Recovery

The state’s integrated digital approach to providing emergency services in one online location, following this year’s fires, is unprecedented. It is intended, officials said, to serve as an example in future disasters.

The origins of the agreement with technology and services firm CGI stretch back to 2012, when the state was recovering from Hurricane Sandy. CGI has helped it distribute and track more than $7 billion in assistance.

Lidar, which measures how long it takes for pulses of laser light to bounce off surfaces and return, has been used in topographic mapping for decades, and now it has a very timely function.

A year after Hurricane Helene, Gov. Josh Stein said the state is still waiting on $100 million in federal funds. FEMA said the agency’s response has been on par with or exceeded other storms in the region.

The ruling stops the federal government from spending the funds originally earmarked for FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program for other purposes until the court issues a final judgment.

The law would add to an existing fund for wildfire victims, which officials have warned could be exhausted by the Eaton wildfire. Funds would come from customers and shareholders of the state’s three biggest for-profit utilities.

Plus, a study explores the digital divide for tribal households in Michigan, a report indicates that better broadband data can improve deployment efforts, states are advancing with the BEAD program, and more.

In light of federal plans to phase out FEMA by the end of 2025, artificial intelligence can help multiply and streamline state and local preparation for, response to and recovery from wildfires, hurricanes and floods.

A preliminary estimate from Accuweather estimates millions of dollars in loss from flash flooding in the Hill Country over the Fourth of July weekend. The death toll now exceeds 100 and search and rescue efforts continue.

Emergency responders are using boats, drones, helicopters and horses to search the devastated Hill Country area. President Donald Trump signed a major disaster declaration Sunday for Kerr County.

Officials with the state Department of Emergency Services are still assessing the total damages, but have said that state resources have so far been largely unnecessary thanks to the strong response from local communities.

If passed by the Missouri House, the money would pay for cleanup and debris removal in the city following a May 16 tornado, similar to when the state receives federal emergency relief dollars.

Gov. Andy Beshear submitted an expedited major disaster declaration to the Trump administration after tornadoes in the southern part of the state killed 19. It is unclear when federal officials will respond.

Environmental researchers are calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom to uphold California's wildfire recovery protocol to conduct soil sampling to ensure burned-down homes do not contain unhealthy levels of toxic substances.

The Trump administration has indicated states should play a bigger role in disaster recovery. As hurricane season approaches, Mississippi communities consider how they would recover without assistance from FEMA.