FEMA has $11 billion in Disaster Relief Fund as Milton makes landfall
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approximately $11 billion in the Disaster Relief Fund as it responds to Hurricane Milton, the second major hurricane to hit Florida’s Gulf Coast in three weeks. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is working to assure the public the agency will have enough money for the immediate response.
“The biggest tool we have is what we call immediate needs funding,” Criswell told reporters Wednesday, Oct. 9. “We keep a reserve within our Disaster Relief Fund to make sure that I can always cover these life saving activities like we’re seeing right now.”
Congress gave Criswell the authority to tap into $20 billion from the fiscal year 2025 budget, of which the agency has already spent about $9 billion. In August, FEMA put approximately $8 billion in spending on previous disasters on hold. It has been using the newly approved funds to respond to Hurricane Helene and reimburse communities whose projects were paused.
“I have over a hundred open disasters across the United States for recovery, and I need to continue to be able to reimburse these communities for their recovery projects as well as sustain the response that we’re seeing right now,” Criswell said.
Criswell put in a $9 billion supplemental funding request to Congress earlier this year which she says still stands. After they have a better understanding of how much these recent disasters will cost, FEMA will ask for additional money on top of that.
Criswell said she’s never seen more open disasters than right now. She attributes that to a busy tornado season, catastrophic flooding and wildfires in the West.
“This increase in the number of severe weather events we’re seeing as well as the complexity of many of these events because of the amount of damage that they’re doing, is increasing the number of open disasters,” Criswell said. “The recovery is more complex and it takes longer to help reimburse these communities as they rebuild from the weather events.”
FEMA is still spending billions of dollars a year on disasters as far back as Hurricane Katrina. Spending on previous disasters accounts for billions of dollars a year.
Florida sports teams prep for Hurricane Milton as Bucs, Lighting evacuate
As Hurricane Milton, the strongest Gulf of Mexico storm since 2005 nears Florida, sports teams across the state are adjusting their schedules, and in some cases relocating, to ensure safety. With mass evacuations underway, the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning have both left the area.
The Buccaneers have moved the team’s practices to New Orleans ahead of Sunday’s away game against the Saints, while the Lightning has relocated to Raleigh, where they will face the Carolina Hurricanes on Friday, Oct. 11, for their season opener. Currently, the Lightning’s home opener against the Hurricanes on Saturday, Oct. 12, remains as scheduled.
In college football, the University of South Florida’s game against Memphis has been moved from Friday to Saturday afternoon at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, with both teams saying they will closely monitor the storm’s progress prior to kickoff.
The University of Central Florida’s game against Cincinnati remains set for Saturday, though the matchup’s Orlando venue is in the storm’s projected path which could force schedule changes.
Meanwhile, an NBA preseason game between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks has been rescheduled from Thursday, Oct 10, to next Wednesday, Oct. 16. While Miami is not expected to experience full hurricane conditions, strong winds and heavy rain are anticipated.
If the Waffle House stays open, people often take that as a sign a storm is not likely to devastate their area. However, if the popular breakfast chain closes down, you need to leave – at least according to the Waffle House Index.
The Waffle House Index is a real, though not scientifically backed, measure of how bad a storm is. It’s not just locals who use it, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does too, as a way to identify communities most in need of immediate help after a storm.
Take Hurricane Helene, for example. That storm barreled through six states nearly two weeks ago, causing mass devastation.
In parts of North Carolina and Georgia — which bore the brunt of Helene’s impacts — about two dozen Waffle House restaurants are still closed, and several others are only serving a limited menu.
Waffle House has more than 1,900 locations in the U.S., mostly in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.
The chain, which normally stays open 24/7, 365 days a year, is known for being well-prepared for disasters and either staying open through them or reopening quickly after. It has a limited menu ready to go for when there are food shortages and power outages. It can even put together “Waffle House jump teams” to quickly reopen restaurants as soon as it’s safe to after a disaster.
Waffle House has been so good at predicting how bad a storm will be that in 2011, then-FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate was the one who created the term Waffle House Index.
