#FEMA Public Assistance Program

[dalamontcs]

Public Assistance Disaster Recovery Consulting - FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program

The D.A. Lamont Consulting Services Team, as infrastructure experts, are well-equipped to provide support for the FEMA Public Assistance Grant Program and the process immediately following a declared incident. Contact us: (800) 342-6690

[ivygorgon]

An open letter to the U.S. Congress

It’s time to fund the government—especially WIC!

143 so far! Help us get to 250 signers!

Now that Congress has a Speaker they must reach a comprehensive, bipartisan agreement to fund the Government, which is critical for a number of bipartisan priorities ��� including child care, nutrition assistance, public health, research and development, and national security. The Biden Administration also recently communicated with Congress about critical funding needs for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), the Student Aid Administration, and the Social Security Administration to prevent harmful impacts on women and children, students, seniors and individuals with disabilities in the coming year, and I expect Congress to address these needs as well. We also need funding for the Disaster Relief Fund to enable FEMA to continue supporting critical response efforts and recovery projects in communities across the country. Thanks.

▶ Created on October 26, 2023 by Jess Craven

📱 Text SIGN PRIEQB to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW JESSCRAVEN101 to 50409

[tacticalhimbo]

HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF

Since I'm incredibly anxious and very much annoyed, I'm compiling this post as a sort of master list of relief organizations and individual fundraisers for those in the path of Hurricane Helene.

Many of the links I post on this won't be individuals, but I encourage those within the path to add their links to this post in reblogs! Likewise, if you have any organizations / volunteer / grassroots efforts y'all would like to share, please do so!

LAST EDITED: 9/29/2024 - MAKE SURE TO CHECK REBLOGS FOR UPDATES!

My list is particularly focused on widely accessible resources, as well as Florida specific resources since... I'm from Florida.

(INTER)NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Red Cross - The American Red Cross is on the ground helping people as Hurricane Helene approaches land as a very dangerous storm. Helene may produce winds over 150 mph, a massive 20-foot-high storm surge and as much as a foot of rain. Prolonged power outages and tornadoes may occur. The effects will be felt hundreds of miles inland including in Georgia and the Carolinas.

FEMA Disaster Assistance Improvement Program - The Disaster Assistance Improvement Program’s (DAIP) mission is to provide disaster survivors with information, support, services, and a means to access and apply for disaster assistance through joint data-sharing efforts between federal, tribal, state, local, and private sector partners.

Roll Mobility - An application that equips wheelchair users with reliable information about the accessibility of restaurants, public spaces, businesses, trails, and parking areas. Good information to have on hand, especially for those evacuating from their home areas.

Warmline Directory - Providing extensive yet accessible resources that empower individuals to find the mental health and wellness resources they need through a directory containing accurate and in-depth information. For those unfamiliar: Unlike a crisis line, a warm line operator is unlikely to call the police or have someone locked up if they talk about suicidal or self-harming thoughts or behaviors. A good resource for individuals in mental distress due to natural disaster circumstances.

Food Not Bombs - Recovers food that would have been discarded and share it as a way of protesting war and poverty. They also reduce food waste and meet the direct need of communities by collecting discarded food, preparing vegan meals that they share with the hungry while providing literature about the need to change our society. Food Not Bombs also provides food to protesters and striking workers and organizes food relief after natural and political crisis.

Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies - The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies (The Partnership) is the only U.S. disability-led, 501(c)(3) organization that prioritizes equity, access, disability rights, disability justice, and full inclusion of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with access and functional needs before, during and after disasters and emergencies.

FLORIDA

Volunteer Florida Disaster Fund - The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 52 Organizations Listed)

GEORGIA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 60 Organizations Listed)

TENNESSEE

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 49 Organizations Listed)

NORTH CAROLINA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 45 Organizations Listed)

Beloved Asheville - A community-led coalition dedicated to providing home, healthy, equity, and opportunity for all.

Triangle NC - This links to another post I've made, but Triangle Mutual Aid is organizing supply drop offs as well as financial support.

SOUTH CAROLINA

State and Local Level Referrals - When a disaster occurs, local governments often work together with community leaders and organizations to provide on-the-ground emergency management. Curated by FEMA. (Has 44 Organizations Listed)

INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISERS

Support a Resilient Family Seeking a New Home - LINK ; Tumblr @junpei-iori-ace-defective (Close Friend of the Affected) | Fundraiser Text Below:

My name is Adam. I'm not the best at this; I never thought I'd have to do this, but my family and I lost our home on September 26th due to the hurricane Helene here in Florida. No one in our area thought it would get bad, but we didn't have any rain. All of a sudden, the water rose, and by midnight, our home was flooded with three feet of water. I had to carry our pets to the neighbors and my disabled wife through five feet of water. Then, my elderly disabled mother and grandmother through the water. We lost all of our clothes and many of our belongings, and our landlord will be having us move out. We have nowhere to go, so today I'm asking for help from the kindness of the world. Anything can help. If I can get enough to get us into a new home, it would be a blessing. Thank you all, and God bless.

Help Rebuild Lives After Devastating Flash Flood - LINK ; Tumblr @undeadnecromancer (Close Friend of the Affected) | Fundraiser Text Below:

On September 27, after being trapped in a flash flood for 5 hours, my father, Jeffrey Fuller, and sister, Kayla Fuller, left with their lives ❤️ but lost everything else. My father had set his life up to be simple and enjoyable. He didn't have a lot extra, but he had everything he needed, and now all of that is gone. Unfortunately, he did not have flood insurance, and the older you get, the harder it is to bounce back from something like this. For a man who has always shown up for everyone he loves, he needs us to show up now. Please help my father rebuild.

