The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says money available to help communities hit by disasters has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency tells lawmakers she has encouraged the agency’s inspector general to review whether an employee was acting alone when directing workers helping hurricane victims to avoid homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

The leader of the Federal Emergency Management Agency says a worker has been fired after she directed workers helping hurricane survivors to avoid homes with yard signs supporting President-elect Donald Trump.

New research shows Russia has worked to amplify false and misleading claims about the U.S. government's response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton as part of the Kremlin's efforts to manipulate Americans before the Nov. 5 election.

A sheriff says witnesses reported seeing a group of armed people harassing hurricane relief workers in a remote Tennessee community last weekend.

Officials say federal disaster workers have resumed door-to-door visits as part of hurricane recovery efforts in North Carolina.

Milton is set to become the second hurricane to strike Florida in two weeks, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency is once again positioning supplies and personnel where they’re needed and coordinating with state and local officials.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has been fighting misinformation since Helene slammed into Florida nearly two weeks ago.

Vice President Kamala Harris is calling former President Donald Trump “incredibly irresponsible” for spreading falsehoods about the federal response to Hurricane Helene’s destruction.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is again forcefully pushing back against false claims and conspiracy theories about how her agency is responding to Hurricane Helene.

The U.S. government’s top disaster relief official says false claims and conspiracy theories about the federal response to Hurricane Helene, which are being spread most prominently by Donald Trump, are “demoralizing” aid workers and creating fear in people who need recovery assistance.

The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Milton is intensifying and will likely be a major hurricane before it slams into the storm-ravaged Florida coast, most likely on Wednesday.

False and misleading claims about Hurricane Helene are spreading about the storm and recovery efforts.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is tasked with helping states and communities hit by disasters like Hurricane Helene.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says the agency tasked with helping communities recover from Hurricane Helene and other natural disasters does not have enough money to make it through the hurricane season.

Former President Donald Trump is criticizing the Biden administration’s response to widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, even as his supporters call for cuts to federal agencies that warn of weather disasters and deliver relief to hard-hit communities.

Two private power companies in Puerto Rico have come under scrutiny while presenting plans to stabilize the island's crumbling electric grid as officials demanded immediate action to minimize chronic power outages.

Hawaii's congressional representatives say the nation’s disaster relief fund needs to be replenished so the U.S. government can continue to help survivors of Maui’s deadly wildfires and other disasters around the country.

Thousands of people live downstream from dams yet may not always realize the risks.

An Associated Press review has found that thousands of people may be paying more for flood insurance or remain unaware of the dangers of dam failures because of conflicting federal policies.

An Associated Press review has found that thousands of people may be paying more for flood insurance or remain unaware of the dangers of dam failures because of conflicting federal policies.

The Disaster Fund has been depleted again, delaying aid for Hurricane Beryl victims. #FEMAFunding #HurricaneBeryl #DisasterRelief

You can make your voice heard by reaching out to your local state representative with claims if you're still awaiting FEMA funds. #HurricaneBeryl #FEMA #HoustonStrong #DisasterRecovery

Its been nearly three weeks since Hurricane Beryl hit the Houston area, leaving millions without power and homes damaged.

Hurricane Beryl has left a trail of devastation in Houston, with thousands still without power and widespread damage. As the community begins to rebuild, officials warn of rising scams targeting vulnerable residents. Tips from the Texas Department of Insurance and FEMA can help you avoid falling victim to fraud. #HurricaneBeryl #HoustonStrong #DisasterRecovery

Acting Governor Dan Patrick announced Friday that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved the Major Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Beryl to include 15 Texas counties he requested for FEMA’s Individual Assistance program.

The head of the Homeland Security Department says the agency tasked with responding to disasters across the country is prepared as it goes into what is expected to be an intense hurricane and wildfire season.

Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has provided resources to help support resident who were impacted by severe storms last month.

'Do I have to pay for things upfront? How long will a reimbursement take?' 'Why did I get denied for FEMA benefits?' 'Does FEMA check immigration status?' KPRC 2 asked FEMA all these questions and more to get the answers you need following the recent storms in our area.

The upcoming hurricane season is anticipated to be “above-average,” potentially causing those in its path to suffer from property damages. Here is how federal assistance may help you in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

FEMA opened Disaster Recovery Centers in Houston and Coldspring on Friday, May 24 for in-person assistance to help people affected the the severe storms, tornadoes, flooding and derecho winds that began April 26, 2024.

