Latest news with #disasterrelief
Washington Post
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Washington Post
Trump denies Maryland's request for FEMA aid after devastating floods
The White House on Wednesday denied Democratic Gov. Wes Moore's request for $15.8 million in disaster relief funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to pay for repairs after heavy floods swept through Western Maryland in May. From May 12 to 14, extreme rainfall caused water to rise to a historic 12.4 feet in Georges Creek, which spilled over and forced evacuations in Allegany and Garrett counties. Schoolchildren were ferried to safety by boat. The floods damaged more than 200 homes, numerous businesses, roads, bridges, railroads, sewer systems, drinking water and public utilities in several Western Maryland towns, including Westernport.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Pets are still being rescued from Texas floods. One girl is helping.
Kamryn Balfour was at summer camp less than 20 miles from Camp Mystic when devastating floods tore through Central Texas earlier this month. 'I didn't hear about it until I got picked up the next day when it was all sunny, and I just thought it was some pretty hard rain,' said Kamryn, 11, a camper at Kickapoo Kamp in Kerrville, Texas. 'I felt very, very sad that those innocent girls got flooded out.' She realized how lucky she was to have been spared. 'I was there at camp like them, too. That could have been me,' said Kamryn, who did not know anyone at Camp Mystic. At least 135 people were killed in the flooding, including 27 campers and counselors at Camp Mystic. Kamryn — who lives in League City, Texas, about halfway between Houston and Galveston — said she felt helpless and heartbroken. An idea came to her during the car ride home from camp. Kamryn decided she would bake and sell cookies, donating all proceeds to flood relief efforts. She set a goal of raising $500, and started baking as soon as she got home from her two-week camp on July 5. She has since baked about 40 batches of chocolate chip cookies, and far surpassed her goal, raising more than $4,300. 'Everybody can make a difference, even if they're a little kid like me,' she said. In May, Kamryn started a baking business called Kamryn's Kravings as part of a kids' entrepreneur fair she participated in. While she didn't keep up with the business after the fair, 'that's when my love for baking started,' she said, noting that her signature chocolate chip cookies use a 'top-secret' family recipe. After the floods, Kamryn decided to restart her baking business, but this time, with a mission. She was concerned that pets might be overlooked in the relief efforts, so she designated charities that were helping pets after the floods, including Kerrville Pets Alive and the Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team. Kamryn wanted to support both the pets impacted by the floods and the rescue dogs that aided in recovery. 'I thought maybe I could help,' Kamryn said. The search for displaced pets is ongoing. Kerrville Pets Alive got a call a few days ago about a cat found inside an oven that had been destroyed by flooding. The cat was dehydrated but alive. The group is still trying to reunite rescued pets with their owners. Volunteers continue to recover pets in the area, and though many of them have died, volunteers are identifying them by their microchips so they can alert owners who are still looking for them. Kamryn posted about her fundraising effort on social media, and her family and friends did the same. As word spread, orders started pouring in. 'I didn't have any idea it would take off like this, and all of a sudden, we couldn't even keep up,' said Kamryn's mother, Kelly Balfour, who helps her daughter bake. 'Whatever we make, we sell.' Kamryn is currently enrolled in gymnastics camp, though she still bakes most days, and shops for groceries with her mother. She puts five cookies in a small white bag with a pink bow and sells each for $5 — though many customers donate far more. 'Most people will give a $50 bill and only want two or three bags of cookies,' Balfour said. Orders started mounting even more after Kamryn's baking project was covered by local station KHOU 11. Balfour's friend, Gina Gutierrez — the owner of Cakes by Gina, a bakeshop in Houston — offered up her industrial kitchen. Kamryn is only able to bake one batch at a time, which is about 40 cookies, in their oven at home. 'I said, 'Girl, come on over here, let me help you. Let's multiply the recipe by four or five,'' said Gutierrez. 'The young kids are our future and Kamryn's an example of that … I put my energy into helping her achieve her goals.' Gutierrez encouraged Kamryn to host a pop-up bake sale at her shop on July 12, which was a success, and she has two more pop-ups planned in the coming days. In addition to the pop-ups, Kamryn and her mother hand-deliver the bags of cookies to local customers who place orders over Instagram. 'Kamryn is so cute; she hasn't let me see the full recipe,' Gutierrez said, adding that Kamryn is meticulous about her baking process. Once Kamryn reaches $5,000, she plans to evenly distribute the funds between the two organizations she has chosen. 'It's so heartwarming to see the compassion, especially in these young children who could easily be distracted by other things,' said Karen Guerriero, the board president of Kerrville Pets Alive. 'We thank her from the bottom of our hearts.' Guerriero said Kamryn's contributions are coming at a critical time. 'This will really help us with the extra expenses we have related to the flood animals,' she said, explaining that they're still finding displaced pets in the wreckage of the floods. Kamryn said she plans to keep her fundraising efforts going. 'This is the first time I've raised money to help someone, but it definitely won't be the last,' she said.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Milo's Tea Company announces production pause to provide clean drinking water to Texas disaster relief
