All articles tagged with #fema funding
A severe flood in Texas's Hill Country has resulted in at least 120 deaths and over 160 missing persons, prompting a visit from President Trump and discussions on flood warning systems and FEMA funding, amid ongoing rescue efforts and community support.
Some Kerr County officials preferred informal phone calls over formal flood sirens for flood warnings, but this approach was deemed unreliable, especially after devastating floods in 2025. Despite recognizing the need for upgraded systems and applying for FEMA funds, the county ultimately did not receive federal aid, highlighting challenges in emergency preparedness and funding decisions.
The United States has experienced a record-breaking number of billion-dollar weather disasters in 2023, with 23 such events causing over $57.6 billion in damages and claiming the lives of at least 253 people, according to a report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The deadliest wildfire in over a century struck West Maui, Hawaii, killing 115 people and causing up to $6 billion in damages, while Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Florida's Big Bend coast as the strongest hurricane in 125 years. The increasing frequency of these disasters has raised concerns about the adequacy of FEMA's funding, with the agency's disaster fund expected to run out by mid-September unless Congress approves an additional $16 billion. President Biden has attributed the rise in severe weather events to climate change and urged swift action on FEMA funding.