Photo: EF5 tornado near Enderlin, North Dakota. Credit: Storm Chaser Clint Hendricks IV

Plus the 13-year EF-5 drought ends

Welcome back to This Week in Disasters! This newsletter combines expert perspectives with a weekly roundup of upcoming threats, recent natural disasters, and available survivor assistance. If you’re an HR, Risk, Employee Assistance, or Emergency Management professional (or you’re just really curious about disasters in the United States!) you’re in the right place.

Major Disasters of the Last Week

Photo: NOAA/NESDIS/STAR GOES-19 (via the National Weather Service)

Forecasted Risks for Next Week

A nor'easter is expected to hit the east coast this weekend with coastal flooding, heavy rain, and winds

Tropical Storm Jerry is moving WNW. Tropical Storm Warnings in effect for Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands

Desert Southwest flood risk through the weekend. Tropical moisture from Priscilla/Octave is forecasted to bring 2-5 inches of rain and notable flash-flood risk in Arizona and neighboring states.

Disasters in the Headlines

Earthquake death toll rises to 72 in the Philippines as survivors recall moment when tragedy struck

AP

'Widespread' breach let hackers steal employee data from FEMA and CBP

Nextgov/FCW

Moody’s estimates $6tn in US GDP losses from climate and natural disaster risks by 2050

Reinsurance News

PRO PERSPECTIVE

What the Government Shutdown Means for Disaster Recovery

We are at the NEMA Annual Forum in Cheyenne, Wyoming where Bright Harbor spoke with Robert Samaan, a seasoned FEMA leader and now the Senior Director of Federal and State Development at SDR, about how the ongoing government shutdown affects disaster recovery.

The Key Takeaway: FEMA’s disaster work continues – for now.

Samaan explained that the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which supports FEMA’s response and recovery programs is “no-year money,” which means it remains available even during a federal lapse in federal appropriations.

“The programs – the disaster programs – should continue without interruption,” Samaan said. “A large majority of FEMA’s disaster workforce is funded by that fund that does not lapse.”

Highlights from the Conversation

• Disaster recovery operations remain funded. FEMA’s DRF is not tied to the federal budget cycle, allowing ongoing disaster response and recovery activities despite the shutdown.

• Funding limits could trigger spending restrictions. Based on past practice, if the DRF balance drops too low, FEMA and DHS could begin to “throttle down” spending through Immediate Needs Funding (INF) where categories of new disaster work would be put on pause.

• Most FEMA staff are still working, but only on disasters and non-appropriated funds. A large portion of FEMA’s workforce remains active, focused exclusively on disaster response and recovery work.

The Bottom Line

FEMA’s disaster operations remain active, ensuring continuity of recovery work.

Active Federal Major Disasters

There is usually a 60 day window to apply for help after a disaster is declared.  The following disasters are still actively taking applications from survivors for financial support.

The following disasters are actively taking applications from survivors for financial support. To apply, survivors can visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call the FEMA Helpline at 1-800‑621‑3362.

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