State and local officials say explicitly naming heat and wildfire smoke would give local agencies more certainty in developing their mitigation strategies.
Attorneys general from 13 states and Washington, D.C. are calling on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to classify extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters, which would unlock federal resources to help local governments prepare and respond.
“Neither an extreme heat event nor a wildfire smoke event has ever been recognized by FEMA as a major disaster eligible for federal aid,” explains Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive. The group is requesting a change to the Stafford Act, a 1988 law that guides federal emergency response and which explicitly names other weather-related disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes.
While FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell told Congress that the agency considers requests based on local governments’ capacity, “The attorneys general say that explicitly adding heat and smoke into the Stafford Act will provide more certainty to state and local emergency management agencies. That would allow those agencies to make more informed decisions about how to prioritize their emergency management investments.”
FULL STORY: 14 attorneys general press FEMA to define heat, wildfire smoke as major disasters
Research Shows White Communities Gain Affluence After Climate Disasters
People of color and lower-income residents tend to lose wealth despite the stated goals of federal assistance programs to restore communities impacted by disasters.
Proposed Bill Would Expand Federal Disaster Relief
The legislation acknowledges the impact of cumulative damage and expands access to funds for communities adjacent to storm-hit states.
Wildfires Explode Across the West
Multiple massive fires are burning across the Western United States and Canada, prompting governments to explore new mitigation and response strategies.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Delivering for America Plan Will Downgrade Mail Service in at Least 49.5 Percent of Zip Codes
Republican and Democrat lawmakers criticize the plan for its disproportionate negative impact on rural communities.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Balancing Bombs and Butterflies: How the National Guard Protects a Rare Species
The National Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap uses GIS technology and land management strategies to balance military training with conservation efforts, ensuring the survival of the rare eastern regal fritillary butterfly.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service