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The Federal Emergency Management Agency supported 59 major disaster declarations and 16 emergency declarations in 2017, a year during which unprecedented disasters affected more than 25 million Americans, almost eight percent of the U.S. population. In its year-end review, FEMA notes it was a record busy year for FEMA employees and for state and local emergency responders across the country, as well for the federal flood insurance program, which FEMA manages.
Following a lawsuit filed by three churches damaged in Hurricane Harvey last year, FEMA has reversed a policy that prevented houses of worship from accessing disaster relief funds, according to a guidance document published by the agency today. The disputed policy allowed "community centers" and other nonprofits to receive FEMA emergency funds for certain repairs of storm-damaged facilities, but specifically excluded houses of worship like churches, synagogues and mosques used primarily for "religious activities, such as worship, proselytizing or religious instruction."
Go figure: The storyline of Donald Trump's first year in office was eclipsed by those of a kiss cam, a diet trend, a dead elk and well, an actual eclipse. In fact, lunar events and Trump's whirlwind presidency both cracked our list of top-read stories twice, the only topics to take multiple spots.
The federal government typically spends up to $150,000 apiece - not counting utilities, maintenance or labor - on the trailers it leases to disaster victims, then auctions them at cut-rate prices after 18 months of use or the first sign of minor damage, the Associated Press has learned. Officials have continued the practice even amid a temporary housing shortage in Texas, where almost 8,000 applicants are still awaiting federal support nearly four months after Hurricane Harvey landed in the Gulf Coast.
Jaime Almanzar, 54, and his seven family members have been living at the motel in Victoria for the past four months since Hurricane Harvey. Almanzar can't afford to repair his damaged two-bedroom home and is working odd jobs every day for food and basic necessities.
I've heard those three words repeated in the mountains of Puerto Rico, amid the wreckage of Big Pine Key and from the mayor who thinks his Texas town may die. I've heard them spat in anger and mumbled in resignation and from California, you can hear them choked through smoke and fear in real time as 2017 explodes the ranks of America's fastest growing demographic: Disaster survivor.
Texas has been awarded billions in federal aid to help recover from Hurricane Harvey and the devastating flooding that followed, but it's unclear how the state is spending its share of the money. Disaster recovery experts say the lack of transparency in Texas could hinder coordination, encourage fraud and squander an opportunity not only to rebuild after one of the country's costliest natural disasters, but also to mitigate the risks of the next monster storm.
In this Nov. 17, 2017, file photo, George Dorsey walks through his hurricane-damaged home in Houston. If House Republicans have their way, victims of hurricanes in Texas and Florida could deduct their losses on their taxes.
Ventura County fire officials say the blaze broke out Monday east of Santa Paula, a city of 30,000 people abo... The Supreme Court is taking up the highly anticipated case of the Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The Supreme Court is taking up the highly anticipated case of the Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
Floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey surrounded homes in Port Arthur, Texas, and later became a hurricane and dumped record rainfall over the Houston metropolitan area. - Leslie Martinez heard the floodwaters before she saw them.
Now as many as 140 temporary workers may be seeking new employment as an emergency call center in Bossier City scales back disaster aid operations. FEMA contracted with information technology company CSRA during Hurricane Harvey to staff and operate call centers directing emergency aid to storm survivors in Texas and Louisiana.
Pedro Deschamps helps workers hired by FEMA to carry out the installation of a temporary awning roof at his house, which suffered damage during Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. A newly created Florida company with an unproven record won more than $30 million in contracts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide emergency tarps and plastic sheeting for repairs to hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.
As Puerto Rico begins to transition from the response phase to recovery, Michael Byrne, the Federal Coordinating Officer for Puerto Rico has been named as the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator . Byrne has more than 30 years of experience in disaster management and recovery program execution, including serving as the FDRC for Hurricane Harvey in Texas, and the FCO for Hurricane Sandy in New York and the 2011 Alabama tornadoes.
President Donald Trump joked about challenging a Central New York man, who is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, to an arm wresting contest. Trump met with members of the Coast Guard on Thanksgiving at the Lake Worth Inlet Station in Riviera Beach, Fla.
Indonesia authorities raised the alert for the rumbling volcano to highest level on Monday and closed t... . A family on a motorcycle passes by the Mount Agung volcano erupting in the background in Karangasem, Indonesia, Monday, Nov. 27, 2017.
While attention will focus on ho... . Pope Francis is seen looking through the middle window of the plane as he departs for his six-day trip to Myanmar and Bangladesh, at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci international airport in Fiumicino, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017.
A volcano on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali erupted for the second time in a week on Saturday, disruptin... . A view of the Mount Agung volcano erupting at sunrise in Karangasem, Bali island, Indonesia, Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017.
Day laborers have quietly become an integral part of Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast's rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey, even as U.S. and Texas leaders who officially disavow illegal immigration have launched new... Day laborers have quietly become an integral part of Houston and the Texas Gulf Coast's rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey, even as U.S. and Texas leaders who officially disavow illegal immigration have launched new policy measures to target them. Pixar's "Coco" sang its way to the fourth best Thanksgiving weekend ever with an estimated $71.2 million over the five-day weekend, a total that easily toppled Warner Bros.'
In a Friday, Nov. 17, 2017 photo, members of the Houston Ballet rehearse the Nutcracker at their studio, in Houston. The company will have to hold their performance at Smart Financial Centre and the Hobby Center this year, and giving 10 less performances than usual, because its home stage at the Wortham Theater Center was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump visited a Coast Guard station in Riviera Beach, Florida, where they passed out food. Trump praised the Coast Guard for its work in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas.