today the Clean Up Disasters and Emergencies with Better Recovery and Immediate Support Act or Clean Up DEBRIS Act. This bill would allow common interest communities, condominiums, and other private housing cooperatives to receive debris removal assistance from the federal government after a natural disaster or emergency.
U.S. Department of labor: US Department of Labor awards $4M in funding to North Carolina for continued disaster-relief jobs, training for those affected by Hurricane Helene
The U.S. Department of Labor today awarded an additional $4 million in funding to support disaster-relief jobs and continued employment and training for North Carolina residents affected in September 2024 when Hurricane Helene brought the worst flooding in a century to the area.
ALASKA PUBLIC MEDIA: Disaster relief crews begin to depart Western Alaska as winter sets in, officials say
Officials with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management announced a reduction of some state emergency response operations on Friday, and a transition from a response to a recovery phase following the Western Alaska storms as winter sets in.