The Waffle House Index has three levels: green, yellow, and red. Because Waffle House already has a plan in place for power outages and limited supplies, the index rarely reaches red.
So, what is the Waffle House Index telling us about Hurricane Milton? Things aren’t looking great for parts of Florida directly in its path, with dozens of locations closing to weather out the storm.
How Hurricane Helene’s destruction led to swarms of bees, wasps, yellow jackets
As thousands continue to recover from deadly Hurricane Helene another danger is lurking: yellow jackets, wasps and bees. Reports of stings from swarms of the insects increased as underground bee colonies and wasps’ nests have been disturbed or washed away from severe flooding.
The increase in stings forced state officials to adjust on the fly and get EpiPens and Benadryl ready for statewide distribution.
North Carolina announced on Friday, Oct. 4, that it was buying up the medications and said officials would give the medications to residents through hospitals, emergency medical services and other health providers soon.
Those allergic to the insects’ venom can die from one sting if medical help isn’t quickly available. Health experts also warned that being stung more than a dozen times can lead to a severe reaction, which can lead to convulsions, vomiting and fever. Additionally, doctors said that individuals should wait to clear trees from their property until nighttime, when the bees and wasps are least active.
If a person does encounter a swarm, experts said they should put their hands over their face and walk away slowly to avoid stings.
Many of those stung are reportedly line workers trying to restore power to hard-hit communities.
In the meantime, state officials told those with deathly allergies to stings to get emergency refills at local pharmacies and carry emergency medication at all times.
Helene may cause thousands of deaths over the decades: Study
As the death toll from Hurricane Helene continues to climb, a new study adds an unsettling perspective about the impacts of the storm, which are likely to last well beyond what some may think. The study, published Wednesday, Oct. 2, said hurricanes and tropical storms are much deadlier than their associated death tolls suggest.
That’s because of the indirect causes these storms can set into motion that aren’t realized until years after the event. Researchers with the University of California Berkeley found an average tropical cyclone in the U.S. indirectly causes up to 11,000 more deaths than reported in the storm’s final toll.
They said since 1930, tropical storms have contributed to as many as 5.2 million deaths in the U.S. Researchers also estimate 1 in 4 infant deaths are somehow related to tropical cyclones, as are 15% of deaths among people aged 1 to 44 years old.
They say tropical cyclones create a broader health issue than previously thought because they often stir up other threats to certain populations – like babies and the immunocompromised.
The study found these excess deaths were mostly due to causes like diabetes, suicide, sudden infant death syndrome or another cause that was not recorded. However, they found cardiovascular disease was the next most common cause linked to the lasting impacts of storms, followed by cancer.
This is the first time researchers have looked at storm-related deaths over such a long period of time. Their study accounted for 501 events from 1930 to 2015. Researchers say over that 85-year span, tropical storms killed more people than car crashes and infectious diseases.
The study’s authors say the numbers were so staggering, they spent years making sure their findings were correct.
The study also found Black people were three times more likely to die after a hurricane than white people. Researchers said their findings validate concerns many Black Americans have been voicing for decades about unequal treatment they face and the circumstances they experience after natural disasters.
Nearly 1.5 million people remain without access to power.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
We’re getting our most in-depth look so far at Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. And there’s new skin in the game in the battle over who actually caught Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024.
New details in special counsel’s 2020 election case against Trump
The new filing, revealed Wednesday, Oct. 2, also claims Trump was “fundamentally” acting as a private candidate and not the President of the United States when he sought to overturn his loss.
The latest court filing comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling this past summer that said Trump had immunity for official actions taken while still in office. The filing also alleges the former president knew his claims about the 2020 election being stolen were lies, but he spread them anyways as a ploy to stay in power.
It also includes evidence of Trump’s phone usage during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021 — when, it claims, the former president was scrolling Twitter. The filing also claims Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject Electoral College votes.
“This was a weaponization of government and that’s why it was released 30 days before the election,” he said. “And it’s nothing new in there, by the way, nothing new. They rigged the election. I didn’t rig the election. They rigged the election.”
