Latest Disaster planning and response News
Life-threatening flash flooding rises in Claudette's path
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Forecasters warned of life-threatening flash flooding in parts of the Deep South, particularly across central Alabama, as Tropical Depression Claudette traveled over coastal states early Sunday. Heavy rain led to high water late Saturday into early...
California wildfire leads campground, zen center to evacuate
BIG SUR, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire burning near California's central coast has forced the evacuation of a campground and Buddhist retreat center, authorities said Friday. The fire began Thursday night in the Los Padres National Forest, about 15 miles southeast of Big...
Wildfire forces evacuations in forest northeast of Phoenix
STRAWBERRY, Ariz. (AP) — A wildfire that broke out near a popular camping area in the mountains northeast of Phoenix forced officials to order evacuations of the small communities of Strawberry and Pine. The Gila County Sheriff's office ordered the town of Strawberry's...
Arizona governor signs $100M wildfire funding plan
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday signed a bill rushed through in a special legislative session that provides $100 million in funding this year to battle wildfires, react to the damage they cause and to create a new force of more than 700 state inmates to clear brush. ...
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...
