From HSNW: Texas’ First-Ever Statewide Flood Plan Estimates 5 Million Live in Flood-Prone Areas.

“The state’s flood plan shows which Texans are most at risk of flooding and suggests billions of dollars more are needed for flood mitigation projects. Texas plans to reduce the risk for those people by recommending solutions to harden Texas against floods and rising sea levels.

More than 5 million Texans, or one in six people in the state, live or work in an area susceptible to flooding, according to a draft of the state’s first-ever flood plan.”

From The Conversation: Who is displaced by tornadoes, wildfires and other disasters tells a story of vulnerability and recovery challenges in America

“Decades of disaster research, including from our team at the University of Delaware’s Disaster Research Center, make at least two things crystal clear: First, people’s social circumstances – such as the resources available to them, how much they can rely on others for help, and challenges they face in their daily life – can lead them to experience disasters differently compared to others affected by the same event. And second, disasters exacerbate existing vulnerabilities.

This research also shows how disaster recovery is a social process. Recovery is not a “thing,” but rather it is linked to how we talk about recovery, make decisions about recovery and prioritize some activities over others.”

From the WashPost: Louisiana’s coast is sinking. Advocates say the governor is undermining efforts to save it.

“For the past decade, Louisiana’s program for coastal protection has been hailed as one of the best in the country, after the devastation from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita pushed the state to shore up coastlines, repair levees and protect natural habitats.

But now, environmental advocates and experts say the state’s new Republican governor is undermining its coastal protection agency — the state’s first and strongest line of defense against climate change-induced sea level rise. In an open letter published this week and signed by more than 200 business leaders, environmental advocates and other experts, various groups warned against Gov. Jeff Landry’s plans to transform the state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

“The very future of our state is at stake,” the letter read.”

From Fox News in Houston TX: FEMA disaster relief: New aid, streamlined application process for storm victims.

“…For the thousands of people who have been devastated by this month’s floods and storms, new help is available from the Federal Emergency Management Administration.

This year, FEMA announced its biggest changes in 20 years to create more flexibility for people who need financial assistance after a disaster.”

From the WashPost: Months after Maui Fires, Health Problems Persist.
A new report details respiratory ailments, mental health conditions and lack of access to medical care following the deadly fire in Lahaina in August.

From TheConversation: Wildfire smoke is back – fires burning across Canada are already triggering US air quality alerts in the Midwest and Plains

“The North American Seasonal Fire Assessment and Outlook for May through July highlights drought conditions in western Canada and Central America and higher than normal fire risk in both regions. It also notes the challenge of forecasting fire risk for later in the year as the El Niño climate pattern transitions to La Niña in late summer.”

From CNN.com: How Deanne Criswell blazed a trail from fighting fires to running FEMA. An excerpt:

“She joined FEMA during the Obama administration, helping to oversee the agency’s response to natural disasters across the country. In 2019, she became the first woman to lead New York City’s Emergency Management Department, where — less than a year into the job — she helped navigate the city through the darkest days of the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, as FEMA’s top official, Criswell hopes her unorthodox career path will encourage others to seize opportunities and take professional risks.”

A special edition of Issues is titled On the Front Lines of Change: Reporting from the Gulf of Mexico. Several articles dealing with findings from research on past Gulf Coast disasters.

On the Front Lines of Change: Reporting From the Gulf of Mexico

New book available as a free download from the National Academy of Sciences: Community-Driven Relocation: Recommendations for the U.S. Gulf Coast Region and Beyond.  (Note the book is 584 pages, but summary is available.)

“Between 1980 and mid-2023, 232 billion-dollar disasters occurred in the U.S. Gulf Coast region, with the number of disasters doubling annually since 2018. The variety and frequency of storms have exacerbated historic inequalities and led to cycles of displacement and chronic stress for communities across the region. While disaster displacement is not a new phenomenon, the rapid escalation of climate-related disasters in the Gulf increases the urgency to develop pre-disaster policies to …”

From HSToday: Preparedness Grants are Key to Resilience.

“On April 16, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced more than $1.8 billion in funding for eight fiscal year 2024 preparedness grant programs. These announcements are widely known, broadly disseminated, and make a measurable difference to the safety and security of our nation. Yet, there are still some State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) governments who have not yet applied for and leveraged these fundings in meaningful ways. This may be the most important thing you read this year. As with most things, sometimes it helps to break things down into the foundational issues of Who, What, Why, When, Where, and How. And stick with this through the How. It is easier than you may think.”