Latest news with #PublicAssistanceProgram
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
8 Months Since Helene: 4 state-owned bridges still closed in Northeast Tenn.
TRI-CITIES, Tenn. (WJHL) — Eight months after Hurricane Helene flooded regional waterways and took some homes and numerous bridges with it, four state-owned bridges remain closed, including a heavily traveled passage in Elizabethton. On Sept. 27, Helene flooded rivers and creeks as it brought unprecedented rainfall to the area. Some of the most impacted waterways were the Nolichucky, Doe and Elk rivers. Bridges that cross over those rivers were largely wiped out, adding several minutes to emergency response times and nearly an hour to community members' commutes. SEE ALSO: ETSU preps for start of hurricane season while reflecting on Helene The Tennessee Department of Transportation's (TDOT) Region 1 Communications Officer Mark Nagi told News Channel 11 on Tuesday that the following bridges still remain closed as a result of Hurricane Helene: SR 67 bridge in Carter County (Broad St. Bridge) SR 159/US 321 in Carter and Johnson Counties (Poga bridges [x2]) SR 353 in Washington County (Bailey Bridge) TDOT initially planned for the Broad Street Bridge in Elizabethton to reopen at the end of May. However, on April 2, TDOT announced the opening would be delayed until the beginning of July. Two bridges in the Poga and Elk Mills communities of Carter County are being rebuilt with $10 million in grant funding. Tennessee and FEMA approved the grant to restore the two-lane bridges, located about a mile apart along the Elk River. That funding comes from FEMA's Public Assistance Program. The Bailey Bridge in the South Central community of Washington County is expected to be completed by May 2026, according to TDOT. Much progress has been made, though, as TDOT rebuilt and opened both the Kinser Bridge in Greene County and the Taylor Bridge in Washington County well ahead of schedule. 'Of the 49 sections of state/local routes initially closed due to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, 46 have reopened,' Nagi previously stated in a release. In addition to the above TDOT-managed bridges, Washington County's government was awarded $6.8 million to replace the Corby Bridge near Limestone. Long Hollow Road in Carter County also has a bridge at one end of the roadway that remains closed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington lawmakers urge Trump to reconsider disaster funds after bomb cyclone
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – A bipartisan group of Washington state lawmakers is urging President Trump to reconsider the state's major disaster declaration request after a deadly bomb cyclone in November. On May 21, Washington's congressional delegation sent a letter to the president, emphasizing the need for federal assistance to address the $34 million in damage from devastating windstorms, heavy rain, flooding and mudslides from Nov. 17-25, 2024. The damage spanned six counties, including Pacific, Wahkiakum, East King, Grays Harbor, Snohomish, and Walla Walla counties, lawmakers said, noting Pacific and Wahkiakum saw sinkholes, damaged utility infrastructure and structures. Portland infrastructure at risk due to gradual sinking, study says 'One of the most destructive storms in recent history, it overwhelmed public infrastructure, endangered lives, and left residents across the state grappling with long-term consequences. This is precisely the kind of catastrophic event for which the federal declaration process was designed. The state's request outlines over $34 million in damages across these six counties – costs that local governments cannot and should not be expected to shoulder alone,' the lawmakers wrote Trump. 'Disaster declarations are not symbolic, they are critical lifelines for communities in crisis. Washington state's first responders, local governments, and emergency management professionals have done everything within their means to begin recovery, but the scale of the damage requires federal support through the Public Assistance Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program,' the letter continued. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) signed the letter along with Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-01), Rick Larsen (D-02), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-03), Dan Newhouse (R-04), Michael Baumgartner (R-05), Emily Randall (D-06), Pramila Jayapal (D-07), Kim Schrier (D-08), Adam Smith (D-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D-10). Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The lawmakers previously urged then-President Biden to grant the declaration in January. The letter comes after the denied FEMA relief in April. 'There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds. Washington's application met all of them,' Gov. Ferguson said in April. 'This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding. Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from last winter's devastating storms, and this decision will cause further delay. We will appeal.' A bloody poster of The Cure and 'a lot of weed': Logic transforms St. Helens record shop for debut film According to Gov. Ferguson's office, Washington applied for FEMA disaster relief funds in January to repair public highways, utilities and electrical power systems. However, , stating the federal funds were not 'warranted.' In a statement to KOIN 6 News on April 17, a FEMA spokesperson said, 'FEMA denied Washington's declaration after a thorough assessment showed the event's damage does not exceed the state, local governments, and voluntary organizations' capacity to respond—thus, supplemental federal aid is not justified. This decision is based on policy, not politics; Tennessee and Arkansas were also denied the same day. The only one politicizing this is Washington's governor, who'd rather play partisan games than lead his state's recovery efforts—unlike the last administration, DHS and FEMA remain focused on equitable, non-political disaster response.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Gov. Laura Kelly asks for federal aid after March severe weather
