Emergency Management

Spring Wildfires in the Eastern US Got Off to a Roaring Start This Year

It may not be as dramatic as when the West burns, but an unseasonably warm, dry winter could make fire season longer and more intense.

  • By Katie Myers, Grist

Federal Grant Requirements Make it Hard for Rural Communities to Prepare for Climate Change

A 2023 study from Headwaters Economics shows that qualifications from federal grant programs disproportionately hurt under-resourced rural areas.

  • By Sarah Melotte, The Daily Yonder

States Strive to Reverse Shortage of Paramedics, EMTs

Two-thirds of states considered legislation last year related to emergency medical workers.

  • By Marsha Mercer, Stateline

Has Remote Learning Buried the Snow Day? Depends On Where You Live

COMMENTARY | When communities are buried in snow, more and more schools are staying in session remotely.

  • By Nathan M. Sorber, The Conversation

Wildfires are Burning an Ever-larger Hole in State Budgets

New research looks at the fiscal pressure states are under dealing with the blazes and makes suggestions for funding improvements.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

How the Costs of Disasters like Hurricane Ian are Calculated – and Why it Takes so Long to Add Them Up

COMMENTARY | A recovery expert explains what these estimates include and what could be done to make disasters less costly.

  • By Adam Rose, The Conversation

Recovery From a Disaster Like Hurricane Ian Takes Years, and Nonprofits Play Many Pivotal Roles

COMMENTARY | Many government agencies help people whose lives are thrown off course, but not everyone is eligible or able to access that aid.

  • By Michelle Annette Meyer, The Conversation

Puerto Rico Storm Victims Report Waits Over 5 Hours on Calls to FEMA

Long hold times contacting the Federal Emergency Management Agency are just one challenge emerging as the nation responds to Hurricane Fiona, which swamped the commonwealth last month, along with Hurricane Ian’s devastating hit to Florida.

  • By Kery Murakami

3 Reasons Hurricane Ian Poses a Major Flooding Hazard for Florida

COMMENTARY | A meteorologist explains why the looming storm could be especially dangerous for the state's Gulf Coast.

  • By Athena Masson, The Conversation

State, Local Agencies to Test Geographic Accuracy of Emergency Alerts

Amid ongoing concerns from local leaders about the system’s reliability, the FCC will evaluate the accuracy, reliability and speed of Wireless Emergency Alert delivery.

  • By Chris Teale

A $7.3B Pot of Money to Prepare Infrastructure for Climate Change

The new federal funding aims to make transportation assets, like roads, transit systems and ports more resilient to flooding, wildfires and other extreme weather and climate threats.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

‘Chronic Underfunding’ of Public Health Threatens Lives in US, Report Finds

Funding for public health programs has been slashed over the last several years. A nonprofit is calling for a $4.5 billion annual investment in “public health infrastructure at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels.”

  • By Jim Morris
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FEMA Wants to End Flood Insurance for the Nation’s Riskiest Properties

Democrats and counties oppose the idea. Properties that have been flood-damaged multiple times account for nearly half the program’s payouts over the years.

  • By Kery Murakami

Early Warning System Pinpoints Flooded Roads in Some States

Nearly a dozen states are using real-time, hyper-local monitoring to assess potential flooding at specific bridges or roads.

  • By Jenni Bergal, Stateline

FEMA Chief: Top Priority Is Ensuring Adequate Staffing For Emergencies

Employees and managers alike continue to warn lawmakers about the impact that growing demands will have on the agency's ability to respond to disasters.

  • By Eric Katz

How Cities are Trying to Combat the Nation's Deadliest Weather Risk

Heat doesn’t get the same attention as hurricanes or wildfires, but city officials are paying more attention to it as hot temperatures become more common.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

Coastal Homebuyers are Ignoring Rising Flood Risks, Despite Clear Warnings and Rising Insurance Premiums

COMMENTARY | Part of the problem may be mortgage lenders and appraisers aren’t factoring in properties’ vulnerability to sea level rise, so risk isn't necessarily priced in to houses.

  • By Risa Palm and Toby W. Bolsen, The Conversation

New Statewide System Boosts State's Mass Emergency Alerts

Emergency managers in Iowa now can automatically push out safety alerts through emails, text messages, phone calls, RSS feeds and social media—and in multiple languages.

  • By Stephanie Kanowitz

Pittsburgh Bridge Collapses Ahead of Biden Visit

The Fern Hollow Bridge, flagged by inspectors as being in poor condition, buckled, injuring 10 people.

  • By Daniel C. Vock

5 Challenges States Must Anticipate Before the Next Emergency

COMMENTARY | After acquiring a vast amount of personal protective equipment, states will need to determine how to manage it so it doesn’t go to waste.

  • By Deborah Haywood

Past Due: How to Fix the Broken Emergency Assistance Programs

COMMENTARY | The eviction cliff demonstrates that the United States needs to build stronger financial safety nets for the American people.

  • By Georges Clement and David Helene