FEMA

Squire Patton Boggs alum Sarah Vilms will advocate for large public power providers in D.C. at a time when the demand for electricity is skyrocketing.

Cameron Hamilton, the current nominee to head up the Federal Emergency Management Agency, responded to accusations of political bias during a Senate hearing on Wednesday.

The public power sector is reacting with concern about the ongoing efforts to reorganize the Federal Emergency Management Agency that's proposing shifting risk and disaster recovery costs onto local utilities.

Proposed FEMA reforms could further increase financial strain for state and local governments after natural disasters.

Changes in federal funding are sharpening the focus on how the states will be responding to disaster relief, running social programs and budget planning.

FEMA reform has stopped and started on Capitol Hill as local governments welcome a rule requiring the agency to build a dashboard to track the flow of disaster recovery funds.

The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority is applying for a reimbursement from the federal government for repair costs to a broken water line that flooded the Potomac River with raw sewage.

FEMA must speed its very slow disbursement of aid, many observers say.

The agency's Disaster Recovery Fund has a sufficient balance for the near term but a funding lapse will translate into longer response times to local and state governments, FEMA's associate administrator warned.

Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson formed a Senate subcommittee to investigate the Los Angeles fires at the request of Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.

Counties are onboard with proposed FEMA reform that's currently gaining no traction in the Senate as smaller locales that don't issue bonds struggle with delayed disaster relief.

The Trump administration has denied an appeal for $33.7 million in FEMA relief funds for flood damage incurred in western Maryland, which ends the possibility of aid for a state already reeling from job losses.

The city council president is concerned about state bond commission approval.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has rolled out bipartisan legislation designed to depoliticize FEMA and move the agency towards formula-based grants, a win for counties.

The Trump administration has denied Maryland's request for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to aid communities on the western side of the state who were flooded out in May.

California local, state and federal officials blasted the Trump administration and congressional GOP for blocking supplemental recovery aid after the wildfires.

Pew Charitable Trust outlined how governments can better prepare for natural disasters to alleviate budget pressures as these incidents have grown in frequency and severity.

Both states' governors said they will appeal the FEMA denials, which comes amid concern the Trump adminstration is hobbling the emergency response agency.

Disasters like wildfires, floods and hurricanes "are striking harder and more often."

The governor aims to secure federal funding with latest executive order in aftermath of Los Angeles fires.