Federal aid is now available through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and affected individuals can apply online, via the FEMA app, or by phone.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency has toured the Houston area to assess the damage from last week’s deadly storms.

The Houston Downtown Management District says over 2,500 windows were reportedly damaged in Thursday’s storm.

Texas officials say power outages could last weeks in parts of Houston after thunderstorms with hurricane-force winds tore through the city and killed at least four people.

As communities in East Texas begin the process of rebuilding after a week of storms and flooding, FEMA is trying a new approach to make the process more efficient.

Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator Deanne Criswell says “our heart aches for the loss of life” in tornadoes that left four dead and about 100 injured in Oklahoma.

California cities and counties still don’t know how much they’ll have to pay for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pandemic program to house homeless people in hotel rooms.

Dozens of journalists representing diverse media outlets gathered at the Southwest News Group in Houston last month for a roundtable discussion hosted by Houston Ethnic Media.

The federal agency in charge of emergency management is changing its program that helps those who survive wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has launched a #WinterReady campaign to help those be prepared ahead of freezing temperatures -- especially people with disabilities and older adults who are often left without assistance.

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says he he wants 3,000 condos and homes normally rented to Maui tourists converted to long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are still living in hotels.

The White House is asking lawmakers for more than $23 billion in emergency funding to help the government respond to the natural disasters that have ripped through the U.S. this year.

Thousands of people displaced by the deadliest U.S. wildfire in over a century are facing uncertainty as they try to find housing in an expensive housing market that’s also in high demand as a vacation spot.

If your cellphone was on at 2:20 p.m. Eastern time you should have heard a loud noise and seen a message flash across your screen.

President Joe Biden ordered federal agencies to hold Norfolk Southern accountable for its February derailment in eastern Ohio and appoint a FEMA official to oversee East Palestine's recovery, but he stopped short of declaring a disaster.

Some Vermont residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed during severe flooding in July still face housing shortages.

The White House will seek another $4 billion to address natural disasters as part of its supplemental funding request, bringing the total to $16 billion.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said Friday it has approved more than $5.6 million in assistance to nearly 2,000 households in Maui so far as the federal government tries to help survivors of the devastating wildfires.

Nonprofits and volunteers in Maui have cobbled together countless improvised and urgent solutions since the deadliest wildfire in over a century hit their community.

Poverty is adding to the challenges of recovering from a massive tornado that pushed through Mississippi.

As California begins to dry out from its recent deluges, one stark reality is coming into focus: Only 230,000 homes and other buildings are insured against flooding in a state with about 39 million residents.

Government officials say documents aimed at helping Alaska Natives apply for aid following typhoon damage last fall featured nonsensical phrases instead of useful instructions.

Christine Barrett and her family had to climb on top of their kitchen cabinets because of flooding that surged into their house during Hurricane Ian.

President Joe Biden says the entire United States "hurts" along with the people of Florida after Hurricane Ian flooded communities across the state, knocked out power and raised fear of a "substantial loss of life.”.

Nearly five years have passed since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory of 3.2 million people.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has developed a new strategy to better engage with hundreds of Native American tribes facing climate change-related disasters.

One million fewer people may purchase federal flood insurance by the end of the decade, according to a financial report obtained by the AP.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is releasing the largest update to its mobile application in a decade, the agency announced today.

Hot real estate markets have made some homeowners wary of participating in voluntary flood buyout programs.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency may have been double-billed for the funerals of hundreds of people who died of COVID-19, the Government Accountability Office said in a new report Wednesday.

A federal appeals court has upheld President Joe Biden’s requirement that all federal employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The federal government has provided more than $2 billion to help cover funeral costs for more than 300,000 families of people who died from COVID-19.

President Joe Biden says “it’s time for Americans to get back to work” and he's announcing new efforts to allow people to return to normal activities safely after two years of pandemic disruptions.

One of the FEMA testing sites will be placed in Harris County.

Families who have lost loved ones to COVID-19 can apply for reimbursement from the federal government for up to $9,000 to cover the cost of funeral expenses.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Jan. 7 on whether the Biden administration can order that workers at private companies and health care employees be vaccinated for COVID-19.

