Latest news with #Montano
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump cuts will lead to more deaths in disasters, expert warns: ‘It is really scary'
The Trump administration's sweeping cuts to disaster management will cost lives in the US, with hollowed-out agencies unable to accurately predict, prepare for or respond to extreme weather events, earthquakes and pandemics, a leading expert has warned. Samantha Montano, professor of emergency management at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and author of Disasterology: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Climate Crisis, said the death toll from disasters including hurricanes, tornadoes and water pollution will rise in the US unless Trump backtracks on mass layoffs and funding cuts to key agencies. That includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), whose work relies heavily on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), which is also being dismantled. 'The overall risk of threats and hazards occurring in the US has increased since this administration took over, while the capacity of our emergency management system is being diminished,' said Montano in an interview. 'Emergency managers will be operating blindly without the data that we have become accustomed to from Noaa and other science agencies. It's what we rely on to issue warnings and evacuation orders, and pre-position resources. It is really scary because we used to not have good weather data – and death tolls were remarkably higher. 'It is difficult to know if it will be the next hurricane where the response completely fails or three hurricanes from now. But I feel confident in saying that if the cuts continue, we will be seeing higher death tolls and more devastation, absolutely. It's beyond crazy that we are eliminating the funding for these agencies particularly at this moment where hazards are increasing because of climate change,' Montano said. Emergency management involves mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery from all sorts of disasters including Covid and other major disease outbreaks, as well as floods, fires, tornadoes, earthquakes and explosions. Fema works closely with state and local government agencies to provide resources, coordination, technical expertise, leadership and communication with the public. Since returning to the White House, Trump has threatened to disband Fema, frequently belittling the agency amid its ongoing efforts to help communities devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires and Hurricane Helene, the category 4 storm that left at least 230 people dead in southern Appalachia. 'What happened with Helene was horrible, so much devastation and so many lives were lost. I don't want to minimize that, but it's also really important for people to understand that Helene could have been so much worse,' Montano said. 'There could have been a death toll into the thousands, if it were not for accurate forecasting, if it were not for Fema mobilizing and resources flowing as quickly and effectively as they did.' With the start of the hurricane and tornado season just days away, Fema's preparedness plans and billions of dollars in disaster assistance and grants have stalled. Reports suggest that more than a third of Fema's permanent full-time workforce has been fired or accepted buyouts, including some of its most experienced and knowledgable leaders who coordinate disaster responses – which can involve multiple federal agencies for months or years. About 75% of the agency's workforce are on-call or reservists whose contracts may not be renewed, internal memos suggest. 'There's already been a brain drain from Fema. We simply will not have the people to respond to a major disaster like Helene, but they're also going to run into problems responding to multiple smaller disasters – fires, floods, storms that happen around the country simultaneously, which with the climate crisis are becoming more common. The administration has lit the world's premier emergency-management agency on fire,' said Montano. Under Trump, Fema has so far denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina's request for an extension of federal relief, as recovery efforts from Helene continue. Pulling back resources will have an immediate impact on individual households and communities, many of whom voted for Trump. Somewhat harder to measure is the impact of shrinking Fema and the National Weather Service on messaging, a key element of emergency management that was already challenging amid mounting misinformation and disinformation about extreme weather, Covid, measles and even Fema itself. 'Effective communication rests on trust and I do not know how the American public can trust a single thing that this administration says and that extends to Fema,' Montano said, 'where they put in an acting administrator [Cameron Hamilton] who himself was spreading disinformation about the agency during Hurricane Helene.' Hamilton amplified false claims by Trump and Musk that Fema had spent disaster aid on immigrants and blocked help to North Carolina. Said Montano: 'In a communication ecosystem where there's already so much confusion, we have now lost Fema as a generally reliable source. It's difficult to see how people are going to get accurate information in major disasters, let alone deal with the complicated recovery process after … It's incredible, but every phase, every aspect of emergency management has been under assault in Trump's first 100 days … 'And while cuts to HHS [the Department of Health and Human Services] and USAID are most important for preventing disease outbreaks, everything being done to the emergency management system is also making us less prepared for the next pandemic.' Noaa's workforce and budget are also being shrunk, with the agency's National Weather Service (NWS) and climate research among the worst hit. Trump's policy blueprint, Project 2025, called for Noaa to 'be broken up and downsized', claiming the agency is a driver of the 'climate change alarm industry'. Trump and his billionaire donor Elon Musk are also trying to dismantle AmeriCorps, the federal volunteer service that plays an important role in disaster recovery, as well as expelling immigrants who make up the majority of the disaster workforce. The cuts to Fema, Noaa, the NWS and other agencies involved in disaster prevention make little economic sense. For every dollar the federal government spends on mitigation, it saves at least $6 of taxpayer money in response and recovery. 'The National Weather Service and emergency management are really clear examples of where you need the government to function because it just isn't something that the private sector is going to be interested in and can't profit off,' said Montano. Most disaster mitigation or prevention happens behind the scenes, a complex process involving testing, standards, expertise and enforcement, which rarely generates scrutiny unless something goes wrong. 