The new filing was unsealed just 33 days before the election coming up on Nov. 5.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to four criminal charges, accusing him of a conspiracy to obstruct the congressional certification of the election, attempting to defraud the U.S. out of accurate results and interfering with Americans’ voting rights.
At least 6 killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
It comes after Israeli forces suffered their deadliest day on the Lebanese front since clashes with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah started almost a year ago. At least seven Israeli soldiers died in Israel’s recent offensive.
Lebanese health officials say in addition to those killed, at least seven more people were wounded in what Israel says was a precise strike on Lebanon’s capitol, which happened not far from the Lebanese prime minister’s office.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army says it downed at least two drones and more than two dozen rockets fired from Lebanon Thursday.
FEMA warns of funding shortages for Hurricane Helene relief efforts
The death toll from Hurricane Helene has risen to at least 191 across six states, making it the second-deadliest U.S. Hurricane in the past 50 years, behind Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The storm hit Florida last week before sweeping through the southeast, causing widespread flooding and devastation, especially in North Carolina, where at least 95 people have died.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is providing critical supplies like meals, water, and generators, but Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has warned FEMA lacks sufficient funding to sustain relief efforts throughout the entire hurricane season. He stressed the need for additional funding, noting FEMA is meeting immediate needs but might not have the resources to continue if another storm hits.
Hurricane season runs from June through November, with most storms occurring in September and October.
Congress recently replenished $20 billion for FEMA’s disaster relief fund, but lawmakers may need to reconvene before the election to approve more money if necessary.
Since Helene hit, more than 150,000 households have registered for FEMA assistance and that number is expected to grow as damage assessments continue.
Prosecutors ask for indefinite delay in would-be Trump assassin’s trial
Federal prosecutors have asked for an indefinite delay in scheduling the trial for the man charged in an apparent assassination attempt on former President Trump. They say they’ve collected a “massive” amount of evidence since the Secret Service, with the help of local police in Florida, arrested Ryan Routh last month after authorities say an agent spotted him with a gun outside the Mar-a-Lago golf course where the former president was playing.
Prosecutors have asked the judge in the case to officially designate the case as “complex,” saying they’ve interviewed hundreds of witnesses across various states and have thousands of videos to review from electronic devices they’ve seized. They also say more than 100 outstanding subpoena returns are still pending.
According to the filing, Routh’s defense attorneys did not oppose the prosecutors’ request to delay the trial date. Routh’s lawyers have entered a not guilty plea on his behalf, on the attempted assassination charges.
ATF says broken power line caused deadly Maui wildfire
We now know what caused the massive and deadly wildfire in Maui, Hawaii that claimed 102 lives and caused more than $5 billion in damage. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives has classified the fire as accidental, saying it started when a re-energized broken power line sparked, igniting the fire in an unmaintained vegetation area.
ATF also ruled out the possibility there had been two separate fires saying definitively, “This, in fact, was one fire.”
More than 100 people died and flames destroyed much of the historic city of Lahaina. The fire also sparked other investigations centered on police response and the response from state and Maui county agencies.
Second fan files lawsuit over Ohtani’s historic home run ball
The battle over Shohei Ohtani’s 50th home run ball has intensified. A second fan filed a lawsuit claiming ownership of the valuable souvenir.
The ball, hit during Ohtani’s historic Sept. 19 game for the L.A. Dodgers against the Miami Marlins, has reached about $1.5 million in auction bids.
Joseph Davidov, who filed the latest lawsuit in Florida, claims he had possession of the ball before another fan jumped on him, causing it to roll into the hands of Chris Belanski, who later auctioned it. Davidov is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.
This follows 18-year-old Max Matus’ earlier lawsuit, alleging Belanski forcibly took the ball from him during a scramble in the stands. Both fans are pursuing rightful ownership of the ball, which celebrates Ohtani’s achievement as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season.
