Management
A New Law Requires Agencies to Better Prepare for Natural Disasters
Supporters say the law is more important than ever given the growing frequency and severity of storms.
Management
FEMA Explores Outsourcing Much of the $2.5B Program for Northern New Mexico Fire Victims
A contract document gives new details on how the agency plans to run the program
Management
More than 60% of Puerto Ricans Seeking FEMA Aid After Hurricane Maria Had Their Applications Denied – Will The Agency Approve More This Time?
Within two weeks of Hurricane Fiona, FEMA had accepted most Puerto Rican housing aid applications. Nearly all those early approvals cover only $700 in assistance and won’t pay the tab for rebuilding.
Management
Agencies Across Government Are Sending Help as Hurricane Ian Slams Florida
FEMA says it has sufficient resources to handle the potentially catastrophic storm even as it tackles several crises simultaneously.
Management
Federal Agencies Are Sending Hundreds of Employees to Puerto Rico to Help With Hurricane Response
FEMA already had a significant presence on the island due to ongoing recovery efforts.
Workforce
Deployed FEMA Responders Will Receive New Job Protections Now That Congress Has Passed Much Hailed Reform
Officials say the change will help retain key personnel and avoid staffing crises.
Defense
Do Some 9/11 Responders Have a New Kind of Dementia?
World Trade Center responders who have PTSD may have a new, specific form of dementia, a new study suggests.
Oversight
After FEMA Overhaul, Hundreds of Thousands of Americans Are Forgoing Federal Flood Insurance
The total number of National Flood Insurance Program policies has decreased nearly 9 percent since last fall.
Workforce
Floods, Park Closure Contribute to Decrease in Yellowstone National Park Visitors
Park officials expect to open roads to North Entrance and Northeast Entrance by mid-October
Management
How Polio Crept Back Into the U.S.
U.S. public health agencies generally don’t test wastewater for signs of polio. That may have given the virus time to circulate silently before it paralyzed a New York man.
Management
Monkeypox is Straining an Already Overstretched Public Health System
Tests, vaccines and anti-viral treatments all have been in short supply.
Management
Joe Biden Has a New Vision for the National Flood Insurance Program
The administration's flood insurance reforms could improve transparency — and make some Americans more vulnerable.
Workforce
FEMA Chief Says Her Top Priority Is to Ensure the Agency has Adequate Staffing for Upcoming Emergencies
Employees and managers alike continue to warn lawmakers about the impact that growing demands will have on the agency's ability to respond to disasters.
Oversight
House Approves Massive $31 Billion 'Ike Dike' Project to Protect Texas Coast from Hurricanes
The U.S. House voted to authorize the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin planning for the massive coastal barrier project in Galveston Bay, but funding is not yet secured. The largest civil engineering project in U.S. history would permanently alter the Texas coast.
Management
DOE Shares the Playbook for Energy Emergencies
The Energy Emergency Response Playbook for States and Territories is designed to help state officials respond to threats to the energy infrastructure from cyberattacks, man-made damage and weather-related incidents like drought, flooding, storms, extreme heat or earthquakes.
Tech
Data Collection Features in a New Bill Targeting Equity at FEMA
The Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act would instruct the disaster response to improve its data collection systems to help identify inequities in its distribution of federal assistance.
Management
Feds Say Texas Discriminated against Communities of Color when It Denied Houston Flood Aid
Land Commissioner George P. Bush is in the middle of a fierce runoff in the Republican primary for Texas attorney general against incumbent Ken Paxton. During the race, several of Bush’s opponents have criticized his office’s work in distributing Hurricane Harvey relief funds.
Management
GovExec Daily: Fauci's 'All-of-Government' Pandemic Approach
Dr. Anthony Fauci, Chief Medical Advisor to the President and NIAID chief, joins Courtney Bublé on the podcast to discuss prep for the next crisis.
Tech
GovExec Daily: Securing FEMA Networks
Dr. Gregory Edwards, FEMA’s Chief Information Security Officer, joins the podcast to discuss innovation and technology at his agency.
Oversight