disaster-response
5 stories related to this topic, newest first.
usatoday.comTrump-Appointed FEMA Review Council Recommends Cutting Agency Staff by Half and Giving States More Control Over Disaster Response
The FEMA Review Council released its 75-page final report on May 7, 2026, calling for a 50 percent staff reduction at the agency and a fundamental transfer of responsibilities to state and local governments. Chaired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretar…
citizen.co.zaHeavy Rains Cause Flooding in Northern Cape, Free State and North West, Killing Three and Displacing Thousands
Heavy flooding has isolated communities across multiple South African provinces, with school closures ordered in the Western Cape and rescue operations underway in several districts. The death toll has reached three amid ongoing storms in the Eastern Cape.
Ernest Mettendorf / Wikimedia (Public domain)Amish Volunteers Contribute to North Carolina's Hurricane Helene Recovery After 550 Days
Amish volunteers have spent the past 550 days aiding in the reconstruction of North Carolina communities hit by Hurricane Helene. They offer skilled labor at no charge and often cover their own travel and meal expenses. The efforts highlight sustained community support in the dis…
nbcnews.comFEMA Plans to Rehire Most Fired Disaster-Response Staffers
The Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to rehire most employees from its Cadre of On-Call Response and Recovery who were terminated months ago. The terminations occurred as part of Kristi Noem’s plans to reduce the agency's size. The Washington Post reported these develo…
Substrate placeholder — needs reviewImmigration Enforcement Policies Affect US Disaster Recovery Workforce
Immigration enforcement by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has led to deportations of workers involved in disaster recovery. Immigrants comprise an estimated 25 to 40 percent of the disaster recovery workforce. These policies may reduce the availability of trained…