If you have seen the video circulating around from Jeffrey Fuller where it looks like a river is going through his house and he ends it with a “Love you all,” you have seen what has brought on this devastation.

Hurricane Helene Aftermath Help - LINK ; Tumblr @moonenjoyer (Affected Individual) | Fundraiser Text Below:

Man I hate to do this but I'm in Valdosta, one of the cities hit the worse by Hurricane Helene. It's BAD here. In particular, there's no estimate of when we'll get power back. Word on the street is it could be a week or longer.

I work from home and going without power that long, I won't be making any money. Meanwhile my groceries are all spoiled in a fridge with no power and my car is on E. All the gas stations are down atm and when they're back up I KNOW gas prices are going to be crazy high because of all of this. In fact, EVERYTHING is going to be more expensive for a while because of this.

If you have anything to spare to help me with gas and groceries and just surviving this, I'd really appreciate it. If not, a reblog/share would mean a lot. Thank you ❤️

Save Nate and Amanda's First Home - Urgent Hurricane Needs - LINK ; Tumblr @luckyfirerabbit (Affected Individual) | Fundraiser Text Below:

Hi. I'm Porter Henderson. This isn't about me, though. You’re going to see a lot of fundraisers with Hurricane Helene. This might be a little different.

You see, I’m writing this on behalf of my landlords and friends, Nate and Amanda. The home we share with an additional disabled man in Lithonia, Georgia had some repairs that they couldn't afford, made much worse by the hurricane. They'd been limping along like everyone dealing with inflation and underemployment, but the situation has become urgent, and they need and deserve help.

Nate and Amanda have been my friends for over a decade, and when they heard I was no longer able to work and in a bad situation, they offered me a place in their first home. I told them I wasn’t sure what or when I would be able to pay. They told me that if I ever won my disability case I could start paying rent then.

You see, I'm trying so hard to save this home because they’ve tried so hard to save me.

I was so grateful to move in, and they treated me like family. When I lost the ability to drive, they made sure I got to my doctor’s appointments, and still do. When I can’t afford food, they take me to food banks, and what I can’t find there they’ll help me get at the store. They meet all the needs they could reasonably meet, and then a couple more.

I’ve lived here for three years now, and they’ve never stopped assuring me that I am wanted, even if I can’t contribute to the household on a daily basis. They have never let me go without if there was any other way. They have helped friends and strangers every time they have seen a need. They are unfailingly honest, incredibly trustworthy, and extremely hardworking people.

They've never had much, but they've shared everything they have.

Now, though, the hurricane turned a seem in our roof into a gushing waterfall, and finally into a large hole in Nate and Amanda's bedroom ceiling.

We tarped the leaking roof from the inside to channel out as much water as we could, but with a literal hurricane outside, there’s only so much that you can do.

The three of us who couldn’t get into the attic pushed our chronically ill bodies past their limits, dragging furniture away from walls, hauling totes as fast as we could with our canes, shoving empty containers into the corner as we kicked the debris out, and researching strategies for how to deal with the nightmare. Later we would wade through flooding water to dump out rain and tie down loose trash cans, shine lights and relay directions from the attic to outside, as we all attempted to get the water venting outside the house.

To make matters worse, the HVAC needs to be replaced. It’s a seventeen year old system, with a huge crack in the (inaccessible) drain pan and a bad motherboard. Some friends pooled money with Nate and Amanda to get a couple of window air conditioners for the summer. With medications that make three of us sensitive to heat, it’s been a rough summer, but we got through.

Unfortunately, winter is a few weeks away, and it’s going to be a little less than seventeen thousand for a new system to be installed.

What makes it an emergency however, is that without the drying and air movement of the AC, trying to dehumidify everything is going to be even harder, giving us a greater chance of mold. If mold takes hold, I'm not sure if we can save the house.

This fundraiser is for the $2,500 hurricane deductible that we're almost certainly going to be charged by the homeowner's policy and the $17,000 for the HVAC, plus estimated fees for the platform.

Not included in the total are any cleaning supplies, or a tiny storage unit and rental truck if we need one to store all of their bedroom furniture while the roof is redone. (We won't know about any of that until we get the estimate from insurance/roofing.) The claim has already been filed.

The air conditioning is a pre-existing problem, and I've found no way for it to be covered by any charity, government program, or private programs in the state. The ones that my social worker knew about didn't apply (I applied anyway) and I let her know about two more that I found. The religious groups I've reached out to in my area don't work in anything but clothing, children's furniture, and durable medical goods.

If additional costs emerge, or anything ends up being less expensive, I will update and adjust the goal accordingly as soon as I find out.

Please help these genuinely good people. The smallest donation helps. So does sharing.

Thank you in advance.

[sadbicth]

see this? this is the shit that pisses me off. "you'd rather believe project 2025 is something that will actually happen". hey @evitavresnoc i'm calling you out for this dumbass post! you have a lot but this one irked me the most.

i'm hoping this finds its way to your feed because you're a coward and won't let anyone mention you, message you, dm you, reply to you, or reblog your posts!

and strap in, because it's a long one. i would've reblogged your original post or put this in your replies, but you turned off both!

instead of doing your research like a smart person would, you've decided that trump declaring "i dont intend to implement project 2025!!" is true, just because he said it. trump isn't exactly known as the most honest person, and believing anything he says is fooling yourself.

not only is trump mentioned over 300 times in the project 2025 document, he's implemented or attempted to implement countless aspects of it.

paul dans, who's one of the directors of project 2025, said himself that trump's actions so far are a testament to the initiative, calling them "home runs".

evitavresnoc, i don't expect you to actually read this, because you'd probably try to excuse or deny it. but i recommend you and everyone else do, because sometimes it's okay to be wrong.

