FEMA

Two Floridians who used to lead the agency support the president's review council, but they caution that federal emergency management is needed. Few states have more at risk than Florida.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is borrowing $2 billion to pay National Flood Insurance Program claims. The agency said the two hurricanes as of Feb. 6 had led to more than 78,000 claims, with estimated losses possibly topping $10 billion.

President Donald Trump, unhappy with the lag in getting money to people affected by disasters, has issued an executive order to create a FEMA review task force.

President Trump took first trip of his term on Friday to North Carolina and California, visiting communities grappling with recovery from natural disasters.

The latest numbers have more than 1,100 businesses in Pinellas County that were impacted by both Helene and Milton, with $136 million in damages.

Fort Myers Beach loses flood insurance discounts after a problematic rebuild from Hurricane Ian.

Homeowners and renters may be able to get federal assistance for displacement, home repairs, property losses and other uninsured or underinsured expenses.

Castor also emphasized the need to modernize wastewater systems and the power grid in the wake of recent storms.

The funding request includes $40 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund, $24 billion for the Department of Agriculture, $12 billion for HUD's block grant disaster recovery program, and $8 billion for the Department of Transportation, among other allocations.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discussed FEMA’s response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, how Americans are consuming political news, how the Florida Democratic party can reengage apathetic voters, what’s next for former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida legislature’s new leadership, and a collection of environmental stories from across the state.

During a Senate hearing, the head of FEMA says money available to help communities hit by disasters has shrunk after back-to-back hurricanes Helene and Milton

Fla. Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell, and a former FEMA supervisor for violating Floridians' civil rights after hurricanes.