The ongoing legal disputes have delayed the auction, with a court hearing scheduled for Oct. 10. The ball’s rising value has garnered widespread attention, rivaling the $1.5 million sale of Aaron Judge’s American League record-breaking 62nd home run ball in 2022.
Drones forced firefighting aircraft to stop efforts 10 times in 2024: Report
Crews fighting intense wildfires are sometimes having to put life-saving firefighting operations on hold because of civilian drone operators. The National Interagency Fire Center revealed on Sunday, Sept. 15, that drone incursions forced firefighting aircraft to ground operations at least 10 times so far in 2024.
There have been 21 incursions so far this year, which is below the yearly average of 23 incursions, and much lower than the all-time record in 2016 of 41 drone incursions.
However, according to those fighting the fires, one drone disruption is one too many. For instance, in 2022, when a wildfire tore through 18 acres of Mt. Helena in Montana, an unauthorized civilian drone reportedly flew through the area, stopping water and fire retardant drops on the fire. Although officials found the drone operator just 15 minutes later, a city park burned during the air stop.
Interfering with firefighting efforts on public land is a federal crime and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) can levy fines of up to $20,000. However, fire officials maintain the best way to prevent disruptions caused by civilian drones is through education. Some fire officials want to add labels that advise drone buyers not to “fly over a wildfire or emergency area.”
FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund is running out of money. What’s to blame?
America’s disaster emergency response agency has some bad news, and it comes right in the middle of hurricane season in the U.S. The United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund is running out of money for the second straight year as reported on Sunday, Aug. 25.
The agency said that it has been forced to put at least 650 projects across the country on hold because of a lack of money and to ensure that enough resources are available to respond to natural disasters.
When the agency will get more money depends on when Congress approves the funding. However, it will not be this month, as lawmakers are not set to return from August recess until Sept. 9.
The funding shortfall also comes as wildfires and floods occur on a regular basis. In Santa Cruz, California, officials said that they’ve been hit by seven federally declared disasters since 2017. The county said that until federal funds come through, it would not be able to address 150 repair projects that are currently on hold.
“The cash flow issue for our county has been severe,” Santa Cruz Administrative Officer Carlos Palacios said in an interview. “Now, that I hear that FEMA is basically freezing any new expenditures, it’s really devastating to our efforts to recover.”
FEMA blamed part of the problem on underestimating COVID-19 pandemic-related costs, which still have the agency reimbursing communities. The agency said that the pandemic strained resources already stretched thin by more frequent climate change-fueled natural disasters and warns funding will continue to be a problem until reforms are made by lawmakers.
The agency said that it shifted its priorities at least nine times since 2001 due to budget shortfalls. Meanwhile, agency watchdogs say part of the problem is that projects and disaster responses remain open for too long, some reportedly for decades. They recommend streamlining projects to get funds out faster.
Earthquakes rock Japan and LA days apart, may be a warning
A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Los Angeles, California, on Monday, Aug. 12, just days after a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck off of the coast of Japan on Thursday, Aug. 8. While the two earthquakes were in different countries, they have a couple things in common. For instance, both share the same tectonic plate, and both are sparking concerns of “megaquakes” in the future.
Japan’s earthquake prompted scientists to warn of a 70% to 80% chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake rattling the country within the next 30 years, which could spur a tsunami. Depending on where a potential Tsunami strikes Japan, a government disaster prevention team reportedly said that the wave could kill hundreds of thousands of people and lead to the destruction of more than 2 million buildings.
Scientists said the latest earthquakes do not mean it is time to hit the panic button quite yet. However, the scientists do believe it is a wakeup call for both California and Japan to review response and evacuation plans in preparation for a potentially catastrophic natural disaster.
Monday’s earthquake is the second that the city of Los Angeles experienced in the past week, which may serve as a reminder for residents to be prepared for the next one.
Officials with the governor’s office urged people to download the My Shake App, which alerts people to any potential incoming earthquakes. Officials also stress the importance of emergency kits filled with medications, water, food and phone charges which should be capable of sustaining individuals for up to 72 hours.
