FEMA disaster fund running low
Florida lawmakers in Washington are working to prevent FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund from running out of money as soon as next month, the National Hurricane Center unveils a new model that it says provides better storm forecast tracks, and FEMA for the first time ever has launched a program to help the public prepare for extreme heat events like we’re seeing this summer. It’s all in this week’s Disaster Management Digest.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell
Disaster Funding: FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell told Congress on July 13 that one event after another has left FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund low on cash. It’s expected to run out of money sometime in mid-to-late August and running a deficit of more than $10 billion by the end of the fiscal year September 30. “From atmospheric rivers in January to tornadoes and wildfires in December, we can no longer speak of a disaster season,” Criswell said. “We now face intensified natural disasters throughout the year, often in places that are not used to experiencing them.”
US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and US Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) have introduced bi-partisan bills in their respective chambers to provide $11.5 billion in supplemental appropriations to the fund, which is the main source of federal money to local communities after major disasters. Criswell said she’s working with the White House as well on an interim funding solution.
The Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System model on Tropical Storm Bret, June 24, 2023
New Hurricane Model: The National Hurricane Center recently announced the launch of the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast System, a new generation of modeling that it says will improve storm track and intensity predictions. An experimental version was used for the past four years and will run alongside existing hurricane models this year and if all goes well, will replace them as the premier model. Forecasters say it has improved forecasting by 10% to 15%.
According to Sundararaman Gopalakrishnan, the senior meteorologist who leads the modeling team, the new system is a regional hurricane model that utilizes a “moving nest” allowing forecasters to zoom in on any part of the storm. With a resolution of 1.2 miles it will help them predict wind speeds and rainfall with more accuracy. You can read more of Gopalakrishnan’s description here.
FEMA graphic
Extreme Heat Readiness: For the first time in FEMA history, the agency’s Ready Campaign announced its “Get Summer Ready” public education effort. The goal of the campaign is to help promote preparedness and resilience against extreme heat events throughout the summer. The announcement includes the launch of FEMA’s official #SummerReady website, which provides extreme heat safety tips for individuals as well as helpful information and graphics for media and other stakeholders.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that the United States recorded the third hottest summer ever in 2022. This follows the 2021 season, which tied records for the hottest summer in the country. NOAA climate models predict that extreme heat will become more frequent and intense in the years ahead. The first-ever Excessive Heat Warning for Miami-Dade County was issued last Sunday for a heat index (the “feel like” temperature considering the humidity) of 112 degrees.
LMA Newsletter of 7-24-23
