FEMA Rewards Wealthy Counties Over Poorer Ones
FEMA buys flood-prone homes more often in wealthy, populous counties than in poor, rural areas, even though lower-income rural areas may be more likely to flood frequently, a new study finds.
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FEMA
FEMA Officers and Contractor Accused of Puerto Rico Disaster Fraud
After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico’s energy grid two years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency official in charge of planning and coordinating the recovery of the commonwealth’s energy sector oversaw two contracts that ballooned to more than $1.8 billion with a Delaware-based energy company that had formed less than a year earlier.
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N. Carolina Hurricane Victims Frustrated by Slow Recovery
The heating and air-conditioning in Carrie Johnson’s home, damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, still wasn’t fixed when Hurricane Florence flooded her house last September. Now her home of over 50 years is gutted, the floors and walls just bare wooden beams smelling faintly of river water.
Read moreFiles to Stay Sealed in Hurricane Maria Corruption Probe
Records used to justify seizing more than $4.5 million in assets from a man suspected of bribery and fraud in a $1.8 billion Hurricane Maria recovery project will likely stay sealed for now, a federal judge said in court Tuesday.
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Lawmakers Urged to Plan Ahead for Worsening Natural Disasters
State and local governments have been overwhelmed by the cost of natural disaster cleanup unfolding across the U.S. over the last two years. With climate change further intensifying storms, experts told lawmakers Tuesday the time is now to equip agencies with the funding they need to plan for the worst.
Read moreStrong Job Market Hampers FEMA Flood Hiring
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is facing an unexpected challenge in meeting the needs of the tens of thousands of people affected by this spring’s widespread flooding and violent storms: a strong economy.
Read moreJudge Rules FEMA Must Reconsider Floodplains Plan
A federal judge in San Francisco ruled Wednesday to block the Federal Emergency Management Agency from moving forward with its plans to offer flood insurance to developers and property owners in 100-year flood zones in California, finding that the agency failed to consider effects development might have on endangered wildlife in those areas.
Read moreEx-NY Assemblywoman Harris Gets 6 Months for Fraud
Having taken nearly two weeks to marinate on the fraud committed by former New York assemblywoman Pamela Harris, a federal judge settled on a prison term Wednesday well short of the sentence sought by prosecutors.
Read moreNew Law Requires Audit of Failed FEMA Hurricane Contracts
A new law requiring that the Federal Emergency Management Agency investigate how it awarded lucrative contracts to a company which botched the delivery of emergency supplies to victims of Hurricane Maria, has passed.
Read moreCitizen Suit Fails to Stave Off Presidential Text Alert
Three concerned citizens could not stop President Donald Trump from testing out an emergency text alert that popped up on hundreds of millions of cellphones Wednesday afternoon.
Read moreTrump’s FEMA Chief Under Investigation Over Use of Official Cars
The official overseeing the federal response to Hurricane Florence is also reportedly the target of an ongoing investigation by the Department of Homeland Security inspector general over his alleged misuse of government vehicles for private use.
Read moreHurricane-Evacuation Help Extended for Puerto Rican Families
Hurricane Maria evacuees who have been living out of hotels since the storm ravaged Puerto Rico won an extension Tuesday in their bid to stave off eviction by the U.S. government.
Read moreHurricane-Displaced Puerto Ricans Given July 4 Marching Orders
On the verge of forcing thousands of Puerto Ricans into homelessness, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it will follow court orders to continue post-hurricane housing through the U.S. Independence Day.
Read moreTexas Governor Announces Billions in Harvey Disaster Aid
Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday that Texas will get $5.5 billion in federal disaster-relief aid for Hurricane Harvey by the end of March, urging local leaders to spend much of those funds on flood-mitigation projects ahead of the next hurricane.
Read moreBrooklyn Assemblywoman Indicted on FEMA Fraud
A Brooklyn assemblywoman was arraigned Tuesday on charges that she lined her pockets with federal dollars meant for disaster relief after Hurricane Sandy.
Read moreFEMA Does About-Face on Disaster Aid for Churches
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Tuesday it will now provide disaster aid to houses of worship, a policy shift spurred by lawsuits from three Texas churches and two Florida synagogues that were damaged by hurricanes.
Read moreInternal Watchdog to Probe FEMA Contracts to Tiny Firm
The Department of Homeland Security’s internal watchdog is investigating how a fledgling Florida company won more than $30 million in contracts for desperately needed disaster relief supplies in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
Read moreBan on Disaster Aid for Churches Likely Constitutional
A federal judge on Thursday ruled against three hurricane-damaged Texas churches seeking disaster-relief aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, finding the congregations unlikely to prove a ban on aid to churches is unconstitutional.
Read moreWhitefish Sues Over Payments for Puerto Rico Power Work
A small Montana company that landed and lost a $300 million contract to restore Puerto Rico’s hurricane-shattered electric grid has sued a subcontractor for allegedly interfering with tens of millions of dollars in payments.
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Big Contracts, No Storm Tarps for Puerto Rico
After Hurricane Maria damaged tens of thousands of homes in Puerto Rico, a newly created Florida company with an unproven record won more than $30 million in contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency tarps and plastic sheeting for repairs.
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