All articles tagged with #disaster planning and response
An analysis of how the current Ebola outbreak tests U.S. pandemic preparedness, noting that the centralized interagency response built in 2014—coordinated by a White House Ebola czar with involvement from the Pentagon, CDC, USAID, DHS, state officials, hospitals and international partners—has largely faded, raising concerns about the administration’s ability to mount a fast, coordinated national response today.
President Donald Trump has nominated Cameron Hamilton to head FEMA again, about a year after he was fired from the role; the nomination now goes to the Senate for confirmation.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser declared the Potomac River sewage spill a public emergency and sought federal help to cover cleanup costs, as temporary pipes divert sewage into the C&O Canal to allow repair of the six‑foot Potomac Interceptor after January’s collapse.
President Donald Trump said the federal government will help respond to a major raw-sewage spill into the Potomac River, directing federal agencies to coordinate the cleanup after about 200 million gallons spilled, with barriers redirecting sewage and FEMA/EPA involvement.
The Department of Homeland Security paused non-renewals of dozens of FEMA disaster-response employees as it ramps up preparations for a massive, life-threatening winter storm projected to strike about half the country this weekend.