All articles tagged with #disaster management
Carlos Mazón, the regional leader of Valencia, resigned after being criticized for his handling of the deadly floods that caused over 230 deaths, including controversy over a long lunch during the disaster and perceived government mismanagement. His resignation follows public outrage and ongoing investigations into the authorities' response to the floods.
Cameron Hamilton, the former FEMA chief appointed by Trump, recounts a hostile relationship with DHS officials, disagreements over FEMA's future, and his subsequent firing after contradicting Trump and Noem on FEMA's abolition, highlighting internal conflicts and administrative challenges within the agency during Trump's presidency.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) has suspended over 20 employees who criticized the agency's direction under President Trump, particularly regarding budget cuts and interference, amid ongoing scrutiny of disaster preparedness and response.
Approximately 180 FEMA employees have signed a letter to Congress warning that current leadership under Trump is impairing the agency's ability to manage emergencies effectively, risking a disaster comparable to Katrina.
Juneau's temporary levee successfully protected most homes from a record-breaking flood caused by glacial outburst, though some areas experienced seepage and flooding, highlighting the need for long-term solutions amid ongoing concerns about future higher floods.
Indian and US space agencies launched the Nisar satellite, a sophisticated radar system capable of detecting minute changes on Earth's surface, to aid in disaster preparedness and climate change monitoring, marking a significant milestone in international space collaboration.
The Department of Defense awarded a contract to Disaster Management Group, owned by Nathan Albers with a controversial history involving undocumented workers, to build the largest migrant detention camp at Fort Bliss, amid broader efforts to expand immigration detention capacity in the US.
A bipartisan bill in the U.S. House of Representatives proposes that FEMA's chief report directly to the president instead of the Homeland Security secretary, aiming to elevate the agency's status and grant it more authority, amid ongoing debates about FEMA's future and responses to natural disasters.
Researchers at Columbia University have developed the concept of 'Robot Metabolism,' enabling robots to grow, heal, and self-improve by integrating parts from their environment or other robots, with potential applications in disaster response and space exploration, marking a significant step toward autonomous, biologically inspired machines.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, initially critical of FEMA's response, has shifted to a more positive view following devastating floods in Texas, amid efforts to overhaul the agency under Trump's FEMA rebrand.
A week after deadly flooding in Texas, officials face criticism over their response during the critical early hours, with questions about warning alerts, evacuation procedures, and leadership, as at least 120 people died and many remain missing, highlighting concerns about preparedness and communication failures.
Camp Mystic's cabins, built in flood-prone areas along the Guadalupe River, were inundated during a severe flood on July 4, resulting in the deaths of at least 27 children and staff. Despite longstanding awareness of flood risks and regulations against construction in floodways, new cabins were built in hazardous zones, highlighting failures in risk management and planning. The tragedy underscores the need for better flood risk assessment and relocation of vulnerable structures, especially those housing children.
Noem claims that 1 in 6 survivors of the Lahaina wildfires engaged in survival sex, highlighting issues with FEMA's response and management, which she criticizes as decades of neglect and mismanagement, while the Biden administration defends FEMA's efforts amid ongoing debates about its future.
Local officials in Kerr County, Texas, avoided answering key questions about their response to the deadly flooding, including the timeline of emergency alerts, as the death toll rose to 110 with 173 still missing. Despite ongoing rescue efforts involving the National Guard, helicopters, and drones, officials focused on recovery, refusing to disclose details about the emergency management response or preparedness.
The White House defends the staffing levels at the National Weather Service amid criticism that recent layoffs and vacancies hampered Texas flood response, with officials asserting that timely warnings were still provided and that the staffing issues did not impact disaster management.