Latest Disaster planning and response News
Drought emergency declared for northern Italy, frees up aid
ROME (AP) — The Italian government on Monday declared a state of emergency for much of the rain-parched north amid a drought, freeing up 36.5 million euros (about $38 million) in funds for the heavily agricultural regions. The aid was approved at a late evening Cabinet meeting. ...
Heavy rains, floods prompt evacuations of Sydney suburbs
SYDNEY (AP) — Thousands of residents in Sydney suburbs were told to evacuate their homes on Sunday after heavy rains caused floodwaters to rise and rivers to overflow in what authorities called life-threatening emergencies. The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe weather warning...
Greece gets European assistance for summer wildfire season
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece is receiving European assistance for the summer wildfire season, with the first group of firefighters arriving in Athens. The 28 Romanian firefighters were welcomed Saturday by Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister Christos Stylianides and the...
California governor acts to advance wildfire recovery
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed states of emergency in Santa Barbara and Monterey counties on Friday to help the process of recovery from recent wildfires. The proclamations allow the California Department of Transportation to request immediate...
Beshear announces another round of tornado-recovery funding
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear has announced another round of state assistance for regions of Kentucky hit by tornadoes last December. The nearly $800,000 in funding will go to Hopkins and Taylor counties, the governor said Thursday. More than $655,000 will...
Improving weather aids fight against Sierra Nevada wildfire
BRIDGEPORT, Calif. (AP) — Improving weather helped firefighters stop the spread of a Sierra Nevada wildfire that forced evacuation of several hundred people from their homes and injured 13 firefighters and a civilian, authorities said Thursday. The Rices Fire remained at 904 acres...
WVa National Guard's full-time pandemic response to end
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The West Virginia National Guard’s full-time response to the COVID-19 pandemic will end Friday, Gov. Jim Justice said. Justice first activated the National Guard to assist with the state’s pandemic response in March 2020. Among their duties, guard...
FEMA releases largest update to its mobile app in a decade
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is releasing the largest update to its mobile application in a decade, the agency announced today. FEMA is releasing the app at the beginning of a hurricane season that experts predict will be above average and a wildfire season that's already devastating,...
Biden grants South Dakota disaster declaration for May storm
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday granted South Dakota's request for a presidential disaster declaration to aid the recovery from May storms that included over a dozen tornadoes. Gov. Kristi Noem requested the declaration, which allows the Federal Emergency...
Taliban and US officials to meet amid quake relief efforts
ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghan finance and central bank officials from the Taliban-led government departed for Qatar on Wednesday to meet with U.S. officials, the Taliban said. The meeting follows last week’s deadly earthquake, which brought into focus how relief and emergency aid efforts have...
