National News
In a Business Meeting held on September 25, the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved two critical disaster recovery bills – S.4898 and S.5067 – for reporting to the Senate floor.
S.4898, the “Extreme Heat Emergency Act,” was introduced by Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and would include extreme heat events as major disasters to be covered under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. FEMA would then be permitted to provide federal aid to communities experiencing extreme heat events, suggesting a newfound awareness of the increasing significance of extreme heat as a natural hazard.
The Committee also reported favorably on S. 5067, the “Disaster Survivors Fairness Act,” introduced by Committee Chair Gary Peters (D-MI) and Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC). This piece of bipartisan legislation would improve how FEMA provides assistance to individuals following a disaster. Senator Tillis explained that “it’s past time we end the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to disaster relief” and highlighted how the plan would increase flexibility and efficiency in disaster recovery while saving tax-payer dollars by mandating more transparency and the identification of current challenges in post-disaster assistance administration by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and FEMA.
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure advanced H.R. 9024, the “Extreme Weather and Heat Response Modernization Act.” Introduced by Congressmembers Dina Titus (D-NV-1) and Greg Stanton (D-AZ-4), the bill would expand FEMA’s capacity to assist in the response to extreme heat events by implementing emergency voucher programs and cooling centers and redefine hazard mitigation under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. According to Congressman Stanton’s press release, the bill would encourage FEMA to update the Stafford Act and authorize aid for extreme heat events, like S.4898.
A bipartisan group of 10 senators sent a letter on September 13 to Senate leaders urging them to readminister funding for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) and the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. However, when Congress approved a continuing resolution (CR) on September 25 to avoid a government shut down, many requested disaster funds were not included. While the CR included an extension of FEMA and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) funds, the resolution did not include billions of dollars of supplemental disaster funding for the CDBG-DR or the Small Business Administration’s disaster loans program. FEMA is facing a $8 billion backlog, with the DRF having been forced into supplying “immediate need” assistance only due to a $2 billion deficit. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), champion of the initial letter, urged colleagues “not to abandon” disaster relief aid despite the continuing resolution.
Alaska
As the Juneau mayoral election approaches, candidates are addressing the city’s housing crisis – which has been exacerbated by recent flooding – to gain public support. Over the past two years, two historic flooding events from Mendenhall Glacier melt have damaged many properties in the Suicide Basin areas. Hundreds of families in Mendenhall Valley are worried about flooding impacting their homes and are looking for solutions from their electoral candidates.
Arizona
Severe flash flooding struck the Havasupai Reservation near the Grand Canyon on August 22. The flood displaced 25 families in Supai Village and stranded more than 100 hikers, resulting in one death. Furthermore, the floods destroyed the main access route to the Havasupai Tribe, hindering emergency response efforts. Over a month later, supplies must still be dropped off by helicopter, as the trails are now impassible. While the Havasupai Falls have closed indefinitely, the Supai Village Campground and Lodge are set to reopen after September 30. As this date approached, Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) called on President Biden to approve the Tribe’s request for a major disaster declaration to assist with home repairs and resilience.
California
Los Angeles and San Bernadino counties have begun to lift mandatory evacuation orders in place due to the Bridge Fire. The fire, which began on September 8, destroyed or damaged nearly 100 structures and displaced thousands of residents. Firefighters have contained 97% of what became the largest actively burning wildfire in California. Evacuations are also being lifted following the Airport Fire in nearby Orange and Riverside Counties, which started on September 9. The Airport Fire, which was 95% contained as of September 25, destroyed or damaged more than 80 homes and around 100 additional structures. These fires, along with the Line Fire in San Bernadino County, have burned more than 100,000 acres in Southern California and are putting stress on firefighting resources, according to Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. The locations of evacuation shelters, as well as information about food, housing, and insurance assistance for people in affected counties, can be found here.
Florida
Recovery efforts that began after the arrival of Hurricane Ian two years ago are still ongoing in Florida. Lee County commissioners have approved $89 million for affordable housing projects that were recommended by the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Affordable Housing Development Evaluation Committee and will include 412 affordable multi-family units and 262 affordable single-family units.
Georgia
A severe storm unrelated to Hurricane Helene impacted Atlanta on September 25, with falling trees blocking roads and felling power lines. This pre-existing damage could exacerbate the effects of the hurricane, which has the potential to cause more damage than Atlanta has seen in 35 years, according to University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd. At the time of writing, residents were being urged to prepare for heavy wind, rain, lightning, and possible tornados.
Louisiana
Following Hurricane Francine, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stated that “there really should be no excuse to increase [flood insurance] premiums just because of this storm.” The Governor argued that Louisiana’s levee system and successful rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Ida indicate that the region is improving its flood response systems and noted that roof damage from Francine was limited. Governor Landry also requested that President Biden fully reimburse Louisiana’s recovery costs, which have exceeded the state’s capacity. At its most severe point, more than 450,000 customers lost power due to the storm. Furthermore, drainage delays from pump failures flooded many homes, especially in Jefferson Parish.
President Biden declared a major disaster in eight parishes following Hurricane Francine. Apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-3362, or on the FEMA App.
North Carolina
A potential Tropical Cyclone 8 impacted Brunswick and New Hanover counties in North Carolina beginning on September 15. The region received more than 20 inches of rain, leading the National Weather Service to call the storm a “1,000-year” flood event. Standing water remaining from the storm complicated the rescues of 115 people and continues to hinder damage assessments. Downed trees damaged multiple houses in the region and caused thousands of power outages. However, flooding posed the biggest threat and likely caused the most damage, according to Wake County Emergency Management operations manager Darshan Patel. Governor Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for eight affected counties: Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Date, New Hanover, Onslow, and Pender.
South Carolina
The South Carolina Office of Resilience is working to buy out more than 200 repeatedly flooded homes across six communities. The state has received approximately $42 million from HUD, which funds are intended to be spent on buyout programs for low-to-moderate-income households. In practice, however, buyout programs can be slow, unequitable, and controversial. Pre-existing city and county wide buyout programs across South Carolina have generated mixed results, and residents are urging the Office of Resilience to consider individual community needs and implement resilience measures to address flooding issues rather than settle on temporary solutions.
Resilience Corner
HUD Publishes Extreme Heat “Playbook”
HUD launched its first ever Extreme Heat “Playbook” on September 23. The Playbook is intended to be an actionable guide to support communities by laying out best practices for resilience, lessening the impacts of extreme heat, and lowering cooling costs for public housing residents. The Playbook outlines 16 specific strategies to address rising temperatures and identifies HUD and other federal agency funding sources to make such actions possible. Aligning with the National Heat Strategy, a “whole-of-government” approach to extreme heat to be implemented through 2030, the guide provides communities with tools and strategies to deal with the effects of extreme heat and ensure safety, health, and resilience, with a particular focus on those with the lowest incomes and from the most marginalized groups. Read the Extreme Heat “Playbook” here.
FEMA Hosts National Resilience Guidance (NRG) Webinar Series
FEMA recently published its National Resilience Guidance (NRG) framework, outlining a “unifying vision of resilience and the principles and steps all communities and organizations can take to increase their resilience in every sector and discipline.” To offer a deeper dive into the handbook, FEMA will next host a series of one-hour webinars covering the NRG and other resilience resources that will take place through September and October 2024. Register for the NRG webinars here.
HUD Launches Updated Environmental Justice Website
HUD launched an updated version of its Environmental Justice website on September 23. The website outlines HUD initiatives on climate resilient housing, community planning and development, harmful contaminants, and essential HUD programs that promote fair housing.
Additionally, it lays out HUD’s actions to advance the Justice 40 Initiative, the federal government’s initiative to ensure that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, affordable and sustainable housing, and other investments go to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution. View HUD’s Environmental Justice website here. Read more about the Justice 40 Initiative here.