Natural disasters

Though fires wreak havoc causing property damage and loss of life, the hit to local economies — and their bonds — tends to be ameliorated by state and federal funding.

Moody's Investors Service deemed the state's strong May tourism numbers a credit positive.

California lawmakers established a conference committee Monday to create better fire prevention policies.

Puerto Rico was by far the largest recipient of emergency relief funding allocated by the Federal Transit Administration.

The Big Island's tourism-driven economy is likely to experience short-term shocks, Fitch Ratings said.

Hawaii's dramatic spring has brought torrential rains, mudslides, volcanic eruptions and lava flows.

Eleven states and five cities will also receive a share of the CDBG disaster grants, with the biggest amount of $4.7 billion going to Texas for the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The three islands of the USVI have received more than $1 billion in federal disaster assistance through March 27, according to FEMA spokesman Manuel Broussard.

Storm financing expert Alan Rubin, the "Hurricane Czar," examines ways to finance resiliency and recovery amid unprecedented natural disasters. Paul Burton hosts.

Legislation for a short-term spending bill and disaster aid are not linked, but together they highlight the continuing partisan gridlock in Congress.