BESSEMER, Ala. (WHNT) — A company headquartered in Central Alabama paused production at one of its plants last week to transition to disaster relief aid. Last week, the CEO of Milo's Tea Company took to LinkedIn to announce the decision. Tricia Wallwork, Milo's CEO and granddaughter of the company's founders, said the reason for this pause was because 'our neighbors in Texas need clean drinking water more than anything else right now, and disaster relief is something we feel strongly about.' The halt in production is at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, plant, Wallwork said. In the post, Wallwork said, 'five truckloads – 124 pallets and more than 119,000 bottles – of Milo's bottled water [would be arriving] at the San Antonio Food Bank to support flood relief efforts in a community that's experienced unimaginable loss. As a mother, wife and human, my prayers go out to all those impacted by the horrific flooding in Texas.' Wallwork also said she was proud of the TEAms' response, as it was quick and came together in just 24 hours. The tea company also partnered with Feeding America and H-E-B, as well as R.E. Garrison Trucking, Inc., which provided the transportation of the pallets. Milo's is headquartered right here in Alabama, founded in 1964 in Bessemer. From the July 4 Texas flooding, several Alabamians were killed, including 8-year-old Sarah Marsh, of Mountain Brook, and Ileana Santana and Mila, a Mobile grandmother and granddaughter. After just over two weeks since the flooding, three people are still reported missing, according to the city of Kerrville. In a July 16 update, Kerr County officials said at least 107 people, including 37 children, were killed in Kerr County. By Saturday, July 19, Kerville officials announced the number of missing people in Kerr County dropped from more than 160 to three, the release said. At least 135 people were killed in the catastrophic flash flooding across Texas, with the majority of the deaths confirmed in Kerr County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Where should the funding to deal with SA's toxic algal bloom be spent?
The federal government has pledged $14 million to assist South Australia as it grapples with a toxic algal bloom outbreak. But just how far will that funding go and where should it be allocated? Well that depends on who you speak to. The bloom was first spotted in March and has resulted in dead marine life washing up on the state's shores, while also disrupting a number of industries, including fishing, aquaculture and tourism operators. The South Australian government is expected to announce further funding today, but one mayor says what's already been pledged is just "a drop in the ocean". Scientists and local and state governments all agree that some of the funding will need to be spend on relief measures for those in industries affected by the bloom. Kangaroo Island Mayor Michael Pengilly said businesses along Kangaroo Island's coastline have been severely impacted by the bloom. "Some of the things that we have to look at here are stabilising the impact on those affected, whether they be fishermen or work in the abalone industry, the tourism industry, the charter industry," Mr Pengilly told ABC Radio Adelaide. "We may have to look at job creation projects, also mental health support. A lot of these thing happened after the [2019] fires and we've got a bit of a history of dealing with disasters. "Our major employer at the abalone farm has about 30 people, which doesn't seem like many people in the city, but it's a big employer over here. "They're shut down at the moment, the oyster industry is shut down here, Yorke Peninsula, Port Lincoln. Now we have the Port Wakefield area is now being impacted, the fishery out there." Mr Pengilly said he would be meeting with state Environment Minister Susan Close today. While he applauded her for her efforts at supporting those affected by the bloom, he said the government overall has been slow to respond. "The state government holistically has been slow to do anything," he said. Mike Bossley is an experienced marine scientist and researcher who has worked closely with Port Adelaide's dolphin sanctuary. He is currently working with a group of colleagues to determine how many recent dolphin deaths may be linked to the algal bloom and hopes to have findings into that research within the next week. While he agreed some of the federal funding should be spent on relief measures, he wants more of the money to go towards research. "Equally, and more importantly, we have to put money into research into mitigating these blooms," he told ABC Radio Adelaide. "We need to find ways to recover from them because they are going to keep coming." He said being able to predict the blooms would be "only so helpful" and instead wants the focus to be around mitigating the impacts of the bloom