How New York City is tackling a mental health crisis spurred by Hurricane Sandy
The slow recovery from H. Sandy added to mental health crisis in Rockaway area of Queens. This should be a warning to those responsible for recovery in TX, FL, and PR.
From USAToday: Thomas fire becomes California’s largest wildfire in history.
One more article on what is now the biggest fire in CA history.
Here is an infographic on the wildfires this year. [Thanks to Chris Jones for the citation.]
I know some readers will not like this news, but I just report it. I do not create it. The Diva was a federal bureaucrat for many years and worked as a consultant or contractor for several federal agencies. While I have to say I suspected this response would happen, I am quite intrigued with the details of how it happens.
From Bloomberg News: Washington Bureaucrats are Chipping Away at Trump Agenda.
Update: Be sure to check out the interesting comments below.
Here is a direct link to the GAO unit that examines disaster assistance:
Recent hurricanes, wildfires, and other events have highlighted the challenges the federal government faces in responding effectively to natural and man-made disasters—both in terms of immediate response and for long-term recovery efforts. GAO has identified challenges and areas for improvement in disaster response and recovery, fiscal and administrative challenges in the National Flood Insurance Program, and federal preparedness and response to public health emergencies.
From CNN, this discouraging report. Mostly negative account of the recent hurricanes and Brock Long’s ability as FEMA Administrator. See: Hellish summer of hurricanes smashes FEMA.
The Diva thinks we do know better and can do better as a nation. She would like to hear from readers on this topic.
For example, back in 1992, after the federal response to Hurricane Andrew went badly, Congress mandated a study of that response by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA). Their final report, Coping with Catastrophe was an in-depth examination of the federal disaster response system and made recommendations that were followed by FEMA in the following years.
As I have suggested before, when faced with a major failure of a federal agency or program, go to organizations like NAPA or the National Academy of Sciences for an expert panel and serious advice. Of course, this assumes a receptive administration to implement the recommendations.
Update: Please see comments attached to posting. And see also this related blog post by Eric Holdeman.
The news goes from bad to worse these days for FEMA. This Newsweek article cites a report by the Inspector General of the Dept. of Homeland Security. See: FEMA Wasted Billions of Taxpayer Dollars And May Have Broken The Law
The cash-strapped federal disaster agency charged with distributing billions to hurricane survivors and wildfire-ravaged communities is reportedly failing to properly track disaster-relief payments, putting taxpayer money—and victims themselves—at risk for fraud, waste and abuse, a new government report shows.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to follow recommendations from a 2011 report by its own Inspector General instructing the agency to implement a system to track insurance information—a failure that led to potentially billions of wasted taxpayers dollars, according to a Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General’s “Semiannual Report to The Congress.”
MIT conference seeks solutions for reconstruction in devastated Caribbean. Two-day workshop (Dec. 12 and 13) featuring island leaders explores ways to rebuilt better, more resilient infrastructure.
Source: HSWire.
From the Los Angeles Times: Thanks to Trump’s tax plan, victims of disasters large and small are about to get scrooged. CA fire victims will have additional financial problems if the law passes as it is presently.
President Trump and Republican congressional leaders are desperate to “achieve” something — anything — by Christmas. One goal is to deliver a lump of coal to disaster victims. The victims include future burned-out homeowners in wildfires.
It’s one of several whammies hitting middle-class Americans from the GOP tax plan, especially in California and other high-tax states. Among other things, Republicans are set on eliminating the tax deduction for uninsured casualty losses unless a national disaster is declared. People with personal property damaged by disaster currently can deduct the uninsured loss when itemizing on their federal tax returns. Only the dollar amount that exceeds 10% of adjusted gross income can be deducted. But that is quickly reached when a home is destroyed.
In California, we’re regularly ravaged by wildfires, floods and earthquakes. Someday, there’ll be “the big one.” Other states suffer from tornadoes and hurricanes. Also tax-deductible are losses from accidents, thefts and vandalism.
Here is a related article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-wildfires-insurance/as-california-fires-blaze-homeowners-fear-losing-insurance-idUSKBN1EC1DW
An opinion piece from CNN: EPA cuts could risk a public health emergency.
From an emergency management standpoint, the fact that FEMA is seriously stretched and that EPA is losing key components and staff, one has to wonder how capable the federal government will be in dealing with man-made hazards and disasters. Public health and well-being are at stake.
From USAToday: 2017’s onslaught of disasters stretched FEMA to its limits.
FEMA has issued 135 disaster declarations this year, the most since 2011. I am not able to tell how many are still active at this time.
Recovery Diva 