'The reason I feel so sure that we're going to see increasing death tolls from storms and other disasters is because the public – and many in this administration – perhaps do not understand the complexity of risk mitigation happening across federal agencies, which prevents these bigger disasters from happening,' said Montano. For instance, the 1972 Clean Water Act represents a massive ongoing mitigation project, according to Montano, which, along with other key environmental protection laws, is now under assault: 'With the erosion of those regulations, risks will go unmitigated and have the potential to turn into disaster. We are setting ourselves up for more water-related health crises, more Flints.' Related: Trump signs order to shift disaster preparations from Fema to state and local governments The impact of federal cuts will depend in part on to what extent state and local governments fill federal funding gaps. Historically, investment in emergency management to prevent future potential disasters has rarely been a political priority. 'Community organizing is going to be really critical here, to make sure there is pressure from local and state officials to pick up some of the slack. But, some of these are outside of the bounds of what a single state can do on their own, which is why we have federal regulations to begin with,' Montano said. Montano also believes Trump could still be forced to roll back some of his rollbacks, if there is pushback from the courts and voters. She said: 'I don't think they're done dismantling Fema, but the biggest wild card here is what and where disasters happen over the next several months – and the politics of that. The climate crisis is here, and these disasters are not stopping.' Fema was created by Jimmy Carter in 1979, and it is in need of reform amid increasingly destructive climate-fueled disasters, an overcomplicated applications process, and growing calls for improved state and local emergency management capacity. 'Our emergency management system was good in many ways, but major changes were needed. Now, we need to be focusing on creating a better system that is more effective, efficient and equitable, so that we're ready when some kind of reasonable sanity returns,' Montano said.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Ross County v Livingston: Montano says Lions have character to book Premiership return after first leg penalty pain
The Colombian on Livi's second leg hopes as they head to the Highlands tonight Cristian Montano insists Livingston have the character to bounce back from their last-gasp penalty pain against Ross County to land a spot in the Premiership tonight. The Lions looked to be taking a 1-0 lead to the Highlands for the second leg of the Premiership play-off final, but when Danny Wilson pulled Jordan White's shirt in stoppage time, that gifted the Staggies a penalty which Ronan Hale dispatched with aplomb. It leaves the tie perfectly poised at 1-1 for the return in Dingwall, but Montano says they can brush off the physiological pain and deliver a knockout blow to County. He said: "I thought we played really well on Thursday. Even though they scored with the last kick of the game and it was heartbreaking, we are a very strong team mentally. "There are a lot of big characters in the dressing room and it is only half-time so won't let that affect us. We will go up there and give it our best shot. "They are the Premiership side, but we had chances to pull away from them. It wasn't to be, but we just have to go and get the job done now." The Colombian has played different roles for the Lions this season, having been deployed at the heart of the defence early on and now featuring as a winger. He will make his 40th appearance of the season tonight and says he is thriving under teh confidence instilled in him by boss Davie Martindale. The 33-year-old said: "The belief and the trust from the coaching staff has been huge. At the start of the season I was asked to play centre-back and then I got a little niggle. "When I came back the manager asked if I could push up the pitch and try and do a job. I've taken my chance because Tete [Yengi] was doing well and he picked up a wee niggle as well. "The good thing is we have a very competitive squad and you know you have players on the sidelines waiting to take your place." Montano is out of contract after the play-off final but makes no secret that he wants to stay in West Lothian. He added: "It is down to the manager to decide. I have made it known that this club feels like home to me. "My family is settled, I'm enjoying my time here and I am happy. It is just a case of waiting to see what the manager thinks. "If it was down to me, that won't have been my last home game on Thursday but we'll see what happens. I want to make sure we get this over the line on Monday first."
Rhyl Journal
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Ronan Hale's late penalty earns a draw for Ross County
Championship promotion hopefuls Livi looked on course to be taking a lead to Dingwall for Monday's second leg after Danny Wilson fired them ahead at the end of the first half. But the former Liverpool and Rangers defender's night ended on a sour note when he tugged the shirt of Jordan White, paving the way for County to level the tie with a late penalty. There were ugly scenes at full-time around the visitors' technical area as a member of the Staggies backroom staff appeared to be confronted by a home supporter, with police getting involved. Livi boss David Martindale selected the same XI that started both legs of the 4-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Championship rivals Partick Thistle. County, bidding to negotiate the play-offs for a third year in a row and prolong their six-year stay in the Premiership, were also unchanged from the team that halted a seven-game losing streak by drawing 1-1 at home to Motherwell on the final day of the Premiership campaign. The Staggies almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute but County defender Will Nightingale's powerful downward header from a Hale corner was brilliantly clawed out by keeper Jerome Prior. Livi midfielder Scott Pittman then tested keeper Jordan Amissah with a low shot from just outside the box. The Lions started to get on top and Cristian Montano was denied by an Akil Wright challenge in the box after getting on the end of Lewis Smith's cutback before the Colombian drove a shot just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left. The hosts had two big chances in quick succession just after the half-hour, with Montano's close-range shot charged down by Zac Ashworth before Robbie Muirhead blazed over after Smith's cross fell to him six yards out Livi made a deserved breakthrough in the last minute of the first half when Wilson pounced to blast home the loose ball from inside the six-yard box after County failed to clear their lines following a Stephen Kelly corner that was met by the head of Ryan McGowan. The Lions went in search of a second after the break and Kelly was off target with an angled shot from just inside the box before Muirhead fired over after being set up by Pittman. Montano then headed Smith's cross over the bar from close range just before the hour. County started to knock on the door, with Hale sending an overhead kick over the bar and sub Dylan Smith seeing a low shot pushed behind by Prior, and they forced an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hale fired home from the spot after Wilson was penalised for pulling substitute White's shirt.
