The previous record for presidentially declared emergencies and major disasters in one year was 128 in 2011. In 2020, that was far surpassed with 230 declarations. Keep Reading
FEMA has provided planning, training and exercise support to federal, state and local partners to promote an enhanced preparedness posture over the past several months leading up to the 59th Presidential Inauguration. Keep Reading
Based on recommendations from an audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), bill will require FEMA to ensure more effective use and management of its advance contracts for goods and services. Keep Reading
Rapidly alerting the public to what is about to occur is a key mitigation and readiness strategy of FEMA. Keep Reading
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a major mental health issue, but it is not our primary mental health problem. It trails relationship issues, financial issues, substance abuse, depression and legal concerns. Keep Reading
IPAWS is FEMA's national system for local alerting that provides authenticated emergency and life-saving information to the public through mobile phones, radio, television and internet-based services. Keep Reading
FEMA sought an independent, objective assessment of harassment and discrimination at the agency following a 2018 internal investigation into misconduct in its senior leadership ranks. Keep Reading
In the United States, FEMA found that 18.1 million buildings constructed at a higher building code standard save the nation about $1.6 billion annually. Keep Reading
Be sure to check on your family and neighbors who may be using generators to remind them about the importance of keeping generators outside of their home and other enclosed spaces. Keep Reading
Members are geographically diverse and represent a substantive cross-section of officials, emergency managers, and emergency response providers from state, local, tribal and territorial governments, the private sector and nongovernmental organizations. Keep Reading
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General conducted an audit to assess the extent to which FIMA has addressed data quality issues in its NFIP modernization effort. Keep Reading
This year’s unusually active hurricane season attracts scammers who intend to take advantage of survivors. Keep Reading
FEMA’s National Integration Center is seeking public feedback on four National Incident Management System resource typing definitions under the emergency medical services core capability. Keep Reading
The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) announced today that it will receive $2,612,302 in federal Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grants. MEMA will distribute these funds to local jurisdictions throughout Maryland that are at risk for or have been adversely affected by natural disasters. The grants originate from the Department of Homeland… Keep Reading
From 2016-18, survivors received about $6 billion and 12,805 temporary housing units from FEMA's Individuals and Households Program. Most applicants were uninsured, and a majority had incomes under $50,000. Keep Reading
FEMA knew about some of the fraud risks to the program, such as overstated claims for debris removal and kickbacks. But there are several leading practices for fraud risk assessments that could help FEMA identify even more risks and mitigate them. Keep Reading
At the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency, many state, local, tribal, and territorial alerting authorities began to push WEA to cell phones with critical information for residents including mask wearing. Keep Reading
The active hurricane season and devastating series of wildfires out west, both during a global pandemic, are proof that all Americans need to plan for emergencies in their communities. Keep Reading
Disasters are occurring more frequently and with greater impact. Pandemics, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, floods, and other disaster events all have the capacity to disrupt entire communities, leaving economic, social and physical destruction in their wake. Keep Reading
All four industry partners in the Wildfire Sensor Technology effort have progressed to Phase II. The new effort was announced earlier this year, and while it is typical for the Phase I evaluation process to weed out a few less promising prototypes, all of these inventions impressed. Keep Reading