below is a list of the things trump has done (as of february 3, 2025) that match up to project 2025:

redirecting federal aid under fema to the states: trump suggested we could "get rid" of fema, leaving it to the states. project 2025 calls for "reforming FEMA emergency spending to shift the majority of preparedness and response costs to states and localities instead of the federal government." project 2025 says that fema is "overtasked, overcompensates for the lack of state and local preparedness and response, and is regularly in deep debt."

ending diversity, equity, and inclusion practices: trump claimed in an executive order the day he arrived in the white house that dei policies violate federal civil rights laws, and shut out americans "who deserve a shot at the American dream" because of their race or sex. project 2025 calls for deletion of dei "from every federal rule, agency regulation, contract, grant, regulation, and piece of legislation that exists." he also revoked is 60-year-old policy from 1965 that prohibited employment discrimination by government contractors and empowers the federal government to impose consequences for any discriminatory practices, which project 2025 explicitly called to revoke.

targeting pbs and npr: the fcc opened an investigation into pbs and npr because they're "concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials. In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements". according to project 2025, "stripping public funding would, of course, mean that NPR, PBS, Pacifica Radio, and the other leftist broadcasters would be shorn of the presumption that they act in the public interest and receive the privileges that often accompany so acting."

freezing federal assistance: trump established the department of government efficiency. it's headed by billionaire elon musk, who's been tasked with cutting regulations and spending, and to restructure federal agencies. this froze grants, loans, and federal assistance programs. russ vought, who's one of the directors of project 2025, and the new leader of the office of management and budget, is also overseeing this.

transgender military ban: trump prohibited trans people from serving in the military during his first term. biden reversed that. trump reversed it again, completely barring all trans people from military service. he claims that identifying as transgender "conflicts with a soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one's personal life." project 2025 calls for a reversal of policies "that allow transgender individuals to serve in the military. gender dysphoria is incompatible with the demands of military service."

restricting gender-affirming care for minors: trump issues an executive order barring the use of federal funds for any type of gender affirming care for anyone under the age of 19. it also instructs the the secretary of defense to take regulatory action to exclude gender-affirming care for minors from insurance coverage provided by tricare, the defense department's health care program, and federal employee health benefit programs. project 2025's calls for its office of civil rights to "remove all guidance issued under the biden administration concerning sexual orientation and gender identity." the book generally criticizes gender-affirming care as causing "irreversible physical and mental harm to those who receive them" and argues there is a lack of evidence surrounding it.

rescinding funding from schools with trans athletes: trump signed an order rescinding federal funding from school programs which allow trans women and girls to participate in women's sports. project 2025 claims that school districts are forcing schools to undermine cis women athletes to "satisfy transgender extremists".

federal recognition of only two sexes: trump passed a policy to only recognize male and female, ignore intersex people, and make them unchangeable. project 2025 calls for the government to define sex as biological sex recognized as birth.

stripping civil servants of employment protections: trump reinstated an executive order from his first term which created "schedule f in the excepted service". this creates a new employment category for career civil servants, and strips them from employment protections. it adds a section that states that while employees in these new "schedule policy/career positions" are not required to personally or politically support the current president or his policies, they are "required to faithfully implement administration policies to the best of their ability, consistent with their constitutional oath and the vesting of executive authority solely in the president." failure to do so is grounds for termination of employment. project 2025 repeatedly calls for trump's schedule f proposal to be reinstated.

closing the office of federal contract compliance programs: trump revoked the equal employment opportunity act (executive order 11246 of september 24, 1965), and the ofccp within the department of labor was immediately seized. project 2025 called for trump to "eliminate" the ofccp by rescinding eo 11246.

ending government efforts to fight mis/dis/malinformation: trump passed an executive order claiming that no federal government officer, employee, or agent may engage in abridging freedom of speech, even if that speech was spreading misinformation. project 2025 aims to prohibit the fbi from engaging in "activities related to combating the spread of so-called misinformation and disinformation by Americans who are not tied to any plausible criminal activity".

reinstating service members who refused the covid-19 vaccine: trump issues an order directing the secretaries of defense or homeland security to reinstate all service members who were discharged after refusing the covid-19 vaccine, as well as being restored their rank and full pay, benfits, bonus payments, or compensation. project 2025 calls for this, almost word for word.

withdrawing from the world health organization: one of trump's first actions was withdrawing the us from the world health organization. according to project 2025, "the manifest failure and corruption of the world health organization (WHO) during the covid-19 pandemic is an example of the danger that international organizations pose to u.s. citizens and interests". it says that when institutions act contrary to u.s. interests, the government "must be prepared to take appropriate steps in response, up to and including withdrawal."

withdrawing from the paris climate agreement: one of project 2025's most passionate arguments is that of withdrawing from the paris climate agreement, which trump did on his first day in office, as well as rolling back climate change policies and calling for climate change efforts to be removed from governmental efforts such as providing foreign aid and regulating agriculture.

sending active duty troops to the southern border: on trump's first day of his presidency, he signed an order that assigned troops "the mission to seal the borders and maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the united states." project 2025 suggests "using military personnel and hardware to prevent illegal crossings between ports of entry and channel all cross-border traffic to legal ports of entry."

restricting funding for public schools: trump has signed multiple executive orders restricting funding for k-12 schools that he believes "indoctrinates" students based on "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology", which is language used in project 2025.

rescinding efforts towards renewable energy: trump declared a national energy emergency and stated that the us should increase oil and gas drilling. project 2025 claims that the us' “energy crisis is caused… by extreme ‘green’ policies” and said the next president “must be committed to unleashing all of america’s energy resources.”