North Wales Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Ronan Hale's late penalty earns a draw for Ross County
Championship promotion hopefuls Livi looked on course to be taking a lead to Dingwall for Monday's second leg after Danny Wilson fired them ahead at the end of the first half. But the former Liverpool and Rangers defender's night ended on a sour note when he tugged the shirt of Jordan White, paving the way for County to level the tie with a late penalty. There were ugly scenes at full-time around the visitors' technical area as a member of the Staggies backroom staff appeared to be confronted by a home supporter, with police getting involved. Livi boss David Martindale selected the same XI that started both legs of the 4-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Championship rivals Partick Thistle. County, bidding to negotiate the play-offs for a third year in a row and prolong their six-year stay in the Premiership, were also unchanged from the team that halted a seven-game losing streak by drawing 1-1 at home to Motherwell on the final day of the Premiership campaign. The Staggies almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute but County defender Will Nightingale's powerful downward header from a Hale corner was brilliantly clawed out by keeper Jerome Prior. Livi midfielder Scott Pittman then tested keeper Jordan Amissah with a low shot from just outside the box. The Lions started to get on top and Cristian Montano was denied by an Akil Wright challenge in the box after getting on the end of Lewis Smith's cutback before the Colombian drove a shot just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left. The hosts had two big chances in quick succession just after the half-hour, with Montano's close-range shot charged down by Zac Ashworth before Robbie Muirhead blazed over after Smith's cross fell to him six yards out Livi made a deserved breakthrough in the last minute of the first half when Wilson pounced to blast home the loose ball from inside the six-yard box after County failed to clear their lines following a Stephen Kelly corner that was met by the head of Ryan McGowan. The Lions went in search of a second after the break and Kelly was off target with an angled shot from just inside the box before Muirhead fired over after being set up by Pittman. Montano then headed Smith's cross over the bar from close range just before the hour. County started to knock on the door, with Hale sending an overhead kick over the bar and sub Dylan Smith seeing a low shot pushed behind by Prior, and they forced an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hale fired home from the spot after Wilson was penalised for pulling substitute White's shirt.
The Herald Scotland
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Ronan Hale's late penalty earns a draw for Ross County
But the former Liverpool and Rangers defender's night ended on a sour note when he tugged the shirt of Jordan White, paving the way for County to level the tie with a late penalty. There were ugly scenes at full-time around the visitors' technical area as a member of the Staggies backroom staff appeared to be confronted by a home supporter, with police getting involved. Livi boss David Martindale selected the same XI that started both legs of the 4-0 aggregate semi-final victory over Championship rivals Partick Thistle. County, bidding to negotiate the play-offs for a third year in a row and prolong their six-year stay in the Premiership, were also unchanged from the team that halted a seven-game losing streak by drawing 1-1 at home to Motherwell on the final day of the Premiership campaign. The Staggies almost opened the scoring in the 10th minute but County defender Will Nightingale's powerful downward header from a Hale corner was brilliantly clawed out by keeper Jerome Prior. Livi midfielder Scott Pittman then tested keeper Jordan Amissah with a low shot from just outside the box. The Lions started to get on top and Cristian Montano was denied by an Akil Wright challenge in the box after getting on the end of Lewis Smith's cutback before the Colombian drove a shot just wide of the far post after cutting in from the left. The hosts had two big chances in quick succession just after the half-hour, with Montano's close-range shot charged down by Zac Ashworth before Robbie Muirhead blazed over after Smith's cross fell to him six yards out Livi made a deserved breakthrough in the last minute of the first half when Wilson pounced to blast home the loose ball from inside the six-yard box after County failed to clear their lines following a Stephen Kelly corner that was met by the head of Ryan McGowan. The Lions went in search of a second after the break and Kelly was off target with an angled shot from just inside the box before Muirhead fired over after being set up by Pittman. Montano then headed Smith's cross over the bar from close range just before the hour. County started to knock on the door, with Hale sending an overhead kick over the bar and sub Dylan Smith seeing a low shot pushed behind by Prior, and they forced an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Hale fired home from the spot after Wilson was penalised for pulling substitute White's shirt.
