Truncated Hermine TV alert wrongly airs evacuation order

Federal officials in New York are investigating an emergency alert system after a mistakenly truncated message about storm system Hermine wrongly advised TV watchers on Long Island of an ordered evacuation, authorities said Sunday. The Saturday night confusion started after Suffolk County emergency officials used an aspect of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's alert system for the first time since gaining access to it after Superstorm Sandy.

Lawmakers say FEMA too slow to set up mobile homes

State lawmakers Wednesday lambasted the pace of mobile home setup for flood victims, saying it's unacceptable that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has moved only one manufactured housing unit into a yard nearly three weeks after the catastrophic flooding. Rep. Clay Schexnayder, a Republican who represents areas of hard-hit Ascension and Livingston parishes, criticized the FEMA mobile home program at a House homeland security committee meeting.

Federal Support Continues for Survivors in Louisiana

The Federal Emergency Management Agency , along with other federal agencies, state and local governments, and volunteers from around the country, continues to support and assist flood survivors in Louisiana. Since President Obama's major disaster declaration to 20 parishes in South Louisiana, more than 128,000 households registered for FEMA assistance - with FEMA approving more than $385 million for survivors so far.

Louisiana Lawmakers to Determine Flooding Response

Louisiana Rep. Garret Graves says he will keep working to overhaul the way the country responds to natural disasters like this month's devastating floods in his home state. Flood waters were rising, so Rep. Garret Graves threw his kayak and paddle board on his truck, just in case.

Local news in brief for Aug. 23, 2016

Federal Emergency Management Agency and St. Johns County are hosting community outreach meetings regarding recently proposed floodplain map updates on the following dates: Community officials, FEMA representatives, and insurance professionals will be available to answer questions regarding the proposed updates and the flood zone appeal process. Released in May, the proposed updates are based on results of a recent floodplain study.

FEMA Extends Grace Period to Renew Flood Insurance Policies in Declared Louisiana Parishes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today that due to the damage and displacement caused by recent flooding, the grace period to renew flood insurance policies has been extended to 120 days, for certain parishes in Louisiana. "We've seen major destruction to communities across the state; thousands of Louisianans have been displaced," said Roy Wright, deputy associate administrator for FEMA's Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration.

Louisiana residents without flood insurance face uncertainty

Quenton Robins watched on Sunday morning as a giant metal claw clamped down on his mother's ruined belongings, snapping wooden cabinets with an audible crack as the operator of a giant mechanized arm slowly cleared a mound of debris from her yard in Baton Rouge. Five feet of water swept through the homes in the quiet Park Forest neighborhood just over a week ago, shocking residents who had been told they did not live in a flood zone.

FEMA halts $30M for retrofitting Miss. houses after Katrina

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says it won't repay Mississippi for nearly $30 million spent to retrofit homes after Hurricane Katrina unless the state can prove the money was well spent. The state failed to provide documentation for the program, overspent and appears to have had lax oversight, according to the report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General.

Assistance/Relief for flood victims

FEMA: Officials with the governor's office have confirmed that more than 86,000 people have registered for FEMA assistance through www.DisasterAssistance.gov . FEMA assistance will be in two parts : Part 1 - FEMA will issue 30 day housing vouchers for eligible people.

Federal Partners Continue to Support Survivors in Louisiana

At the direction of President Barack Obama, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is leading the federal government's effort to provide assistance and support to Louisiana, in response to recent flooding. President Obama received updates throughout the day from his team on current response and recovery efforts underway in close coordination with state, local, and tribal officials.

Flood damage to be reviewed in four Minnesota counties

The Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management division will visit Aitkin, Carlton, Crow Wing and Pine counties in Minnesota this week to assess damages sustained in thunderstorms during the week of July 10. At this time, the damages do not meet federal requirements for FEMA's Public Assistance Program, but they could qualify for funds through the Minnesota State Disaster Assistance Program. During the week of July 10, torrential downpours overwhelmed drainage systems, rivers and streams with 7-14 inches of rain.