Disaster relief

December 15, 2007 -- OLYMPIA – Washington Governor Gregoire today said that the state has requested that the federal government add Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties to the federal disaster declaration for the storm and flooding that began Dec. 1.    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. (12/13/2007) - More than 140 National Guard members in the Midwest responded to a band of deadly, mid-December storms that stretched from eastern Texas to the Ohio Valley and into northern New York and New England.

Missouri Army Guard Officer Candidate Neilson Rudd was one of more than 20 fatalities attributed to the storms which brought freezing rain to more than 10 states and rain, sleet and snow to nearly half the nation.    » read more »

December 11, 2007 -- In anticipation of requests for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist residents of the Midwest suffering from heavy ice storms and extreme winter weather, the Commander of U.S. Northern Command has ordered the deployment of U. S. Army North Defense Coordinating Officers and a Defense Coordinating Element for FEMA Regions V, VI and VII.    » read more »

December 12, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY– Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced President Bush granted his request for federal assistance following this week’s severe winter weather that has crippled communities across the state.

“I appreciate the President’s quick approval of my request for federal assistance,” Blunt said. “We are only just beginning to pick up the pieces from the ice storms and this direct federal assistance will add to our ongoing efforts to assist Missourians with the recovery.”    » read more »

Disaster declaration authorized for all Kansas counties

Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius was notified late today that her request for a federal emergency disaster declaration for all 105 Kansas counties as a result of the ice storm which began December 6th has been authorized by President George W. Bush.    » read more »

December 11, 2007 -- Oklahoma City - Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins today said they will continue to seek all possible federal assistance to help Oklahomans respond to and recover from this week’s ice storms.

“This is without question the worst ice storm in state history, and it will require a historic response from all levels of government,” said Gov. Henry. “We will do whatever it takes to help Oklahomans rebuild and recover from this devastating event.”    » read more »

Request Would Add to Resources Already Assisting Missourians

December 11, 2007 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Seeking to add federal resources to the state resources activated to assist Missourians, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is asking President Bush to approve his request for an Emergency Disaster Declaration for the State of Missouri as a result of severe winter weather. More than 170,000 utility customers statewide experienced power outages from freezing rain and ice.    » read more »

10 December 2007 -- The United Nations is launching a $3.8 billion appeal to provide urgent support to 25 million people in humanitarian emergencies in 24 countries. Nine of the 10 countries in the 2008 Humanitarian appeal are in Africa. The tenth is the occupied Palestinian Territory.    » read more »

December 8, 2007 -- Salem – Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski has received approval for federal aid to repair damage to communities that resulted from severe early-December storms, the Governor's office announced Saturday.    » read more »

Storm Victims will Receive Clothing, Food from New Yorkers

November 23, 2007 -- New York Governor Eliot Spitzer today announced that much-needed aid in the form of clothing, furniture, and canned goods from generous New Yorkers has been sent to survivors of Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic.

The goods, which were collected by National Guard soldiers at the Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx, are enough to fill eight 20-foot-long shipping containers.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, November 20, 2007 ─ The World Bank has offered up to US$250 million in the aftermath of Cyclone Sidr to help millions of Bangladeshis recover and to strengthen the country’s disaster mitigation systems.    » read more »

Bills introduced in wake of devastating Southern California wildfires

November 16, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today introduced a series of bills to encourage state and local governments to improve fire-prevention efforts in areas prone to wildfires, to increase federal recovery aid to victims of major disasters, and to require states to create data bases to keep track of criminal arsonists.    » read more »

November 15, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Bar Association (ABA), on behalf of its Young Lawyers Division (YLD), announced today that a new Memorandum of Agreement was signed increasing the reach and array of legal services delivered to low-income victims of major disasters.    » read more »

November 7, 2007 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today sent a letter to FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison asking him to prepare for the next natural disaster to strike California by storing mobile housing units in the state.

Senator Feinstein’s letter notes that FEMA currently has 2,365 mobile housing units stored in several locations. But none are located in Western states, and the storage facility closest to California is 1,500 miles from the state.

Following is the text of the letter sent by Senator Feinstein:

November 7, 2007    » read more »

November 7, 2007, PASADENA, Calif. -- Damage inspectors are busy contacting California residents who have reported wildfire property damages. Inspections are conducted by contractors working for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to document property damages.

When the inspection takes place, the homeowner or renter must be on hand and show proof of occupancy such as a mortgage payment, utility bill or valid driver's license. If the owner or renter cannot be present at the time of the inspection, they can arrange for someone to represent them.    » read more »