A revamped federal flood insurance program means higher rates for many homeowners — including in areas where coverage isn’t required because the government previously deemed them low or moderate risk.

The White House says President Joe Biden is extending the federal government’s 100% reimbursement of COVID-19 emergency response costs to states, tribes and territories through April 1, 2022.

U.S. officials are rolling out a new flood insurance program they say will more accurately calculate rates to reflect a home's risk.

Response to disasters such as Hurricane Ida falls primarily to state and local officials, but the federal government is playing an important support role.

Response to disasters such as Hurricane Ida falls primarily to state and local officials, but the federal government is playing an important support role.

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks have brought hundreds of people trapped by Hurricane Ida’s floodwaters to safety.

Rescuers in boats, helicopters and high-water trucks have brought hundreds of people trapped by Hurricane Ida’s floodwaters to safety.

President Joe Biden says his administration needs to “bring every resource to bear” to deal with natural disasters as huge swaths of the country have endured a spurt of extreme weather just as the summer season is starting.

President Joe Biden says he's doubling U.S. emergency spending to help communities prepare for hurricanes and other extreme weather events.

A Houston woman has pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme that she orchestrated to get money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Harris County Precinct 4 will offer Federal Emergency Management Agency application assistance this week to those affected by Winter Storm Uri.

Officials said Friday, March 26, 2021, that the vaccine sites have provided nearly a half-million doses so far. The two sites in Oakland and Los Angeles opened in February for an eight-week pilot program that concludes on April 11. AdOfficials in the county and city of Los Angeles are in discussions about maintaining the site in some fashion, said Dr. Paul Simon, the chief science officer for Los Angeles County. “California’s commitment to equity is much more than just two vaccination sites," she said. It was updated on March 27, 2021 to correct that vaccination sites will close April 11, not April 15.

FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2019 file photo, immigrants seeking asylum walk at the ICE South Texas Family Residential Center, in Dilley, Texas. The number of children crossing by themselves, mostly from Central America, appears to be surging in particular in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas. AdThe total of 561 unaccompanied minors from Monday offers a snapshot of how quickly conditions have changed along the border. “They’re all coming across the border, they’re coming fast, and they’re wearing Biden T-shirts,” said the Oklahoma Republican. The Biden administration last week ended a Trump policy that made relatives reluctant to contact HHS to retrieve children for fear of being deported themselves.

FILE - In this Thursday, May 2, 2019 file photo, Border Patrol agents hold a news conference prior to a media tour of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection temporary facility near the Donna International Bridge in Donna, Texas. President Joe Bidens administration is refusing to allow lawyers who inspect facilities where immigrant children are detained to enter a Border Patrol tent in Texas where agents are holding hundreds of youths. – The Biden administration is turning to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help managing and caring for record numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children who are streaming into the United States by illegally crossing the border with Mexico. During an record influx of unaccompanied minors in 2014, the Obama administration also turned to FEMA for help coordinating the governmentwide response. AdPresident Joe Biden has ended the Trump-era practice of expelling immigrant children who cross the border alone, but maintained expulsions of immigrant families and single adults.

FILE - In this Monday, March 1, 2021 file photo, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. The Biden administration is turning to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help managing and caring for record numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children who are streaming into the U.S. from Mexico. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas says FEMA will support a government-wide effort over the next three months, Saturday, March 13, 2021. – The Biden administration is turning to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help managing and caring for record numbers of unaccompanied immigrant children who are streaming into the United States by illegally crossing the border with Mexico. During an record influx of unaccompanied minors in 2014, the Obama administration also turned to FEMA for help coordinating the governmentwide response.

Texans in certain counties whose property was damaged by this month’s deadly winter storm can apply for federal assistance for things not covered by insurance. That is in addition to the 77 counties President Joe Biden’s administration included in a major disaster declaration this weekend. Texans without insurance in counties under Biden’s major disaster declaration can go ahead and apply for federal aid. AdEarl Armstrong, a FEMA spokesperson, said that eligible Texans should file their insurance claim first then shortly after apply for disaster assistance. You can also visit a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in person by looking for the nearest location here.

