Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) News

State of Emergency Declared for 2 North Carolina Counties Hit by Tornado

Gov. Roy Cooper has declared a state of emergency in two North Carolina counties which suffered major damage from a tornado. Cooper’s declaration Friday for Guilford and Rockingham counties means state government resources can help governments with recovery efforts. It …

Mississippi’s Coldwater River Reaches Record Flood Level

Volunteers are sandbagging homes in the Mississippi Delta, as heavy rains push a river toward a record flood. Pastor Anthony Dean tells WREG-TV that at least one home has already flooded in Quitman County, as the Coldwater River spreads over …

Disasters Affected 8% of U.S. Population in 2017, FEMA Notes in Review of Historic Year

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supported 59 major disaster declarations and 16 emergency declarations in 2017, a year during which unprecedented disasters affected more than 25 million Americans, almost eight percent of the U.S. population. In its year-end review, …

How Much Harm Did Harvey Do to Texas Homes?

Note: This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. As the state undertakes what could be the biggest housing recovery in American history after Hurricane Harvey, potentially thousands of Texas renters and homeowners trying to rebuild their lives are in …

Ratings of San Antonio’s Wright National Flood Insurance Affirmed

A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the long-term issuer credit rating of “a-” of Wright National Flood Insurance Co. (WNFIC) in San Antonio, Texas. The outlook of these credit ratings (ratings) is stable. The …

Senate Confirms New FEMA Chief Long

Brock Long was cleared by the Senate to become President Donald Trump’s emergency-management director Tuesday after gaining the support of one unlikely constituency: environmentalists. While climate advocates panned Trump’s selections to head the Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Department, they …

Active Atlantic Hurricane Season Looms – as Odds Drop of El Niño Formation

Forecasters again lowered the odds of El Niño forming by year’s end, a scenario that may mean more Atlantic hurricanes at a time when federal agencies charged with predicting and responding to natural disasters lack top administrators. The updated forecast, …

Louisiana Commissioner Requests Flood Insurance Proof of Loss Extension

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon has asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to further extend the filing deadline for Louisiana policyholders impacted by the August flood. FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requires homeowners to file a Proof of Loss …

Paid Claims from Mississippi Tornado Damage Top $31M, And Growing

Insurers have paid out more than $31.6 million on 2,801 claims from tornadoes that hit Mississippi last month. The Mississippi Insurance Department reported the figures through Feb. 3. Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney said immediately after the storms he expects …

Proof of Loss Deadline Extended for Florida Hurricane Matthew Claims

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has granted another extension giving National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders in Florida an additional 60 days to file a complete, signed, and sworn proof of …