Latest news with #emergencyaid
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
FEMA faces backlog of emergency aid requests as hurricane season nears
The Federal Emergency Management Agency faces a backlog of unprocessed emergency aid requests as hurricane season approaches — a sign of how the White House's insistence that states shoulder more of the burden for disaster response is playing out at the agency, current and former FEMA officials say. Early Thursday, the agency's daily operations briefing listed 19 pending declaration requests, the oldest from January. By Friday morning, amid pressure from governors and members of Congress, FEMA had processed 10 requests, denying two and approving eight. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), who had publicly complained about the pace of FEMA's decision-making, posted Friday on X: 'Following our discussion Wednesday, President Trump has approved multiple disaster declarations for Missouri.' Eleven requests, the earliest filed April 1, are still pending, according to FEMA's early Friday operations briefing — a backlog that experts still consider unusual. Those pending requests include Missouri's application, filed Monday, for an emergency declaration to aid its recovery from deadly storms last week. President Donald Trump is closely monitoring the situation in Missouri and is in contact with local officials, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said Thursday. 'The Trump administration remains committed to empowering and working with state and local governments to invest in their own resilience before disaster strikes,' she said. A FEMA spokesperson said that the agency is working with state and local officials to conduct damage assessments in storm-affected areas and that decisions on emergency declaration requests are 'based on policy, not politics.' But emergency-management experts said the backlog of unprocessed requests is abnormal and could signal that FEMA is dragging its feet. Applications for disaster declarations are made by governors to the president and, if granted, unlock a wide array of federal assistance — which can include help both responding to the initial emergency and making permanent repairs. Slow-walking them risks leaving states in limbo, the experts said, and delays state officials from appealing denials or pursuing alternative recovery plans. 'The American people, they have an expectation that the federal government will be there for them on their worst day,' said Michael Coen, a former FEMA chief of staff in the Obama and Biden administrations. 'If that expectation needs to be adjusted, the federal government should explain what the new threshold is.' The Trump administration has signaled that it wants states to take more responsibility for their own disaster recoveries, citing complaints that FEMA can be overly bureaucratic in responding to emergencies. An April memo from former acting FEMA administrator Cameron Hamilton, obtained by The Post, recommended that the agency raise thresholds to declare fewer disasters by June 1, the start of what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted could be a busy hurricane season. 'It's quite clear for us that the lack of interest in approving federal emergency declarations is [because] they're trying to force states to handle it,' said a FEMA analyst, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they fear retaliation from the agency. FEMA's level of urgency came into question this week after powerful storms swept through Kentucky and Missouri, killing over 20 people and destroying thousands of structures. Missouri requested that FEMA authorize two types of disaster declarations: an emergency declaration, which is generally approved within days and releases up to $5 million of aid, and a major disaster declaration, which makes more money and types of federal aid available than an emergency declaration does. Kentucky also requested a major disaster declaration. All three requests are pending. Caitlin Durkovich, a former deputy homeland security adviser at the White House under President Joe Biden, said she believed the recent storms in Missouri met the threshold for a major disaster declaration. 'We would do this in a matter of hours,' she said. Missouri, which has faced a torrent of extreme weather in the past three months, has made three major disaster declaration requests in that span. The older two, from April, were approved only Friday. Hawley said on Monday that 'FEMA needs to come in strong' after the storms. He has lobbied Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem and Trump to release federal funds. Hawley's office, asked whether he supported proposals to reduce the aid FEMA disburses, said he voted for the March stopgap bill that funds FEMA through September. Coen, the former FEMA chief of staff, said the agency's decision to quickly process 10 pending requests is unusual, given the past delays, and showed the agency still responds to pressure from lawmakers and governors. He added that some requests for disaster aid can take time to process. Federal authorities often need days or weeks to conduct damage assessments to approve a major disaster declaration, he said, and certain requests have been delayed for procedural reasons under previous administrations. Another FEMA disaster recovery official, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation from the agency, wrote to The Post that the agency has been hampered by staffing cuts and FEMA leadership has shown 'no sense of urgency whatsoever' in processing declaration requests. 'Even when [Hurricane] Helene hit, we didn't have 19 pending major disaster and emergency declarations,' the official said. The agency's current backlog of 11 pending declaration requests is less unusual, the official said, though 'more typical of when a hurricane hits.' Coen said that while FEMA scaling back its aid to states would be a significant setback for disaster recovery efforts, the agency should be clearer in its change of policy if it intends to tighten its purse. 'States have received no guidance, so states are going to continue to make requests,' Coen said. And more extreme weather looms. As the United States headed into Memorial Day weekend, forecasters were warning that Missouri and other southern Plains states face significant storm and flooding risks over the holiday. Hannah Natanson, Kevin Crowe and Marissa J. Lang contributed to this report.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Volusia deputies, New Smyrna Beach police detail response to stabbing rescue
