Obama declares major disaster for tsunami-ravaged American Samoa, promises aggressive responseSeptember 30th, 2009 Obama declares major disaster for American SamoaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says his deepest sympathies are with the people of American Samoa and Samoa who lost loved ones after an earthquake sent a massive tsunami toward the Pacific islands. Obama has declared a major disaster for American Samoa and says the Federal Emergency Management Agency is working with emergency responders in the region.
APNewsBreak: FEMA to focus on children's needs in planning for disastersAugust 3rd, 2009 FEMA to focus on children's needs during disastersWASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency is going to plan more broadly for children and their needs as the government prepares for disasters. "Children are not small adults," FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate said Monday.
Report: FEMA misspent more than $7 million on warehouses built after Hurricane KatrinaJune 25th, 2009 Report: FEMA misspent $7 million on warehousesWASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency ignored the law and misused millions of dollars to build two warehouses after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to government investigators. Some of the money FEMA misused should have gone toward Katrina victims in Louisiana, according to a Homeland Security Inspector General report obtained by The Associated Press.
Government audit: FEMA must do better job tracking disaster contractsJune 17th, 2009 Audit: FEMA failed to follow contracting rulesWASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to follow some federal contracting rules, making it impossible to know whether the agency got its money's worth during disasters, a government audit found. In a report released Tuesday, the inspector general for the Homeland Security Department said that auditors looked at 32 disaster contracts from 2007.
Gov't audit: FEMA must do better job in tracking disaster contractsJune 16th, 2009 Audit: FEMA must do better tracking its contractsWASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency failed to follow some federal contracting rules, making it impossible to know whether the agency got its money's worth during disasters, a government audit found. In a report released Tuesday, the inspector general for the Homeland Security Department said that auditors looked at 32 disaster contracts from 2007.
Obama stresses need for planning, preparation in hurricane-prone areas; gov't there to helpMay 29th, 2009 Obama: Residents must prepare for hurricanesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged residents of hurricane-prone communities on Friday to take responsibility for their own safety and start planning now. Hurricane season officially begins Monday.
Senate panel approves Dr. Margaret Hamburg to head FDAMay 13th, 2009 Senate panel approves FDA nomineeWASHINGTON — A Senate panel has approved President Barack Obama's nominee to head the troubled Food and Drug Administration. The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee approved Dr.
Republican senator agrees to lift hold on Obama's FEMA nominee, quick confirmation expectedMay 12th, 2009 Republican agrees to lift nold on FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — A Louisiana Republican agreed Tuesday to stop blocking the White House's pick to lead FEMA amid bipartisan criticism that he was leaving the agency vulnerable just a few weeks away from hurricane season. Sen. David Vitter had put a hold on confirming Craig Fugate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency until FEMA officials provided answers on several lingering questions involving Hurricane Katrina rebuilding.
Republican senator agrees to stop blocking Obama's FEMA nominee, quick confirmation expectedMay 12th, 2009 Republican agrees to stop blocking FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — A Louisiana Republican agreed Tuesday to stop blocking the White House's pick to lead FEMA amid bipartisan criticism that he was leaving the agency vulnerable just a few weeks away from hurricane season. Sen. David Vitter had put a hold on confirming Craig Fugate at the Federal Emergency Management Agency until FEMA officials provided answers on several lingering questions involving Hurricane Katrina rebuilding.
President approves disaster aid for Ala. counties hit hard by April storms, tornadoes, floodsMay 9th, 2009 President approves disaster aid for Ala. countiesWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster for Alabama counties affected by severe storms, flooding, tornadoes and straight-line winds in mid-April.
White House says FEMA nominee deserves immediate confirmation, not 'political posturing'May 6th, 2009 White House defends FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — The White House says its nominee to run the Federal Emergency Management Agency deserves immediate Senate confirmation, not "political posturing" from a Republican senator standing in the way. President Barack Obama nominated Craig Fugate (FYOO'-gayt) two months ago.
Louisiana Republican blocking Obama's FEMA nominee over lingering concerns from KatrinaMay 5th, 2009 Senator blocking Obama's FEMA nomineeWASHINGTON — Hurricane season starts in just a few weeks, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency remains without a leader as a Louisiana Republican senator is blocking the White House's nominee over lingering concerns from Hurricane Katrina. Sen. David Vitter said Tuesday he is standing by the hold he placed on President Barack Obama's choice to lead FEMA.
FEMA removes Web site coloring book from 2003 that featured drawings of Sept. 11 attacksMay 1st, 2009 Drawings of 9/11 attacks taken off kids' Web siteWASHINGTON — An online coloring book from 2003 that showed planes crashing into the World Trade Center has been removed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Web site. Besides drawings inspired by the Sept.
FEMA and immigration nominees to testify at Senate confirmation hearingsApril 22nd, 2009 Senate hears from FEMA and immigration nomineesWASHINGTON — The president's nominees to lead the nation's disaster response and immigration enforcement agencies are headed to Capitol Hill for confirmation hearings in the Senate. Federal Emergency Management Agency nominee Craig Fugate faces questions from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee about hurricane preparedness and response.
FEMA nominee promises Senate panel to improve the agency's disaster responseApril 22nd, 2009 FEMA nominee promises to improve agency responseWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama's pick to head FEMA promised senators Wednesday that he would hold the disaster relief agency to a much higher standard than it displayed in the wake of the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes. Craig Fugate and John Morton — Obama's choice to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement — cruised through their Senate hearings Wednesday and appeared on a fast track for confirmation.