From the Congressional Research Service: FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP)—Implementation and Considerations for Congress (74 pp)
This is one of several reports on the program published by CRS.
From Inside Climate News: After Disasters, Whites Gain Wealth, While People of Color Lose, Research Shows. The Biden administration has approved more than $2.3 billion for those affected by Hurricanes Milton and Helene. Studies show the system for distributing the funds deepens historical divides.
From Politico: FEMA didn’t answer almost half the calls it received for disaster aid. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have left the Federal Emergency Management Agency struggling to handle phone calls from survivors and maintain staffing.
“Hundreds of thousands of people who are trying to recover from disasters nationwide have been unable to get through to federal call centers or have stayed on hold for excessive periods of time in the weeks since Helene barreled into southern Appalachia last month.”
From The Conversation: People displaced by hurricanes face anxiety and a long road to recovery, US census surveys show − smarter, targeted policies could help
“As the climate warms, extreme storms are becoming more common in every region of the country. That’s raising the risks and the need for policymakers to prepare communities to limit harm from disasters and recover afterward. We believe rebuilding lives will require support long term, both for building more resilient homes and infrastructure and for recovering from the trauma.”
From HSNW: Helene and Milton Upended a Key Part of the Nation’s Agriculture System
“America depends on Southeastern agriculture. After two hurricanes and billions of dollars in damages, the US food supply chain faces an uncertain future.”
From Newsweek: FEMA and Other Critical Agencies Are on the Verge of Collapse | Opinion
“Hurricanes Helene and Milton are expected to join the grim ranks of Katrina and Sandy as $30 billion-plus tragedies. However, in addition to the damage left in their paths of destruction were the viral conspiracies that infected airwaves and social media feeds in the aftermath.
However, while it would be easy to dismiss Trump’s demented accusations as simple propaganda, there’s a troubling grain of truth: American agencies like FEMA are, in fact, broke—not because they’ve been diverting funds to “ferry illegals,” but because they have been critically underfunded for decades.
Years of offering stopgap funding instead of securing long-term financial stability for once-revered federal programs have left critical agencies powerless to tackle what is now an out-of-control climate emergency. Only last week it was revealed the federal disaster Small Business Administration (SBA) loan program has received 50,000 applications since the twin disasters—but the money has run dry.”
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From The Hill: Why America Needs Disaster Reform Now.
Author is Brock Long. Some excerpts:
“As FEMA administrator beginning in 2017, I witnessed the agency stretched thin by one crisis after another — a pattern that has only intensified since I left office five years ago. Today, FEMA is managing more than 100 active disaster recovery efforts nationwide and that does not account for the other crises they have been called to support other federal agencies with, like the COVID-19 pandemic and the southern border.
Originally designed to be adaptable, our nation’s disaster management system has become bogged down by bureaucracy. Nearly 90 different recovery programs span 30 federal agencies, creating delays and confusion at the very moments when survivors and communities need swift, clear support. Small, incremental policy changes are no longer enough; we need reforms that accelerate recovery, eliminate roadblocks and equip communities to prepare more effectively for what lies ahead.”
From PBS: In North Carolina, Trump attacks FEMA and repeats false claims about its response to Helene.
“Surveying storm damage in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump on Monday blasted federal emergency responders whose work has been stymied by armed harassment and a deluge of misinformation, but he said he was not concerned that the aftermath of Hurricane Helene would affect election results in the battleground state.
Trump was asked whether it was helpful to criticize hurricane relief workers after the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently paused its work in the area because of reports they could be targeted by militia. He responded by again attacking the agency and repeating the falsehood that the response was hampered because FEMA spent its budget helping people who crossed the border illegally….”
From Inside Climate News: After Hurricane Helene, Therapists Dispense ‘Psychological First Aid’
By helping storm victims process their trauma early, psychologists hope those harmed can move through this disaster without developing post-traumatic stress disorder in the months and years ahead.
Recovery Diva 