disaster aid

For decades, the military treated climate change as a threat. Now it’s backing away from plans to protect people and bases from extreme weather.

The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, a cooperative of more than 100 river communities between Minnesota and Louisiana, held its annual meeting this week in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. In response to FEMA’s uncertain future, the MRCTI, in partnership with Convoy of Hope, announced a new program to deliver assistance to its members within 72 hours of a disaster event.

The Trump administration cancelled a program to fund projects that help prevent storm damage before disasters. Louisiana was set to receive more than $720 million.

State leaders say they remain prepared for this year’s hurricane season, but New Orleans officials fear federal cuts to disaster relief.

Experts say there is widespread misconception about FEMA’s role.

President Joe Biden has approved Louisiana’s request for a major disaster declaration in the wake of Hurricane Francine, Gov. Jeff Landry announced Tuesday.

When we talk about climate change, we hear one word all the time: resilient. We use it to talk about everything from our houses, to our power grid, to ourselves. Earlier this spring, we asked our listeners to tell us how you feel about this word. And you blew up our voicemail box.In this episode of Sea Change, we hear your responses. And we ask: how can we address the physical forces of climate change and the broken social systems that make it an even greater threat? We hear stories about efforts from across the Gulf Coast – from storm-proofing homes to creating neighborhood disaster response groups – to help keep people from needing to be resilient in the first place.

The gym of a Rolling Fork school has become a makeshift hub to get much-needed emergency aid, meals and hope for thousands affected by the tornadoes.

Federal agencies FEMA and HUD are rebuilding an Obama administration program that redirected disaster survivors to apartments rather than trailers. The policy was reversed by the Trump administration and is now being reinstated by the Biden administration.

FEMA disaster relief applications have been extended for Hurricane Ida victims in 25 parishes after Gov. John Bel Edwards’ request was approved. The new deadline is Nov. 29.