Floods Follow Fires: Are You Ready?
Property owners don’t have to bear all the risk themselves, because mudflow coverage is part of a standard policy from FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Keep Reading
Shift Needed to Impact-Based Weather Forecasting
The World Meteorological Organization says there is a need to switch to impact-based forecasting – an evolution from “what the weather will be” to “what the weather will do” so that people and businesses can act early, based on the warnings. Keep Reading
U.S. to Provide $81 Million for Crisis Response in Sudan
The lingering effects of conflict, economic shocks, and recurrent environmental hazards, such as drought and the worst flooding in more than a century, have resulted in more than nine million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Keep Reading
New Guidebooks Help Urban Communities Install Low-Cost Sensors to Reduce Flood Risks
Any advance notice of flood risks and the ability for emergency management agencies to appropriately plan is vital to saving lives and protecting property. Keep Reading
National Preparedness Month
National Preparedness Month: USGS Ready and Responding to Very Active Atlantic Hurricane Season
September is National Preparedness Month, a time for Americans to review their preparedness plans for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities. It’s also historically the peak of hurricane season. Keep Reading
DHS Funds Research to Model Compound Flood Events
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $950,000 to Deltares USA and Deltares to develop a community-oriented, flood hazard modeling process using open source data, models and software. Keep Reading
GAO: DoD Must Weigh Climate Risks to Contractors as Part of Acquisition, Supply, and Risk Assessment
The Department of Defense relies on contracted goods and services to carry out missions. Since 2010, DOD has identified climate change as a threat to its operations and installations. Keep Reading
New Data Discloses Flood Risk of Every U.S. Home
While FEMA classifies 8.7 million properties as having substantial risk, or within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs), the First Street Foundation Flood Model identifies nearly 70% more, or 14.6 million properties with the same level of risk. Keep Reading
6 Things Forecasters Want You to Know About Weather and Climate
The ingredients that create all weather events remain the same, but a changing climate can affect one or more of those ingredients, so that it occurs more often or less often — or more intensely or less intensely — over time. Keep Reading
Larger Than Average Hypoxic ‘Dead Zone’ Expected for Gulf of Mexico
NOAA scientists are forecasting this summer’s Gulf of Mexico hypoxic area or “dead zone” – an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and other marine life – to be approximately 6,700 square miles. Keep Reading
USGS Crews Measure Major Flooding in Lower Michigan
Strong storms passed through parts of the Midwest starting last Thursday, causing minor-to-major flooding in some lower Michigan locations. On Tuesday, May 19, two large dams on the Tittabawssee River failed in succession, causing two lakes upstream of Midland to drain. Keep Reading
GAO Review Finds Challenges with National Flood Insurance Program
Community floodplain officials cited challenges, including difficulty inspecting buildings after a flood, staff turnover, and adopting new National Flood Insurance Program maps. Keep Reading
U.S. Spring Outlook Forecasts Another Year of Widespread River Flooding
Major to moderate flooding is likely in 23 states from the Northern Plains south to the Gulf Coast, with the most significant flood potential in parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. Keep Reading
North Carolina Officials Work to Prevent Future Flooding, Regardless of FEMA Flood Maps
More than 75% of homes in North Carolina whose owners applied for a federal disaster assistance block grant after Hurricane Matthew hit in 2016 were not located in federally designated flood zones. Keep Reading
2019 Was the Second-Wettest Year on Record for the U.S.
Last year, the U.S. experienced 14 weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each and totaling approximately $45 billion. At least 44 people died and many more were injured. Keep Reading
UCSB Scientists: Damaging Rains from Hurricanes Can Be More Intense After Winds Subside
The finding has counterintuitive implications. “This paper is also saying hurricanes are still dangerous even after they’ve weakened to tropical storms." Keep Reading
WATCH: FEMA Prep Talk on How the Dutch Deal with Floods
Peelen is a representative of the Dutch Ministry for Infrastructure and Water Management at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Keep Reading
As Japan Digs Out After Killer Typhoon Hagibis, More Rain Is on the Way
More than 100 river embankments collapsed during and immediately after the storm struck last weekend, causing 33,000 homes to flood. Keep Reading
OIG: FEMA Should Disallow $1.1M in Grant Funds Awarded to Flood-Stricken N.D. County
Richland County, North Dakota, did not always properly account for and expend federal funds according to federal regulations and FEMA guidelines. Keep Reading
Imelda Flooding Leaves 2 Dead in Texas, Others Stranded and Trapped
The relentless downpour that drew comparisons to Hurricane Harvey two years ago; by Thursday night, floodwaters had started receding in the Houston area. Keep Reading