Natural Disasters Stories | Community Development Digest

NIST Issues Resilience Planning Guide for U.S. Communities

The National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) has issued the “Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems” to help U.S. communities better withstand and rebound from the shocks of severe weather, earthquakes and other hazards.

read complete story

Above Average Fire Activity Projected for 2015 Wildfire Season

Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell this past week said there will be above average fire activity projections for the upcoming 2015 wildfire season.

read complete story

Disaster Preparedness, Recovery Should Include Health Focus

U.S. communities and federal agencies should more intentionally seek to create healthier communities during disaster preparation and recovery efforts -- something that rarely happens now, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.

read complete story

Another $84 Million Going for Natural Disaster Recovery

The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service will invest an additional $84 million through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) to help disaster recovery efforts through more than 150 projects in 13 states.

read complete story

Program Offers Relief to Farmers Affected by Severe Weather

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Tuesday (Oct. 21) implemented a new Farm Bill initiative that will provide relief to farmers affected by severe weather, including drought.

read complete story

Feds Release Progress Report on Sandy Rebuilding

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Sandy Program Management Office (PMO) has issued its first report tracking progress on the Sandy Rebuilding Strategy.

read complete story

2014 Wildfire Suppression to Cost Many Millions over Available Funding

The forecast is important to community development planners in that the Forest Service has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80% of the 850 million forested acres within the United States, of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

read complete story

HUD to Expedite Disaster Relief to Arkansas

President Obama has issued a disaster declaration for FaulknerCounty. The declaration allows HUD to offer foreclosure relief and other assistance to certain families living in this county.

read complete story

NJ Adds $40M Recovery Fund For Low Income Families

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) administration is calling for creating a new Superstorm Sandy recovery fund for low-income families who have not applied for money to repair damaged homes. The announcement comes in the wake of criticism that storm aid has not reached low-income people and minorities.

read complete story

Colorado Receives Flood Recovery Aid

The money targets housing construction and infrastructure repairs as the state braces for more flooding from a spring runoff of the winter snowpack.

read complete story