Latest Disaster planning and response News
Small wildfire forces evacuation of campers in Arizona
STRAWBERRY, Ariz. (AP) — A small wildfire near Strawberry has forced the evacuation of campers and the shutdown of a popular recreation area. The fire started shortly before midnight Wednesday, about 12 miles west of Strawberry near a ridge named Ike's Backbone. It has...
Nebraska to offer additional payments for 2019 flood relief
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska will pay out public assistance beyond what it normally offers to local governments hit by the 2019 floods, a state agency announced Thursday. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said Gov. Pete Ricketts has approved the payments for the...
Arizona Legislature passes $100M fire funding plan
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill creating a $100 million fund to respond to a wildfire emergency as fires continue to burn across the state. Despite the broad approval — the House vote was 56-2 and the Senate vote was...
Crews quell wildfire south of Reno; evacuations lifted
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Fire lines were holding and evacuations were lifted overnight after a fast-growing wildfire forced some people out of homes and closed highways for several hours south of Reno, a fire official in northern Nevada said Thursday. Truckee Meadows Fire...
FEMA extends deadline to seek aid in 31 Kentucky counties
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Federal emergency officials have extended a deadline for Kentuckians to register for assistance due to damage from severe flooding, Gov. Andy Beshear said. The deadline to apply for help from the Individual Assistance program is now July 8, he...
Wildfire south of Reno forces evacuations, closes a highway
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A fast-moving wildfire forced evacuations of homes, snarled highways and drew a rapid response Wednesday from firefighters using helicopters to drop water on flames blackening exceptionally dry vegetation south of Reno, authorities said. The fire in...
Fires stoked by heat, wind force evacuations in Montana
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Wildfires in Montana have exploded in size, triggering evacuations and destroying an unknown number of homes as furious winds stoked the blazes and caused a firefighting helicopter to crash-land, officials said Wednesday. The sudden ramping up of...
Arizona lawmakers advance $100M fire fund in special session
PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature advanced bills Wednesday creating a $100 million fund to respond to a wildfire emergency after hearing dire warnings from state officials and praise from worried leaders of rural counties and cities amid a brewing fight on the role of climate change in...
Editorial Roundup: North Carolina
Charlotte Observer. June 15, 2021. Editorial: Severe flooding is destroying NC towns, ruining lives. These bills would change that North Carolina is in urgent need of flood prevention legislation. Increasingly, rural communities are bearing the brunt...
Some residents remain evacuated by rural Arizona wildfire
SUPERIOR, Ariz. (AP) — Several rural communities in south-central Arizona remain in evacuation mode because of a wildfire, one of several that have been burning around the state for over a week. Fire officials said Tuesday that it's still not safe for residents from...