The Brief A man stabbed in New Smyrna Beach is recovering thanks to a fast response by officers. The suspect was arrested, but the motive remains unknown. Real-time 911 access was key to the rescue effort. NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - The first responders who helped save a man after a stabbing in New Smyrna Beach are now sharing how their swift actions helped stabilize the victim and prevent further harm. What we know A man was stabbed in the neck in New Smyrna Beach and survived thanks to rapid response by local law enforcement. Volusia County Sheriff's Sgt. Brandon King was monitoring the live 911 system and was just half a mile away when the call came in. He and officers from the New Smyrna Beach Police Department arrived quickly, applying emergency aid until paramedics could take over. The suspect, Cory Cotton, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. What we don't know Authorities have yet to determine a motive behind the attack. Investigators said Cotton did not provide any explanation or statements when taken into custody. What they're saying Volusia County Sheriff's Sgt. Brandon King was just a half-mile away when a call about a stabbing came in through the agency's live 911 system. King, listening in real-time, acted immediately. "It's pretty crucial, because instead of waiting for dispatch, you can start going there," he said. King arrived alongside New Smyrna Beach police officers and found the man bleeding from a neck wound. Body camera footage, which has been blurred due to graphic content, shows the victim remaining conscious and even assisting first responders. "I need to get my head above my heart or my neck is going to keep bleeding," the man told them. Officers applied a bandage to slow the bleeding while securing the scene for EMS, who arrived shortly after. "We did what we could to keep the bleeding under control until the paramedics got there," King said. The alleged attacker, Cory Cotton, was arrested at the scene and later charged with aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Investigators said the motive behind the attack remains unclear, and Cotton did not make any statements during the arrest. "This is what we signed up to do," said King. "To help every individual within not only the city, but this county and the state of Florida." What's next The victim remains hospitalized but is recovering. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by the New Smyrna Beach Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
CNA
12-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Former Sweden boss Andersson joins emergency aid drive to Ukraine
Former Sweden national team manager Janne Andersson will dedicate his time to delivering emergency aid to Ukraine with The Blue Light Foundation in Cooperation, Swedish media reports said. Andersson led Sweden to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2018 but ended his seven-year reign as coach in November 2023 after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship in Germany. He announced his retirement from coaching in April and will now use his time to support Ukrainians as they endure the fourth year of the Russian invasion. "I have quit as a football coach and therefore have more time in my life. I want to use that time to do good things," Andersson said in a press release as referenced by Swedish media. "Driving emergency vehicles down to Ukraine as a volunteer..., and helping the Ukrainian people on the ground in that way, it feels really, really good," the 62-year-old added. The donated vehicles and equipment are part of a larger aid package, valued at approximately 30 million SEK ($3.05 million), with the handover set to take place in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The Swedish Blue Light Foundation in Cooperation was formed in 2018 with the aim of using the funds raised to assist colleagues in the Police, Coast Guard, Customs, Rescue Services and Ambulance Care. ($1 = 9.8217 Swedish crowns)
Reuters
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Former Sweden boss Andersson joins emergency aid drive to Ukraine
May 12 (Reuters) - Former Sweden national team manager Janne Andersson will dedicate his time to delivering emergency aid to Ukraine with The Blue Light Foundation in Cooperation, Swedish media reports said. Andersson led Sweden to the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 2018 but ended his seven-year reign as coach in November 2023 after the team failed to qualify for the European Championship in Germany. He announced his retirement from coaching in April and will now use his time to support Ukrainians as they endure the fourth year of the Russian invasion. "I have quit as a football coach and therefore have more time in my life. I want to use that time to do good things," Andersson said in a press release as referenced by Swedish media. "Driving emergency vehicles down to Ukraine as a volunteer..., and helping the Ukrainian people on the ground in that way, it feels really, really good," the 62-year-old added. The donated vehicles and equipment are part of a larger aid package, valued at approximately 30 million SEK ($3.05 million), with the handover set to take place in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv. The Swedish Blue Light Foundation in Cooperation was formed in 2018 with the aim of using the funds raised to assist colleagues in the Police, Coast Guard, Customs, Rescue Services and Ambulance Care. ($1 = 9.8217 Swedish crowns)
