Esparanza: A Daily Outsider Public Service Initiative

 

  Warning: US 911 system on the brink of its own emergency after several cities, states, and counties face outages READ MORE

  President Biden Announces $1B in Projects to Enhance Community Resilience   President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell today announced the 656 project selections for $1 billion in climate resilience funding as part of his Investing in America agenda. The selections through the  Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities  program will help state, Tribal, local and territorial governments address current and future risks from natural disasters including extreme heat, wildfires, drought, hurricanes, earthquakes and increased flooding.   This effort highlights the importance of FEMA’s continued commitment to putting  “people first”  and helping communities, families, and businesses build climate resilience. It also aligns with the  2024 FEMA Year of Resilience  theme to build capacity to withstand tomorrow’s hazards.   To strengthen America...

  With temperatures set to exceed 110 degrees throughout much of the state this week, the state is urging Californians to take extra precautions as they celebrate the Fourth of July.   Governor Newsom directed the Office of Emergency Services to activate its State Operations Center and move into Phase II of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan. This is triggered by National Weather Service (NWS) predictions of excessive heat activity and moves the state into action to coordinate an all-hands response by state government.   The state has already begun outreach to a network of community organizations to ensure the most vulnerable Californians can access resources like  cooling centers . Additionally, the state is enforcing heat protections for outdoor workers.   Figure 1 The National Weather Service forecasts Extreme HeatRisk for much of California this week. (Screenshot of Thursday's HeatRisk)   Excessive heat warnings and watches are in effect for much of ...