forbidding words in nsf research papers: i saved this one for last because it's very long. because of the dei order, there is a list of words that are banned from the national science foundation research papers, and many health organizations, such as the cdc, are scrubbing their sites of these forbidden words. the words are as follows: "activism, activists, advocacy, advocate, advocates, barrier, barriers, biased, biased toward, biases, biases towards, bipoc, black and latinx, community diversity, community equity, cultural differences, cultural heritage, culturally responsive, disabilities, disability, discriminated, discrimination, discriminatory, diverse backgrounds, diverse communities, diverse community, diverse group, diverse groups, diversified, diversify, diversifying, diversity and inclusion, diversity equity, enhance the diversity, enhancing diversity, equal opportunity, equality, equitable, equity, ethnicity, excluded, female, females, fostering inclusivity, gender, gender diversity, genders, hate speech, excluded, female, females, fostering inclusivity, gender, gender diversity, genders, hate speech, hispanic minority, historically, implicit bias, implicit biases, inclusion, inclusive, inclusiveness, inclusivity, increase diversity, increase the diversity, indigenous community, inequalities, inequality, inequitable, inequities, institutional, Igbt, marginalize, marginalized, minorities, minority, multicultural, polarization, political, prejudice, privileges, promoting diversity, race and ethnicity, racial, racial diversity, racial inequality, racial justice, racially, racism, sense of belonging, sexual preferences, social justice, sociocultural, socioeconomic, status, stereotypes, systemic, trauma, under appreciated, under represented, under served, underrepresentation, underrepresented, underserved, undervalued, victim, women, women and underrepresented.

this isn't even everything. there's still tens of examples of executive orders and policies that donald trump has signed and passed that coincide with project 2025.

now, evitavresnoc, i'd be surprised if you read through all of this, as trumpers tend not to read anything that's critical of their o holy god. however, if you did make it to the end, i also don't expect you to criticize him whatsoever, y'all never do.

but to sit here and lie so confidently is shameful. he has done nothing but prove that he's a lying sociopath, who says what he says to get ahead.

and i can't wait for the "well this isn't that bad" or "hell yeah brother" replies i'm going to get to this, because it's inevitable. it just helps me weed out the losers who need to get the fuck off this site and go back to facebook.

fuck trump, fuck project 2025, and fuck you too if you voted for this shit.

[contemplatingoutlander]

States caught unprepared for Trump’s threats to FEMA

FEMA is canceling plans to award states grants to help prepare against future disasters. Federal funds given to states after disasters strike could also be in jeopardy.

Torrential rain fell on Eastern Kentucky in July 2022, turning creeks into rivers that roared through the valleys and hollows, wrecking hundreds of homes and killing 45 people. Since then, the state has been trapped in a cycle of seemingly never-ending disasters, exhausting storm-weary residents in impoverished small towns. “Our families are hurting and suffering, and our businesses are being hit and hit again,” said Kristin Walker Collins, chief executive of the nonprofit Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky.

The Trump administration is doing away with FEMA bit by bit. Right now they are ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program that has provided billions of dollars in grants to states

to repair levees, elevate flood-prone homes and shore up drinking water systems. The program was built on research showing it is many times less expensive to protect against future damage from natural disasters than to pay for repairs and rebuilding afterward.

A FEMA spokesperson gave this reason for why BRIC is ending:

“BRIC was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program,” she said in a statement. “It was more concerned with climate change than helping Americans effected by natural disasters.”

This is another example of how Trump's unconscionable war on anything to do with "climate change" is going to cost American lives and far more money repairing property damage than if Trump had just continued the BRIC proactive program of shoring up infrastructure to prevent unnecessary damage during extreme weather events.

That Trump wants to live in denial about climate change won't make it go away.

But regarding FEMA, Trump doesn't want to stop there:

The president has said he wants to eliminate FEMA and shift responsibility for disaster response to the states — which experts said are unprepared to respond to catastrophic disasters without federal assistance. [...] Some emergency management experts say the president’s proposal to shift the financial responsibility of responding to those disasters to states could prompt chaos in state capitals and city governments, forcing messy political fights about how to pay for disaster relief and fund preparedness offices.

It shouldn't be surprising, that two of the three top states for FEMA aid since 2003 are red states:

Among states, Louisiana ($22 billion), New York ($17.6 billion) and Florida ($13.6 billion) received the most in public assistance funds over the past two decades, mostly for damage caused by hurricanes, according to the analysis. [color emphasis added]

Red states could be in major trouble without FEMA, since GOP legislatures typically don't believe in raising taxes for needed services. Some of those states, like Wyoming, have such small populations that they might not be able to meet state disaster relief needs on their own, even if they raise taxes.

In the light of Trump and the GOP's determination to cut taxes for the obscenely wealthy, Trump's plans to cut back on FEMA are particularly cruel.

This is a gift 🎁 link, so you can read the article without a paywall.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Matt Gertz at MMFA:

Former President Donald Trump’s deadly lies about the federal response to Hurricane Helene — and soon, inevitably, Hurricane Milton — depend on the impermeability of the right-wing information bubble. President Joe Biden has directed an ongoing federal and state response to the swath of death and destruction Hurricane Helene left on the southeastern United States, an effort which includes tens of thousands of personnel helping victims across several states.  Trump’s Helene response has been characterized by conspiracy theories and grievance-mongering for political gain.

The Biden administration won plaudits from GOP elected officials across the region, but Trump falsely claimed the federal government abandoned the public. Americans affected by the storm can access a robust program of federal assistance, but he falsely claims they could only get $750 in aid. The White House stressed there’s plenty of FEMA funds to respond to both Helene and Milton — and Republicans are reportedly the ones blocking additional funding — but Trump falsely claims Vice President Kamala Harris blew “all her FEMA money” housing immigrants.  The former president, through these deranged fabrications, is trying to win votes in the coming election. He is summoning an alternate reality in which Biden and Harris are blithely unconcerned with the fates of millions of victims because many of those victims are Republicans and they instead prioritize immigrants. And he is doing so despite his own record  as president of allegedly withholding disaster aid for political reasons.