with a look at current marine parks systems just one idea. He said South Australia's toxic algal outbreak had "international implications" as there were marine heatwaves occurring around the world at the moment. He pointed to an algal bloom in California killing dolphins and seals. "The reality is this is the first time we have experienced something like this in our state, a bloom as extensive as this, and we just don't understand it well enough to make any really telling predictions," he said. "It does seem to most of us working in science that climate change and marine heatwaves, which are a consequence of that, are just going to get worse and that's going to make these constant blooms and other issues to do with warming water." When asked if the issue had been taken seriously enough he said: "I'm sure we will be taking it more seriously in the future, but it's easy with hindsight to say we should have known what's going to happen". "This thing just started gradually getting worse and worse and we haven't had that before and nobody quite knew what was going to happen and what to expect." State Opposition Leader Vincent Tarzia was also critical of the state government's response. After relief measures to affected industries, he wants the government to commit some funding towards a royal commission. "The premier and the government have been far too slow to respond, given the significant scale of the environmental damage that has been caused by this algal bloom," Mr Tarzia said. "We want to understand exactly what is driving this ... there's a whole range of theories, some people are saying it's got something to do with the desal plant, others are saying it's marine heatwaves, others are saying nutrient runoffs. "The government is spending millions and millions of dollars in bringing a climate conference here to South Australia, now we think $1 million or $2 million for a royal commission after the initial funding has gone out the door to affected people and businesses, we think that is a worthwhile investment. "A royal commission is one of the highest levels of parliamentary scrutiny that we can apply because we don't want to see any cover-ups here." The state government has pushed back on that demand, and has said it would prefer to spend the money supporting scientists. Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson, which encompasses the popular beach suburbs of Glenelg and Brighton, said the council had been forced to redirect staff away from their usual duties of fixing roads and footpaths, to clean up dead marine sea life washing up on the beaches. She said someone has to help pay for that and hopes some of the funding might be directed that way. "Obviously it's been a big drain on our resources and it's imperative for us to keep our beaches clean," she said. "But we'd also be very concerned about tourism going into the summer months and how that's going to affect our tourism precincts." While making the $14 million announcement yesterday, Federal Environment Minister Murray Watt stopped short of declaring the algal bloom a national disaster. Premier Peter Malinauskas said while he welcomed the funding, a sum he said his government asked for, he had also hoped for a national disaster declaration. "We've asked for $14 million which is a line to a suite of measures that we have formulated as a state government and we believe will make a difference on the ground," he said. "We are saying as a state government, and this is where I guess there is a point of difference between us and our federal colleagues, that we believe this should be declared as a natural disaster formally. That would unlock federal funding. "This is a natural disaster, I think it needs to be treated as a natural disaster." Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson said the council had also called on the government to declare a national disaster and was critical of the government's visit yesterday. She said she had written to both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Environment Minister, but was yet to formally hear back. "The community really wants to hear from the Prime Minister and the Environment Minister what is happening. I think yesterday didn't really cover off what we wanted," she said. "We want to have more answers about what's happening, what's caused this because in the vacuum of information conspiracy theories are taking root and I think we really need to address what the causes are and how we are going to solve this."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
"We See You. We Thank You." Convenience Stores Nationwide Honor First Responders During Annual 24/7 Day
