Latest Disaster planning and response News
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...
Northern California wildfire threatens 500 buildings
BRIDGEPORT, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire that erupted in Northern California forced evacuations as it threatened about 500 homes and other buildings Tuesday, authorities said. The Rices Fire erupted at around 2 p.m. near the Yuba River in Nevada County and had spread to more than 500...
WA wildfire prompts evacuations for people in 50 homes
SOAP LAKE, Wash. (AP) — People in about 50 homes near a wildfire in central Washington were told by law enforcement to leave their homes immediately on Tuesday afternoon. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said at about 2:45 p.m. that people living on certain streets east of Soap...
China reduces quarantine for people arriving from abroad
BEIJING (AP) — China on Tuesday announced an easing of its quarantine requirement for people arriving from abroad but stopped short of lifting what remains a stringent COVID-19 policy compared to most other countries. Anyone coming from outside the country will be required to stay...
North Korea works to prevent flood damages amid COVID crisis
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Koreans were working intensively to protect crops, factory equipment and other assets from potential damage from days of heavy rainfall, state media said Tuesday, as outside observers worry any flooding could aggravate the country’s economic hardships amid its...
