FEMA Leadership Change Raises Capacity Questions Before Peak Hurricane Months
The Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton on August 7, giving FEMA a permanent administrator as hurricane activity typically peaks from August through October.
Emergency Management
-
-
Illinois’ 200-tornado year is testing how the state prepares for severe weather
After the Aug. 11-12 derecho, Illinois is collecting damage reports as communities document losses and officials assess whether additional state or federal assistance may be warranted.
-
Hurricane warning remains for Hawaiʻi Island as Tropical Storm Lala approaches
A hurricane warning remains in effect for Hawaiʻi Island from Friday evening through early Sunday, with the greatest threats varying by area: damaging winds, major flooding rain, storm surge and dangerous surf.
-
Carrizo Springs coordinates water distribution as flood threat continues
Carrizo Springs officials coordinated with Dimmit County during a citywide July water-service interruption while river flooding threatened the region.
-
Brownsville Sets 2026-28 Schedule for Municipal Complex Renovation
Brownsville will renovate a nearly 100,000-square-foot complex in phases from December 2026 through March 2028, changing office locations and public access.
-
Spokane Wildfires Burn 600 Structures as Response Continues
Wind-driven wildfires swept across northwest Spokane, forcing evacuations, destroying structures and turning the Spokane Convention Center into a shelter.
-
Texas keeps wildfire, drought and flooding disasters active across dozens of counties
Texas lists six active disaster declarations, including designations covering 50 counties for drought, 15 for Hill Country and Central Texas flooding, and 11 for wildfire.
-
Nashville Heat Patrols Continue Outreach to Vulnerable Residents
Nashville’s emergency-management office launched heat patrols July 27 and is continuing outreach to residents vulnerable to dangerous summer heat.
-
Lindon approves emergency-management plan with department-based response structure
The Lindon City Council approved an updated emergency-management plan July 6 that keeps ICS compliance while organizing response around city departments.
-
Oak Park Completes Two-Day Emergency Response Exercise
Oak Park schools, first responders, hospitals, transit agencies and neighboring communities tested emergency plans and reunification procedures Aug. 3-4.
-
Grand Island police join statewide speeding campaign through Aug. 9
Grand Island police are adding high-visibility speeding enforcement through Aug. 9 as city officials also weigh broader public-safety staffing and equipment needs.
-
Laredo Scheduled Flood Update and After-Action Report for July 27
Laredo scheduled a mayoral flood emergency briefing and after-action report for July 27, with a City Council meeting set for later that day.
-
NWS warns of simultaneous flooding, dangerous heat and critical fire weather across broad U.S. regions
The National Weather Service is warning of overlapping severe weather hazards, including flooding, dangerous heat and critical fire weather, across several U.S. regions.
-
Alaska expands 2026 spring-flood disaster declaration as recovery assistance continues
Alaska expanded Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s May 11 disaster declaration on May 21 to cover additional areas affected by spring flooding. The state has opened individual-assistance registration and published recovery information, but the current list of added areas and registration deadline were not available in the approved records.
-
Cameron Hamilton’s FEMA Nomination Reaches Senate Cloture Stage
A Senate cloture motion has moved Cameron Hamilton’s FEMA nomination closer to a confirmation vote, but he remains unconfirmed and FEMA rules have not changed.
-
Montgomery Catholic Holds Live School Emergency Preparedness Exercise
Montgomery Catholic hosted a planned live exercise on July 30 with faculty, law enforcement, emergency services, hospitals and 911 personnel practicing coordination for a possible school emergency.
-
GAO warns of uneven capacity as FEMA responsibility faces review
A GAO review found wide gaps in state and local disaster capacity as proposed FEMA changes could shift more responsibility to states and territories.
-
FEMA reform debate puts disaster aid and state roles in focus
A July hearing brought competing FEMA reform plans together, but no law has changed how disaster declarations, recovery aid or survivor assistance work.
-
Flemington’s $1.39 Million Emergency Operations Center Request Advances in House Funding Bills
Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. said Flemington’s $1,387,500 Emergency Operations Center request was included in House FY2027 funding bills, but the project still needs further congressional action before any federal award or construction can begin.
-
New Texas A&M Forest Service office breaks ground in Nacogdoches
A new Texas A&M Forest Service regional office is under construction at 428 NE Stallings Drive in Nacogdoches after a July 1 groundbreaking. The publicly funded facility is planned to add space for wildfire response, training, staffing and landowner assistance.
-
Dorchester County Agencies Tested School Emergency Response at St. George Elementary
A planned July 22, 2026 exercise at Williams Memorial Elementary in St. George brought together school officials and multiple emergency-response disciplines before the 2026-27 school year. The district said the increased emergency activity was training only, with no actual emergency or threat.
-
Bandera County requests $1.25 million for expanded flood-warning network after July flooding
Bandera County commissioners approved submitting a request for up to $1.25 million in state funding for new flood gauges, outdoor warning signals and public education. The proposal follows July flooding that prompted evacuations, closed Bandera City Park and shut numerous roads, but it is not yet a confirmed award or installed system.