• Weather

FEMA Proposes Major Cuts to Disaster Relief

• climate change
• FEMA
• Hurricanes
• natural disasters
• wildfires

by Amy Lupica, ODP Contributing Writer Immediately following a record-breaking Hurricane season, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is proposing massive cuts to federal disaster aid that would make it more difficult for states to qualify for federal disaster aid.  The proposal, published Monday, would be one of the largest revisions of federal disaster policy […]

• Climate Change

Climate Change Is Causing a Stinking Mess in the South — Mold

• Black
• climate change
• COVID-19
• FEMA
• flood
• mold

The amount of rainfall and the number of severe storms that have hit the Southeastern U.S. are causing a lingering, stinking problem —  mold. The State’s Sammy Fretwell reports that researchers who studied the explosion of mold that occurred in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago now see the same thing happening throughout South Carolina after five years of excessive rain and numerous hurricanes.

Why This Matters:  Mold caused by one storm is awful, but when it is caused by repeated storms and lingering moisture under floors and in walls, there is no easy fix.

• Weather

As Flood Plains Expand, Sellers Continue to Hide Risk from Residents

• climate change
• FEMA
• flood insurance
• Flooding
• NFIP

by Amy Lupica, ODP Contributing Writer  Across the nation, 15 million residences are at high risk of flooding within the next 30 years, and most homeowners and renters aren’t aware of this risk. Only about half of states require any kind of disclosure when it comes to flood risk and those that do offer information […]

• Weather

Hurricane Delta Leaves Louisiana Delta Reeling

• FEMA
• homeless
• hurricane
• Hurricane Delta
• Louisiana
• named storm
• power
• severe storm
• tornado

Hurricane Delta provided a knockout second punch to the Southwest Louisiana coastline, coming ashore within 20 miles of Hurricane Laura’s path, leaving more than 200,000 customers still without power late yesterday (at its peak the number was 700,000).

Why This Matters:  Delta was the 25th named storm, the 10th to make landfall in the U.S. this year, and storm season is winding down but it is not over.

• Animals

Caring for Pets During Natural Disasters

• FEMA
• natural disaster
• pets

September is recognized as National Preparedness Month which encourages and reminds Americans to be prepared for natural disasters or emergencies. Unfortunately, this year disasters are a threat that millions of Americans have seen realized from wildfires on the West Coast to an exceptionally active hurricane season in the Atlantic. And while people are enduring unspeakable […]

• Health

We Need to Focus on Mental Health After Natural Disasters

• CDC
• FEMA
• mental health
• natural disaster

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a national mental health crisis. A CDC survey found that 40% of respondents are struggling with mental health, as CNN explained, “both related to the coronavirus pandemic itself and the measures put in place to contain it, including physical distancing and stay-at-home orders.” And now, according to the […]