May 20 Watch 7:04 Spring storms spark scrutiny of FEMA as Trump overhauls and slashes the agency By William Brangham, Jonah Anderson, Azhar Merchant It's been another day of storms and tornado watches in parts of the South. For the better part of a week now, severe weather has led to major damage and deaths in its wake. As residents are beginning to dig… Continue watching
May 20 Mississippi tornado survivors await assistance from FEMA as Trump overhauls agency By Sophie Bates, Associated Press The emergency management director in one of the state's hardest-hit counties said debris removal operations have ground to a halt and people who lost their homes aren't getting the help they need. Continue reading
May 16 FEMA will shift more disaster recovery responsibilities to the states, acting chief says By Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Associated Press In comments that cemented the Trump administration's intent to bring about a major shift in the agency's mission, David Richardson said FEMA's intent for the 2025 “disaster season” will be to strengthen states' abilities for response and recovery while coordinating… Continue reading
Mar 11 Watch 8:17 Months after Hurricane Helene, many grow frustrated as they still wait for federal aid By William Brangham, Mike Fritz, Sam Lane It’s been more than five months since Hurricane Helene devastated several states across the Southeast. In North Carolina, where Helene killed more than 100 people and caused nearly $60 billion in damage, many of the hardest-hit residents have grown increasingly… Continue watching
Jan 27 Watch 5:04 Trump gathers with GOP lawmakers to determine tactics to move his agenda forward By Lisa Desjardins, Kyle Midura The Trump administration ended week one with a mass firing of inspectors general, a weekend uptick of immigration arrests and a day-long fight over deportations and tariffs with Colombia. The president is now meeting with House Republicans at his golf… Continue watching
Jan 25 WATCH: Trump holds press conference after touring Los Angeles wildfire damage By Will Weissert, Chris Megerian, Makiya Seminera, Associated Press In fire-ravaged California, the state’s Democratic leaders pressed Trump for federal assistance that he’s threatened to hold up, some setting aside their past differences to shower him with praise. Continue reading
Jan 24 Watch 8:54 Trump questions need for FEMA and says states should ‘take care of disasters’ By Laura Barrón-López, Shrai Popat, Eliot Barnhart President Donald Trump jetted off for the first trip of his second administration to tour one sprawling disaster zone after the other. The president is in California where he'll survey damage from the wildfires that are ravaging the Los Angeles… Continue watching
Jan 24 WATCH: Trump says he’s considering ‘getting rid of’ FEMA during briefing in North Carolina By Will Weissert, Chris Megerian, Associated Press Speaking while on the first trip of his second term, Trump made the comment in North Carolina during a briefing on the monthslong recovery from Hurricane Helene. Continue reading
Jan 23 California Republicans push back after Speaker Johnson’s threat to saddle wildfire aid with conditions By Michael R. Blood, Kevin Freking, Associated Press Some U.S. House Republicans in California are breaking with Speaker Mike Johnson over his suggestion that federal disaster aid be coupled with as-yet unspecified conditions on the wildfire-ravaged state. Continue reading
Nov 18 Biden asks for nearly $100 billion in disaster aid, ‘urgently needed’ after Hurricanes Helene and Milton By Kevin Freking, Associated Press President Joe Biden said he has met firsthand with those harmed by the storms and he heard what residents and businesses needed from the federal government. Continue reading