The only reason this strategy is remotely plausible is that the right-wing media ecosystem is willing to play along with it. The news sources Republicans rely on, from MAGA influencers to Fox stars, have bolstered Trump’s lies at every turn. The result is that right-wing audiences are bombarded with falsehoods from within an echo chamber. The MAGA media ecosystem responds in this same fashion to every news event because its function isn’t to report on what is happening. Instead, right-wing pundits offer a scapegoat — immigrants, Jews, journalists, teachers, trans people, Democrats, anti-Trump Republicans — in order to hold their audience’s attention, make money, and support the GOP’s core agenda of tax cuts for rich people and abortion bans.

Hurricane misinformation is plaguing the response to Helene. Local media outlets, federal and state officials, and emergency responders all are desperately trying to swat down rumors and falsehoods — some promoted by the former president. Republican officials in affected areas are begging the people pushing “conspiracy theory junk” to stop lying and pitch in instead.

Donald Trump and the right-wing media’s pushing of conspiracy theories about Hurricane Helene reveals that they are in an insular bubble.

[fearfulfertility]

CONFIDENTIAL REPORT

DRC, Intelligence Division, Rapid Response Command

To: Director [REDACTED]

From: Chief Operating Officer [REDACTED]

Date: [REDACTED]

Subject: Large-Scale Canadian Surrogate Conscription

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Following Operation Maple Harvest, the nation of Canada was successfully annexed into the greater continental American territory, and the Department of Reproductive Compliance (DRC) has significantly expanded its operational reach.

With the integration of former Canadian territories into our oversight, the agency has successfully implemented surrogate capture and processing programs at an unprecedented scale. Reports indicate that over [REDACTED] viable surrogates have been conscripted in the first [REDACTED] months of post-annexation governance, with projections suggesting an exponential increase in the coming year before stabilizing the following year.

This report provides an overview of tactical enforcement strategies, territorial control measures, and logistical efficiencies that have enabled mass conscription efforts in the former Canadian provinces.

I. STRATEGIC TERRITORIAL CONTROL

With the dissolution of the Canadian federal government, all former provinces and territories have been absorbed into the newly established FEMA Zone 13 (Western Canada), FEMA Zone 14 (Central Canada), and FEMA Zone 15 (Atlantic Canada).

Immediate DRC oversight has focused on establishing the following:

Cross-Border Tracking Systems: Utilizing existing intelligence networks to identify high-value surrogate candidates from former Canadian census records and healthcare databases. Special emphasis should be placed on former military personnel, athletes, [REDACTED], and blue-collar workers as the most fertile and rebellious groups.

Paternity Compound Development: The rapid repurposing of former military bases, university dormitories, and correctional facilities to house surrogates en masse, as they already have established barracks facilities.

Conscription Quotas & Enforcement: Coordinate with regional compliance officers to ensure capture rates meet federal reproductive mandates while assimilating the Canadian workforce into the DRC and normalizing surrogacy conscription. 

II. MASS SURROGATE CONSCRIPTION OPERATIONS

The newly annexed Canadian territories have provided an unparalleled expansion of surrogate stock, primarily due to the favorable demographic conditions of the population. Initial surveys indicate that:

[REDACTED]% of identified surrogates are of prime fertility age (18-25).

[REDACTED]% of captured surrogates display favorable genetic markers, exceeding standard thresholds.

KEY CONSCRIPTION STRATEGIES

University Raids: Focused efforts on collegiate sports teams have yielded a [REDACTED]% success rate in acquiring prime surrogates while reducing the number of educated dissenters.

Nighttime Extraction Teams: The deployment of low-profile, plain-clothes retrieval units has resulted in the seamless collection of over [REDACTED] surrogates per week without significant public resistance.

Border Detainment Facilities: The closure of major highways and railway hubs has effectively trapped fleeing candidates, ensuring no viable surrogates escape the zone.

Employment-Based Luring Programs: Former Canadian job assistance programs have been repurposed as recruitment traps, attracting young men under the guise of “Federal Relocation Initiatives.”

III. KEY INCIDENT REPORTS

Case Study #1: Mass Athletic Securing Operation

At 02:15, a DRC enforcement unit conducted a conscription raid at the University of [REDACTED]'s athletic dormitories. Surveillance data confirmed that [REDACTED] athletes met the biological and age criteria for surrogate eligibility.

Outcome:

All surrogates were secured and inseminated on-site, with only minor resistance and injury.

Post-capture ultrasounds confirmed exceptionally high fetal loads, with three surrogates being flagged to be carrying octodecuplets (18).

Notably, members of the track and field teams averaged higher fetal loads (15-18 babies) than their peers on football, hockey, and basketball teams (12-16 babies).

"I thought being an athlete was supposed to make things easier… but it just made me a better surrogacy candidate. I'm so huge with these babies I can't even stand up, let alone run. My belly’s enormous, and it's like I'm being stretched tighter every hour. It's humiliating. I'm completely immobilized, pinned down by my own pregnancy, helpless, and at their mercy. No one warned me it would feel this intense." - Surrogate SC003-182-O

Case Study #2: Highway Roundup Operation

In coordination with the new administration for FEMA Zone 14, roadblocks were established on Trans-Canada and Perimeter Highways. Over [REDACTED] young men attempting to flee westward were intercepted.