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Governor Laura Kelly is asking for federal help after fires, severe thunderstorms and other violent weather events took place one month ago. Kelly sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on April 15 seeking a major presidential disaster declaration. This declaration is due to areas across Kansas that may have been damaged by fires, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, flooding and a winter storm during March 14-19, 2025. Multiple Kansas counties sustained damage to utility infrastructure, roads, bridges and some government-owned buildings during this period, according to a news release from the Adjutant General's Department. Manhattan's Spring Cleanup gets extended 'Given the extent of the damage, it will be important to have federal support available to assist rural electric cooperatives and municipally owned utilities rebuild their electric utility infrastructure, and local levels of government repair their buildings and roadways,' Kelly said. The request was made to try and get federal assistance through the Public Assistance Program that provides fund on a cost-share basis to repair damaged public infrastructure like roads and bridges. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Iowa Gov. Reynolds requests federal aid for 4 northwest Iowa counties affected by March blizzard
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking FEMA for federal funding to help those affected by the severe weather that hit northwest Iowa last month. In a release Tuesday, Reynolds' office announced that the governor has requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for four Iowa counties. The counties — Crawford, Harrison, Monona, and Woodbury — are all located in northwest Iowa. Newly found 'ghost sign' tells historians about Sioux City's past On March 19, 2025, a blizzard went through the region, damaging private property and public infrastructure. A number of power poles were downed, leaving some residents without power for several days. The federal funding would come through FEMA's Public Assistance Program and could be used for the 'restoration of damaged utilities, debris removal, and other emergency protective measures.' An assessment of the four affected counties estimated that over $8 million in damages could be eligible, per the release. Previously, on March 20, Reynolds issued a statewide disaster proclamation for Woodbury, Crawford, Harrison, Monona, and Shelby counties. Another proclamation was issued for Harrison County on March 27. The proclamations allowed for state resources to be used for recovery, with the former expiring on April 3 and the latter set to expire on April 26. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
FEMA denies Washington's request for November storm disaster aid; Ferguson pledges appeal
FEMA has denied Washington's request for federal disaster relief following November's deadly storms, despite an estimated $34 million in damage, Governor Bob Ferguson said Monday. In a statement responding to the denial, Ferguson said the state's application 'met all' of FEMA's criteria and criticized the federal government's decision to withhold assistance. 'There are very clear criteria to qualify for these emergency relief funds. Washington's application met all of them,' Ferguson said. 'This is another troubling example of the federal government withholding funding. Washington communities have been waiting for months for the resources they need to fully recover from last winter's devastating storms, and this decision will cause further delay. We will appeal.' Washington submitted its disaster declaration request on Jan. 14, asking for federal help to repair widespread storm damage to highways, public utilities, and electrical systems. On Friday, nearly three months later, FEMA denied the request in a letter to former Governor Jay Inslee, offering no explanation beyond stating that supplemental assistance 'is not warranted.' The letter, signed by Cameron Hamilton, a senior FEMA official, noted that while the major disaster declaration was denied, FEMA Region X would coordinate with the state to explore other federal or volunteer assistance options. FEMA also offered to work with the state to gather additional damage information that could support an appeal. The state now has 30 days from the date of the letter to submit that appeal. The storms struck Washington between Nov. 17 and Nov. 23, 2024, and included a powerful 'bomb cyclone' that brought high winds, flooding, landslides, and mudslides. Two people died, and communities across western and eastern Washington reported significant infrastructure damage. Former Governor Inslee initially declared a disaster for nine counties: Clallam, Grays Harbor, Island, King, Pacific, Snohomish, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, and Whatcom. Governor Ferguson later expanded the declaration to include Jefferson and Kitsap counties after additional damage was confirmed. FEMA's Public Assistance Program typically reimburses states and local governments for at least 75% of eligible costs related to a declared disaster. The $34 million in damages reported by Washington is a preliminary estimate and could increase as the state updates its figures in preparation for an appeal.