If your home was damaged by the storm, you shouldn’t wait until you get assistance money to begin the recovery and repair process, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Vehicles wait at a drive-thru vaccine clinic held at NRG Park in Houston on Jan. 15, 2021. HOUSTON – Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said Friday that a Federal Emergency Management Agency COVID-19 vaccination super site will open Tuesday at NRG Park. Read more about vaccination super sites. Hidalgo said in a tweet that the site will vaccinate 42,000 people a week for three weeks. People will be selected from the Harris County waitlist and the City of Houston’s waitlist.

Credit: REUTERSREUTERS/Kevin LamarquePresident Joe Biden said Friday that he’ll sign a major disaster declaration for Texas after millions in the state suffered power outages and water disruptions during prolonged freezing temperatures. A major disaster declaration is distinct from an emergency declaration. It essentially provides a wider range of assistance through “federal assistance programs for individuals and public infrastructure.”Ad"I’m going to sign that declaration once it’s in front of me,” he said Friday. Eight Texas Democrats penned a letter to Biden Thursday urging him to sign the major disaster declaration for the state. “As the conditions continue, federal assistance from FEMA will be vital in ensuring that communities are able to repair damage and undertake crucial mitigation work,” the letter said.

HOUSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency said on social media Thursday that a false phone number is being used to scam people seeking help amid the winter weather disaster in Texas. FEMA said the best information will come from local officials and the Texas Division of Emergency Management. KPRC 2 has looked into this number and learned the number is to the IT department of FEMA, and helps people reset log in information. Screenshot of an image circulating on social media on Feb. 18, 2021. No links for payment or claim information related to this Texas disaster has been updated.

Members of the National Guard help motorists check in at a federally-run COVID-19 vaccination site set up on the campus of California State University of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2021. FEMA opened its first COVID-19 inoculation sites in Los Angeles and Oakland, part of a broader effort by the Biden administration to get shots into arms more quickly and reach minority communities hit hard by the outbreak. In snowy Chicago, Public Health Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady said more than a hundred city vaccine sites didn’t get shipments Tuesday because of the extreme weather, leading to many cancellations. The Los Angeles site is “proximate to a community that has been disproportionately impacted by this pandemic,” Gov. “The effort here is to address that issue forthrightly.”The Biden administration plans to establish 100 federally assisted vaccination sites nationwide in cooperation with state authorities.

Here are things to know for Thursday, Feb. 11:1. Between them, the Texas sites will offer 10,000 vaccine doses per day, seven days per week, for the foreseeable future. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the Houston site will get 6,000 doses per day in addition to the weekly state allotment. The Houston site is expected to being vaccinations on Wednesday, February 24th, representatives for the Governor’s and Lee’s office said. For CVS Pharmacy locations that will begin to offer COVID-19 vaccinations on Feb. 12, appointments were supposed to become available for booking as early as Feb. 9 as stores receive shipments of the vaccine.

Between them, the Texas sites will offer 10,000 vaccine doses per day, seven days per week, for the foreseeable future. Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee said the Houston site will get 6,000 doses per day in addition to the weekly state allotment. The ‘super sites’ in Houston, Arlington, Dallas and two others in New York are part of a FEMA pilot program to vaccinate vulnerable populations throughout the country. Lee and the governor also said the pilot program may expand to other vaccination sites in neighborhoods throughout Greater Houston in the coming weeks and months. “FEMA now has a large role in ensuring mass vaccinations and mass immunity across the nation,” Jackson Lee said.

People waited for hours to receive their drive-thru COVID-19 vaccine at the Fair Park vaccination site in Dallas on Feb. 8. (Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune)(AP) – Three federally-run mass vaccination sites aimed at underserved communities are expected to open before the end of the month in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, Gov. "Thank you to our partners at FEMA for working with the State of Texas to establish these vaccination sites and help us protect our most vulnerable." More than 2.5 million Texans have received the first dose of either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine, which requires two doses. Some 39,000 Texans have died from the virus, which has infected more than 2 million in the state.

Plastic surgeon Daniel Suver receives the Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine from Andrea Castelblanco during a vaccine clinic on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, at Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage is averaging about 60 new COVID-19 cases a day, said Dr. Janet Johnston, the epidemiologist for the Anchorage Health Department. More than 90 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will be produced in Japan. Ad___SACRAMENTO -- California reported its second-highest number of COVID-19 deaths — while the rates of new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations continue to drop. ___ALBANY, N.Y. — New York may have undercounted COVID-19 deaths among nursing home residents by thousands.