Outcome:

[REDACTED] individuals identified as prime surrogate candidates were detained, dosed with high-potency aphrodisacs, inseminated, and transferred to the newly opened Paternity Compound C-005, formerly the Canadian Museum for [REDACTED].

Non-fertile individuals who aided or participated in the attempted escape were transferred to local law enforcement for detainment. As the Canadian legal system is suspended until a new regional administration is appointed, individuals are redirected to work programs supporting the expansion of Paternity Compound C-005.

Detainment and insemination on the highway allowed for new surrogates to be rapidly transported to nearby facilities. 

"We thought we could make it out, but they had every route blocked—now I'm stuck here, pregnant with so many babies I lost count. I’m so enormous I haven't moved from this bed in days; just breathing makes me dizzy, and every kick sends shivers through me. The officers who caught us said we'd serve as 'examples,' and now I get why—my body's not even mine anymore, swelling bigger by the hour." - Surrogate SC002-105-M

Case Study #3: "Warehouse Party" Capture Operation

At 19:42, local security forces uncovered a "warehouse party" inside a former natatorium complex (i.e. community swimming pool) in downtown Montreal. Surveillance drones detected over [REDACTED] conscription-eligible men in attendance.

Outcome:

Under Emergency Security Powers [REDACTED], the crowd was detained without apparent escapes.

Emptied swimming pools were convenient hold areas while local law enforcement screened candidates for fertility or detainment.

[REDACTED] surrogates secured and inseminated within 30 minutes. The highest single mass insemination in the last [REDACTED], second only to the New Philadelphia incident where [REDACTED] candidates were inseminated.

Post-capture ultrasounds confirmed exceptionally high fetal loads. One surrogate, SC004-118-V, was flagged to be carrying duovigintuplets (22).

"We were just having a good time, you know? Then suddenly, we're herded into an empty pool like cattle, tested, and next thing I know, I'm more pregnant than I ever thought possible… I never knew anyone could grow this fast! My belly's so enormous I'm stuck here, and every time the babies kick...I can't stop thinking about how much bigger I'm still gonna get." - Surrogate SC005-111-N

Case Study #4: Public Birth Demonstration

On [REDACTED], intelligence units intercepted communications indicating that former municipal leader Mr. [REDACTED], residing within FEMA Zone 14 (Central Canada), attempted to incite rebellion against newly established governance. 

Outcome:

Immediate apprehension of Mr. [REDACTED] and the conscription of [REDACTED], his 19-year-old son, Surrogate ID: SC06-202-Q.

SC06-202-Q was inseminated and confirmed to be pregnant with septendecuplets (17), an exceptionally high fetal load, resulting in rapid physical changes and eventual immobilization.

The surrogate reached a final pregnancy weight of 527 lbs (239 kg), rendering him completely immobile and dependent on medical staff for all movement and care.

Public Demonstration:

Scheduled the surrogate’s delivery as a mandatory public event in a local open-air square, attended by the local population, and broadcast on all local channels. Mr. [REDACTED] was restrained in a front-row seat with an unobscured view of the event.

The surrogate publicly induced and entered active labor at precisely 14:00, with all 17 fetuses delivered successfully over 4 hours.

Crowd reactions ranged from shock and discomfort to subdued apathy, effectively curtailing further open resistance in the region.

"They forced us all out there to watch—it was… I can’t describe what it was. The surrogate was massive, all you could see were his splayed legs and gigantic womb. I've never seen anything like it… he was groaning and shaking the whole time, his belly so big I swore it was gonna burst. Every time another baby came out, he let out these noises—it was like he couldn't even tell where he was anymore. Honestly, I couldn't look away, as shocking as it was." — [REDACTED], Local Resident

IV. FUTURE EXPANSION & PROJECTED OUTCOMES

The annexation of Canada has significantly exceeded expectations, proving to be one of the most fertile territories available for surrogate conscription. Future efforts will focus on the following:

Paternity Compound Expansion: Construction of five new high-capacity compounds in [REDACTED], Ottawa, and [REDACTED] City.

Mobile Paternity Units: Deployment of MPUs to secure and inseminate hard-to-reach rural populations.

Mass Public Compliance Initiatives: Implement “Surrogacy Service Announcements” and “Volunteer Reproductive Compliance” programs to normalize forced conscription within newly annexed regions.

Cross-Border Transfer Policies: [REDACTED]% Canadian surrogates to be transferred across the border to ensure their security as local seditious groups are eliminated.

CONCLUSION

The annexation of Canada represents a historic victory for the Department of Reproductive Compliance, ensuring a massive influx of high-value surrogates into North American breeding programs. While some initial resistance has been recorded, ongoing security operations confirm that disruptions to insemination activities are minimal, and the number of pregnant Canadian men continues to increase dramatically.

Prepared by:

Chief Operating Officer [REDACTED]

DRC, Intelligence Division, Rapid Response Command

----------------

Click Here to return to DRC Report Archives

[reading-writing-revolution]

The List -- Fraud, Waste and Abuse Edition

I asked ChatGPT to look at one of the earlier lists of authoritarian actions the Trump Regime is taking and categorize them according to the labels "fraud, waste and abuse". The goal was to have AI categorize and list which action represented fraud (a lie or cheat of the American people), waste (an action that was wasteful of resources) or abuse (an action that was deliberately abusive in nature against the American people), and here's the list: The original list can be found here: https://theweeklylistreturns.substack.com/p/week-17-the-return

Here’s a recategorization of the entries based on Fraud, Waste, and Abuse:

FRAUD (Cheating the American People)

Media and Information Manipulation

WAPO restricting opinion pieces to only pro-libertarian, pro-free-market views.

White House barring major media outlets while allowing only conservative news sources.