Yesway joins 35,000 stores nationwide in celebrating first responders while raising funds for disaster relief FORT WORTH, Texas, July 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, July 24, the U.S. convenience store industry will unite for the seventh annual 24/7 Day, a nationwide celebration recognizing everyday heroes—including first responders, EMTs, doctors, nurses, 9-1-1 professionals, and American Red Cross volunteers—who serve our communities around the clock. Yesway, one of the fastest-growing convenience store chains in the United States, with Yesway and Allsup's stores located in Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska, proudly announces its participation, joining convenience retailers and suppliers nationwide to honor first responders and raise funds for the American Red Cross. This year, Yesway and Allsup's stores will show appreciation by offering: A free 30.4 oz Core Hydration water to all first responders on July 24* A free fountain drink of any size from July 21 to July 24 These complimentary items are available to firefighters, doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, Red Cross personnel, and 911 operators in uniform or with valid identification as a token of gratitude for their continued service and dedication. "At Yesway, community support is central to our mission," said Tom Trkla, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Yesway. "We are honored to stand alongside the NACS Foundation and our industry peers in celebrating 24/7 Day. First responders are the lifeblood of the communities we serve, and this annual tradition is one meaningful way we can express our gratitude for their courage, commitment, and tireless efforts." This year's theme "We See You. We Thank You," speaks to the often-unheralded work that first responders do—running toward disasters when others must evacuate or flee. The national 24/7 Day celebration raises awareness and recognizes these heroes from one of their largest supporters— convenience store retailers and industry suppliers. Across the country, more than 90 convenience retailing companies and brands will honor first responders with unique offers, and the event will also raise awareness of, and donations for, the Red Cross. Convenience stores are vital hubs in every community: 93% of Americans live within 10 minutes of one. With more than 152,000 convenience stores nationwide, the industry cumulatively conducts 160 million transactions daily, sells 80% of the nation's fuel, and donates more than $1 billion a year to charitable causes. Emergencies occur every day, and the American Red Cross, supported by convenience industry partners like Yesway, plays a critical role in helping those affected: The Red Cross responds to an emergency every eight minutes Each year, it addresses an average of 65,000 disasters 95% of its disaster relief workforce are volunteers "We hope you will join us in supporting the heroes who are always here for us, helping others and giving so much of themselves in times of incredible need," said Nathan Measom, Director of Cause Marketing for the American Red Cross. "Our continued partnership with the NACS Foundation is one of the most critical ways we highlight the work done each year in communities across the United States, which is not often seen by the public. It's our honor to shine a light on these heroes and thank them for their incredible effort." "The 24/7 Day celebration was born from the realization of the deep connection between first responders and the convenience store community," said Stephanie Sikorski, Executive Director of the NACS Foundation. "We've heard too often that 'nothing good happens after zero-dark-thirty,' but our research shows that these small hours are when first responders and convenience stores unite across a range of efforts, from setting up for a disaster relief effort or simply getting a cup of coffee or healthy snack during a shift to keep energy high. We are proud to support these efforts, which keep our communities strong." *Offer valid only on Thursday, July 24, 2025. To find the Yesway or Allsup's store closest to you, please visit or and to share stories and appreciation for hometown heroes and first responders on social media using the hashtag #247Day. Editor's note: Contact Erin Vadala, Warner Communications; (617) 669-1560; erin@ to arrange interviews. High-resolution images and graphics are available upon request. About Yesway – Yesway is one of the fastest-growing convenience store operators in the United States. Established in 2015, Yesway is a multi-branded platform headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, operating 444 stores across Texas, New Mexico, South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Wyoming, Oklahoma, and Nebraska. Yesway operates its portfolio primarily under two successful brands, Yesway and Allsup's, with sites that are differentiated through a leading foodservice offering – featuring Allsup's famous deep-fried burrito – and a wide variety of high-quality grocery items and private-label products. Yesway's geographic footprint consists of stores located in attractive rural and suburban markets across the Southwest and Midwest, where it is often the convenience retail destination of choice and effectively the local grocer. The Yesway team has a successful track record of growth through acquisitions and believes it is well-positioned to continue to solidify its market position and increase its store count. Yesway has received numerous industry awards for its growth initiatives, management team, loyalty program, and employees' contributions to the industry. To learn more about Yesway, visit About the NACS Foundation NACS Foundation is the 501(c)3 charitable arm of NACS, the global industry association dedicated to advancing convenience and fuel retailing. In partnership with fuel retail, convenience and suppliers across the U.S., the NACS Foundation propels brighter futures by unifying and amplifying the philanthropic and charitable activities of the industry in communities across America. To learn more, visit or visit us on Facebook at @TheNACSFoundation and X at @NACS_Foundation. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Yesway Sign in to access your portfolio