State health officials Monday reported fewer than 13,000 people were being treated for the virus in Texas hospitals, marking the seventh consecutive day of declining patient loads. Some hospitals and clinics have reported having to cancel immunization appointments because they didn’t have enough vaccine doses to distribute. A little more than half of Ochsner employees have yet to get the vaccine, officials said at a news conference Monday. Health officials are also worried about variants that were first reported in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The Democratic governor says Nevada officials were told vaccine doses would be administered to the states based on population.

President Joe Biden speaks about the coronavirus in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Washington. “We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and it will take months to turn this around,” Biden said at the White House. A key difference is that under Biden, the federal government is assuming full responsibility for the COVID response. The U.S. mask order for travel implemented by Biden applies to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. Biden is seeking to expand testing and vaccine availability, with the goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office.

But Biden officials say they're hampered by lack of cooperation from the Trump administration during the transition. AdThe U.S. mask order for travel being implemented by Biden will apply to airports and planes, ships, intercity buses, trains and public transportation. The Biden plan estimates that a national vaccination strategy with expanded testing requires $160 billion, and he wants another $170 billion to aid the reopening of schools and universities. As part of his COVID-19 strategy, Biden will order the establishment of a COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force to ensure that minority and underserved communities are not left out of the government's response. Biden is ordering FEMA to reimburse states for the full cost of using their National Guards to set up vaccination centers.

FILE - In this Monday, June 20, 2016 file photo, smoke from wildfires burning in Angeles National Forest fills the sky behind the Los Angeles skyline. And of the more than 3,000 counties, Los Angeles County has the highest ranking in theNational Risk Index. Chiu)Spending her life in Los Angeles, Morgan Andersen knows natural disasters all too well. And of the more than 3,000 counties, Los Angeles County has the highest ranking in the National Risk Index. The way FEMA calculates the index spotlights places long known as danger spots, like Los Angeles, but some other places highlighted run counter to what most people would think.

The survey by the RAND Corp. found that such civil rights violations were “common” at FEMA, reported by about 29% of the employees surveyed last year. It found that 20% of FEMA employees reported harassment and discrimination on the basis of sex. A little more than 18% reported violations based on their race or ethnicity. That earlier survey found 24% of women in the military experienced sexual harassment, slightly higher than what was found for women at FEMA. Coreen Farris, the lead author of RAND’s report on FEMA, said the results will provide a baseline for a follow-up survey planned for this spring.

“Just got off the phone with President Trump who has approved our Major Disaster Declaration request. White House spokesman Judd Deere previously said California’s disaster declaration request “was not supported by the relevant data” needed for approval. Newsom asked for the major disaster declaration on Sept. 28 to cover fires in Fresno, Los Angeles, Madera, Mendocino, San Bernardino, San Diego and Siskiyou counties. The White House said Trump quickly approved wildfire relief that was supported by damage estimates. PG&E equipment is being examined in connection with the Zogg Fire in Northern California, and Southern California Edison equipment is under scrutiny in the Bobcat Fire near Los Angeles.

State officials on Wednesday announced that an extra $300 in weekly federal unemployment benefits will stop. Texans receiving unemployment benefits who qualified for an extra $300 in weekly jobless payments issued by the Trump administration will no longer receive the additional funds after claims from last week are paid, according to the Texas Workforce Commission. In August, President Donald Trump had announced the extra weekly payments after an additional $600 weekly payment approved by Congress to help offset losses tied to the pandemic expired in July. After news of the additional funding was made, the workforce commission said over 347,000 Texans currently receiving unemployment benefits would not qualify for the additional $300 weekly payment as of Aug. 24. Others did not qualify because they were receiving less than $100 in weekly unemployment benefits.

HOUSTON – The Federal Emergency Management Agency ended the Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program, which provided an additional $300 a week to qualified unemployment recipients impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release. FEMA previously approved TWC funding requests for the benefits weeks between Aug. 1 to Sept. 5. Recipients will continue to receive normal weekly benefit amounts for any benefit weeks for which they are eligible. The Lost Wages Assistance Program was a temporary provision established after the expiration of the $600 Federal Pandemic Assistance Program, a part of the CARES Act. For more information on eligibility requirements, available benefits and questions about the unemployment process, visit TWC’s COVID-19 FAQ page.