Voice of America journalists facing HR investigations for critical reporting on Trump.

AI-generated video depicting "TRUMP GAZA" misrepresenting geopolitical reality.

Corruption and Conflicts of Interest

Dr. Mehmet Oz retaining millions in investments despite nomination to oversee Medicare/Medicaid.

Lynn Dekleva’s appointment to EPA despite prior lobbying for chemical industries.

Capital One, Rocket Mortgage, and other corporations escaping consumer protection lawsuits under Trump’s CFPB.

Zelle network operators, including major banks, escaping fraud investigations due to CFPB case dismissals.

Musk inserting DOGE personnel into FAA while SpaceX stands to win a major $2.4 billion contract.

Musk influencing NASA operations and receiving private access to internal agency discussions.

Election and Legal Manipulation

DOJ reviewing conviction of Tina Peters, a convicted election conspiracist.

Harmeet Dhillon and John Sauer suggesting some court orders can be ignored.

Demotion of prosecutors overseeing Capitol insurrection cases.

Trump pardoning January 6 defendants and shutting down investigations into domestic extremism.

House Republicans attempting to extend Trump’s presidency beyond two terms.

Trump proposing national crypto reserve, raising conflict-of-interest concerns.

Trump's DOJ delaying foreign bribery cases under the pretext of reassessing corruption laws.

WASTE (Destroying Essential Programs and Services)

Federal Budget and Economic Policy

Mass layoffs across federal agencies, including 10,000 EPA staff and nearly all 1,700 CFPB employees.

Foreign aid freeze cutting off health and disaster relief funding worldwide.

Termination of USAID programs combating polio, HIV, and malaria.

Attempt to defund universities over "illegal protests," violating the First Amendment.

Pausing military aid to Ukraine despite ongoing war.

Stock market crashes due to abrupt tariff announcements, harming U.S. economy.

Trump tariffs against Canada, Mexico, and China escalating trade wars.

Overhaul of rural broadband program to favor Starlink, awarding billions to Musk.

Musk manipulating air safety concerns to justify Starlink involvement in FAA.

Mismanagement of Agencies

Abandoning lawsuits against chemical companies accused of releasing carcinogens.

Closing civil rights and anti-discrimination enforcement offices under DOGE.

Halting State Department’s global air quality monitoring program after a decade.

Ending federal policies allowing language assistance for non-English speakers.

GOP’s "big beautiful bill" cutting key programs like Medicaid and food assistance.

Environmental and Public Infrastructure Neglect

Dismantling of NOAA, jeopardizing weather forecasting and climate research.

Closing of National Park Service offices, leading to nationwide protests.

Cuts to FEMA disaster relief workforce weeks before hurricane season.

Ending federal enforcement of clean air and water regulations.

ABUSE (Harming or Causing Distress to Americans)

Targeting Vulnerable Populations

Trump regime removing all transgender troops unless granted a waiver.

Federal judge blocking attempts to withhold hospital funding for trans youth.

Ending hiring discrimination lawsuits, enabling racial bias in policing and fire departments.

ICE attempting to obtain home addresses of 700,000 undocumented immigrants.

DOGE seeking IRS tax records to target recipients of government benefits.

Undermining Public Safety

Trump-appointed officials ordering mass layoffs of air traffic controllers.

Musk soliciting retired air traffic controllers due to FAA staffing crisis.

Halting cyber defense operations against Russia, putting national security at risk.

Removing high-ranking Black military officials from leadership roles.

Attempt to rename Fort Moore to honor a Confederate general.

Authoritarian and Anti-Democratic Actions

White House pressuring USAID to cover up impacts of foreign aid freeze.

Targeting federal judges who oppose Trump’s agenda.

Seizing and transporting classified document boxes on Air Force One.

House Republicans introducing bills to rename federal buildings after Trump.

Human Rights and Foreign Policy Failures

Zelensky humiliated at the White House, leading to international fallout.

Abandoning U.S. military aid and intelligence support for Ukraine.

Praising Putin while criticizing NATO allies.

Cutting U.S. foreign aid while China, Russia, and Iran expand influence.

GOP officials pressuring Zelensky to "apologize" to Trump.

Arrest and deportation threats increasing for immigrants under ICE expansion.

Conclusion

Fraud: Policies that deceive the public or enable corruption.

Waste: Reckless destruction of necessary government functions and resources.

Abuse: Policies designed to cause harm, distress, or fear to specific groups or the general public.

This categorization highlights how many of these actions fit into a broader pattern of corruption, negligence, and authoritarian behavior.

[autumngracy]

Trump announces 'Golden Dome' space missile defenses that would cost $175 billion

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday the concept he wants for his future Golden Dome missile defense program — a multilayered $175 billion system that for the first time will put U.S. weapons in space.

Okay, so, let me get this straight:

We don’t have any money for

Maintaining and/or upgrading our rotting infrastructure

Feeding schoolchildren

Veterans’ healthcare

Veterans suicide hotlines

LGBTQ+ suicide hotlines

9/11 First Responders’ healthcare

The Head Start Program (education and care for impoverished kids)

Literally any foreign aid, like. at all (food, medicine, healthcare)

SNAP benefits

Financial programs designed to help people afford college

FEMA (Aiding and rebuilding communities after natural disasters)

NOAA (storm prediction, weather forecasts and alerts)

Climate change research

Helping rural communities afford to build/run farms

Expanding rail lines (passenger and/or freight)

Researching alzheimer’s, cancer, women’s health, etc.

