disaster aid News

Program Uses AI to Send Cash Payments to 1,000 Households Hit by Hurricanes

Nearly 1,000 hurricane-impacted households in North Carolina and Florida will benefit this week from a new disaster aid program that employs a model not commonly used by philanthropy in the United States: Giving people rapid, direct cash payments. The nonprofit …

Disaster-Struck Cities Fight for Aid as FEMA Funding Runs Low

A once in 200-years storm dumped 11 inches of rain over four hours on the central Massachusetts town of Leominster in September, washing away culverts, creating a sinkhole that swallowed cars at a dealership and flooding the city council chambers …

Ahead of Biden Visit, Louisiana Seeks More Hurricane Disaster Aid

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy has asked President Joe Biden, ahead of his May 6 visit to Louisiana, to back disaster aid to help the state with recovery from the 2020 hurricanes. Louisiana’s Republican senior senator and Oregon U.S. Sen. Jeff …

Most Oregonians Applying for Disaster Aid After 2020 Wildfires Denied

More than 24,000 Oregonians applied for federal disaster assistance after the catastrophic 2020 wildfires and about 57% of them were denied. Jefferson Public Radio reports that nearly 14,000 Oregonians have been denied aid, according to data provided by the Federal …

New Mexico Lawmakers Say Farmers Shortchanged on Disaster Aid

New Mexico’s congressional delegation is calling for more oversight of a federal agency after some farmers and ranchers were shortchanged on disaster aid and Hispanic farmers who rely on traditional acequias to irrigate their crops have been told they’re ineligible …

California Governor Warns Three Counties Could Lose Disaster Aid

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning three counties that they could lose disaster funding if they continue to defy his stay-at-home order. Officials in Yuba, Sutter and Modoc counties have all allowed businesses to reopen because they have fewer coronavirus …

Minnesota Governor Wants $30M to Replenish State Disaster Aid Fund

With the threat of spring flooding looming, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has asked lawmakers to approve $30 million to replenish a state disaster aid fund that was drained by a string of disasters last year. Walz said an updated flood …

U.S. Spends Billions on Disaster Aid Over Investing in More Lasting Preparedness

Forecasters are expecting this year’s North Atlantic hurricane season to be roughly average, with about 14 named storms including six full-fledged hurricanes. Last week, the government finally dealt with the fallout from 2018, enacting a $19.1 billion relief package to …

House-Passed Hurricane, Farm Disaster Aid Bill Includes Flood Insurance Extension

The House on Friday passed a $19 billion disaster aid bill that would deliver long-sought relief to farmers, victims of hurricanes and floods, and rebuild southern military bases, as Democrats try to dislodge the legislation from a Senate logjam over …

Maine to Get More Than $1M in FEMA Aid for Severe Fall Storm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has obligated more than $1 million in assistance to Maine stemming from a severe storm and flooding last fall. The agency says the storm impacted 13 of the state’s 16 counties. It hit …