Matt Gagnon criticizes the federal response to the Texas floods, blaming bureaucratic obstacles and the Trump administration’s policies. He highlights that FEMA now requires Homeland Security Christy Noem’s approval for contracts over $100,000, delaying disaster response. This rule stripped FEMA of autonomy, causing delays in deploying Urban Search and Rescue teams. Gagnon argues that FEMA’s inefficiencies are systemic, spanning multiple administrations, and not solely due to the Trump administration’s plans to dismantle FEMA. He suggests that local responses, like Texas’s immediate action, might be more effective than the federal bureaucracy.
Tropical Storms Karina and Lowell formed Thursday in the Pacific Ocean, both of which were expected to become hurricanes in the next few days, the National Hurricane Center said.
A new study suggests that El Ninos — the natural climatic chaos agent that pops up periodically and spikes global temperatures — are getting stronger because of human-caused climate change.
Two unvaccinated Pennsylvania residents have died after being infected with measles, the first U.S. deaths this year related to the contagious virus. State health officials announced the deaths Tuesday. They did not reveal any details about the people who died, other than that they lived in Lancaster County, west of Philadelphia.
