Latest FEMA Headlines

All the headlines from our FEMA Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Thousands of Federally Placed Underground Fuel Tanks Could Leak

Aug 14 2008 // The government owns hundreds of underground fuel tanks — many designed for emergencies back in the Cold War — that need to be inspected for leaks of hazardous substances that could make local water...

One Year Later Recovery from Flood Slow in Kansas Town

Jul 25 2008 // A year after a refinery oil spill into floodwaters blanketed a third of this southeast Kansas town, little remains in the area that was damaged.The oil-drenched houses are gone, and only a few homeowners have rebuilt....

FEMA Planning Earthquake Forum in Indiana

Jul 23 2008 // One of two federal government-sponsored forums in Midwestern cities to help businesses prepare for a major earthquake will be held in Evansville.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says the goal of the September...

Mold Found in FEMA Mobile Homes in Indiana, Iowa

Jul 23 2008 // The discovery of mold in federally provided mobile homes sheltering Indiana and Iowa flood victims has prompted new anger and frustrations for those who have lost their houses.The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)...

Midwest’s Flood-prone Communities Consider Government Buyouts

Jul 18 2008 // After the Great Flood of 1993, thousands of properties in flood plains around the Midwest were bought out by the government. Now, weeks after the latest massive flood, buyouts are again being considered in at least five...

N.H. Flood Maps Outdated, FEMA-Sponsored Study Finds

Jul 3 2008 // Federal maps used by most New Hampshire communities to determine the scope of once-per-century floods are sometimes decades out of date.A study recommends updating them to steer development away from risky areas. “If...

FEMA Opens 2 Disaster Recovery Centers in Missouri

Jul 3 2008 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency is opening two disaster recovery centers in eastern Missouri to help those affected by recent Mississippi River flooding.The centers will are at the Clarksville Visitors Center and...

Flood Insurance, Public Aid Leave Gaps for Midwest Disaster Victims Looking to Rebuild

Jun 27 2008 // With federal aid limited and most homes damaged or destroyed by Midwest flooding lacking the proper insurance, states along the Ohio and Mississippi rivers will soon have to help homeowners recover, according to the...

FEMA Rescinds New Flood Maps for D.C.

Jun 19 2008 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rescinded maps declaring a large swath of downtown Washington and the National Mall a flood zone after city officials pledged to have a stronger levee system in place by late...

North Carolina Gov.’s 2nd Request for Federal Aid Hits Home

Jun 17 2008 // North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency, for a second time, to help pay the escalating costs of fighting the Evans Road Fire in three eastern North Carolina counties.The fire started...

FEMA Draft Plan Revisits Use of Trailers for Disaster Victims

Jun 4 2008 // The government may house disaster victims in trailers this hurricane season as a last resort, despite promises never to use them again because of high levels of formaldehyde found in trailers used after the Katrina...

FEMA Tours Flood-Damaged Delaware Coast Area

May 30 2008 // Representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are touring the Delaware coast to evaluate damage from recent flooding.There is no timetable for a possible disaster designation. According to representatives of...

FEMA Emergency Housing Options Include Pre-Fabricated Cottages

May 30 2008 // Disaster victims might one day watch their homes and communities be rebuilt from the cool comfort of a front porch.The porches are a feature of prefabricated cottages designed for Hurricane Katrina’s victims as an...

Report Tallies Trade-offs of Adding Wind to Federal Flood Insurance

May 19 2008 // Adding wind coverage to the current federal flood and wind insurance program could benefit some policyholders and market participants but would also involve trade-offs, says a new government report.While current...

Report Tallies Trade-offs of Adding Wind to Federal Flood Insurance

May 19 2008 // Adding wind coverage to the current federal flood and wind insurance program could benefit some policyholders and market participants but would also involve trade-offs, says a new government report.While current...

Alabama Joins 3 other Katrina-stricken States to Update House Panel

May 12 2008 // An Alabama official estimates the state needs between $100 million to $110 million – double its allocated federal aid – to address persistent housing needs in 22 counties declared disaster areas from Hurricane...

Senate Advances Renewal of Flood Insurance without Wind Coverage

May 7 2008 // A bill to renew the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) passed a key test vote in the U.S. Senate Tuesday, with aides saying they expected final action on the legislation before the end of the week.The Senate agreed by...

Adding Wind to Federal Flood Insurance Invites Trade-Offs

May 6 2008 // Adding wind coverage to the current federal flood and wind insurance program could benefit some policyholders and market participants but would also involve trade-offs, says a new government report.While current...

Kentucky Residents Recovering from Tornadoes Unhappy with Feds

Apr 29 2008 // Allen County, Ky. Judge-Executive Bobby Young has a simple description of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.“FEMA is a joke,” Young said. That sentiment – and variations on it – can be heard...

Mississippi Gov. Appeals Fed’s Decision to Deny Emergency Declaration

Apr 22 2008 // Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said he will appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s denial of his request for federal disaster assistance in the wake of destructive tornadoes that struck the state’s...