The following is a review of additional disaster housing recovery developments since the last edition of Memo to Members and Partners (for the article in the previous Memo, see 11/04).
Federal Action & National News
In late October, Representative Nydia M. Valazquez (D-NY) introduced H.R. 4732, the “Climate Displaced Persons Protection Act.” The bill would create formal protections for climate-displaced persons and create a humanitarian program allowing those displaced by climate-induced disruptions to enter the United States under this specialized status. “If we are going to meaningfully discuss comprehensive climate equity and climate justice, we must inject security assistance and resettlement opportunities for climate-displaced persons into our conversations,” stated Representative Velazquez in a press release.
The Council of Large Public Housing Agencies (CLPHA) released a statement calling for the speedy release of delayed federal recovery funding for Puerto Rico as well as the passage of the “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act.”
Increasing numbers of people living in flood-prone areas – many of whom are low-income individuals - lack flood insurance. The lack of insurance payouts and a decreasing level of federal assistance for flood events are making recovery more difficult.
President Donald Trump referenced California Governor Gavin Newsom on Twitter, threatening to cut all federal wildfire aid due to the governor’s “terrible job of forest management.” Governor Newsom’s responded, accusing the president of being a climate-change denier. Several days before, the governor had expressed satisfaction with the federal assistance provided to fight the forest fires.
Tornadoes
Texas
At least 800 residential structures in Dallas were damaged during October’s tornado outbreak in the city. About half of those structures were destroyed or seriously damaged.
A preliminary assessment shows that Dallas is not likely to receive Individual Assistance from FEMA, so those families without homeowner insurance will likely not receive any aid from the federal government.
Ohio
After the Memorial Day tornado outbreak in the Miami-Valley in Ohio, more than 750 apartments in one area still remain vacant. Reporters for the Dayton Daily News have been walking the path of the largest tornado, releasing news articles for their “Walking The Path of The Storm” project.
Florida
Polk County Florida was hit by a large tornado in mid-October. While the damage from the storm fell short of allowing FEMA to provide direct assistance to impacted individuals, the county is eligible for Small Business Administration loans.
Tropical Storm Imelda & Hurricane Harvey
Texas
The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has denied many citizens of Port Arthur, a historically low-income city within the Houston metro area, from accessing the Homeowner Reimbursement Program. The problem lies with HUD’s requirement that the GLO utilize a preliminary floodplain map developed by FEMA that invalidates homes not built to new specifications.
A new analysis of Houston’s property developments is helping urban planners locate new projects in ways that do not increase flood risks.
California Wildfires
A new study by the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab highlights the potential effectiveness of using manufactured homes in wildfire-affected areas.
Wildfires are continuing to rage in California. Several new fires have sprung up in November, with the Ranch Fire growing by sevenfold in a single day.
When California utility PG&E shut off power to parts of Northern California in an effort to prevent additional wildfires, the shut-off also prevented Northern Californians from using their cellular phones when they were most needed - when evacuations and warnings were being issued by authorities.
Some Californians who survived the 2017 fire season are now battling their insurance companies. The companies have ceased issuing assistance payments, putting many survivors at risk of homelessness.
Hurricane Michael
Florida
Luxury housing developments, hotels and commercial properties have begun to spring up in the unincorporated areas around Panama City Beach. The area was experiencing a serious affordable housing shortage even before Hurricane Michael decimated the area.
A Bay County Schools superintendent criticized the lack of assistance for mental health services in the area after multiple children were detained due to mental illness under a Florida law.
Hurricane Florence & Hurricane Dorian
North Carolina
A bill providing disaster assistance to Ocracoke Island, hard hit by Hurricane Dorian, is deadlocked in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Hurricane Maria
The Center for a New Economy (CNE), a Puerto Rican policy think tank, held a convening of local and international experts on affordable housing and post-disaster reconstruction. The event featured representatives from business interests on the island, HUD officials, urban planners, and academics. A representative from NLIHC was in attendance as well. (See related article in this Memo to Members and Partners.)
Puerto Rico evacuees that relocated to New York are still struggling to make ends meet more than two years after the storm. Although help is being offered by the city and nonprofit groups, more assistance is needed.
The Hill published an op-ed by the CEO of Foundation for Puerto Rico supporting the establishment of a single federal recovery coordinator to guide the use of federal funds on the island