Helping businesses and individuals switch away from coal and fossil fuels

Providing refuge and assistance to immigrants fleeing unsafe conditions

Programs that helped provide internet access to rural areas

The US Postal Service

Adequate staffing for air controllers

Just, like. a whole bunch of preexisting federal workers in general

Inspecting food & drugs and making sure they’re safe or issuing recalls

Vaccines, in general (research, development, and distribution)

Public Broadcasting (radio stations, TV networks)

and much, much more, 

BUT,

We have money for a $175 BILLION missile defense system???

[sidewalkscienceguy]

Every single one of Trump's picks is anti-science. Anti-medicine. Anti-education. Anti-low and middle class.

As a science educator, as someone who EVERY SINGLE DAY goes out onto sidewalks and talks to people about science and teaches and meets the real people who live in our communities....this is bad.

I'm never going to stop, but I've come to realize how much more needs to be done, and for at least the next four years, we're going to be battling a government that quite frankly is actively attempting to destroy the future of this planet and widen the class gaps by any means possible.

If we lose fluoride in our water, studies in towns like Anchorage, Alaska already show dental costs will just about double.

If we lose vaccines, hundreds of thousands of extra people will die each year and eradicated diseases will continue making a comeback (not start, thanks to anti-vaxxers).

If we lose funding behind renewable energy projects and jobs, we can kiss biodiversity and a human-liveable climate by 2100 goodbye.

If we lose diversified NASA projects, space science will vanish and we'll lose projects aimed at monitoring things like, you know, our planet's environmental health.

If we lose government assistance programs, the lower socioeconomic class's ability to get food and public transportation will be squeezed out.

If we lose the national weather services, timely weather updates and warnings will disappear and you'll have to pay for weather updates under privatized weather programs.

If we lose FEMA or any government response agencies, the recovery from natural disasters will take far longer, with less aid given, and the privatized emergency response teams will - you guessed it - cost way more money.

We need to stand up and push so hard against this before the effects start rolling in. Mitigate what we can. Not a single person in the Trump admin is there to do work. Every single one is there to nod and give the thumbs up and bend to his every word. The United States will not have anything that resembles a functioning government in two months.

This entire admin is being built through willful negligence, to cause as much chaos and confusion and a sense of disorder internally. It's all being driven on fear. Not hope. Not science. Not unity.

There is only one end goal here: to funnel power vertically, rather than spread it horizontally.

[darkeagleruins]

ILLEGAL ALIEN WELFARE:

Federal agencies under the Biden Administration, consider illegals aliens paroled into the country to be “QUALIFIED ALIENS” This designation opens the welfare state to them. Here is what you pay for:

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Emergency Medicaid (includes labor and delivery)

Full-Scope Medicaid

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Medicare “Premium-Free” Part A (hospitalization)

Premium “Buy-in” Medicare

HUD Public Housing and Section 8 Programs

Title XX Block Grants

Social Security

This is the tip of the iceberg. You also pay for NGO and FEMA funding that also pays for:

Housing, utilities, and food

Transportation

Health and medical

English language training

Social adjustment and other services

America is 34.5 Trillion dollars in debt.

How do you explain this?

[mariacallous]

Editor's note: This is the second post in a series on reforming national disaster policy. The first post outlined principles for reform, while this post focuses on changes to the federal disaster declaration process. The next post will focus on the division of roles between federal agencies after a disaster is declared.

What constitutes a “disaster,” how it’s measured, and whose disaster experience counts are bureaucratic decisions with material consequences. What we classify as hazard events and how we classify them has evolved tremendously since the 1920s, when Mississippi River floods first brought national attention and federal aid to natural disasters; this extended through to the landmark events of the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, Harvey, and Maria, and the recent wildfires in the West.

Scholars have long called out the challenge of defining hazard events that are socially and economically disruptive. To govern and administer assistance, the U.S. codifies disasters through a “federal disaster declaration.” But the current system for such declarations is not only inconsistent, opaque, and difficult to navigate for survivors (especially the most vulnerable), it also excludes the kinds of hazards we will increasingly face due to climate change.

Disaster declarations structure the way we track, research, and communicate about hazards and their socioeconomic impacts. The disaster declaration process begins with a state or tribal request, after a disaster exceeds their capacity to respond; it ends with the president declaring an emergency or major disaster, which opens the gates for federal agencies to transfer personnel and funding to impacted communities, as codified in the Stafford Act. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) manages the regulations, burden of proof, and assessment of damage, and makes recommendations to the White House on whether to issue the declaration.

But a disaster declaration is just the first step. Both laws and program rules have built an evolving process for the federal government to assess, respond, and assist across many agencies. The declaration can immediately authorize FEMA programs such as Public Assistance, for debris clean-up, emergency services, and infrastructure rebuilding; or Individual Assistance, which provides households with limited support and services. Some of these authorizations can involve cascading triggers for short-term support, including loans for rebuilding, disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and unemployment insurance. Longer-term recovery requires congressional action to authorize and appropriate funding for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and the Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Disaster Supplemental Funding.

Through these processes, the federal government iteratively defines and quantifies disasters. And at each juncture, challenges of effectiveness, equity, efficiency, and accounting for the environment arise. In this second blog of our series on reforming disaster response, we examine how our federal system defines disasters and the “gates” that unlock some sources of federal disaster aid but not others, and offer some solutions for reform.

[solidoaktreeservice]

Does FEMA Cover Tree Removal Expenses in Pittsburgh, PA?

Natural disasters can cause significant damage to properties across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. From severe storms to flooding and heavy snowfall, these events often result in fallen trees that damage homes, block driveways, or create hazardous conditions. For Pittsburgh homeowners facing such situations, a common question arises: Will the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) help cover the costs of tree removal?

Understanding FEMA's Role in Disaster Recovery

FEMA provides financial assistance to individuals and communities affected by federally declared disasters. However, the agency's policies regarding tree removal are specific and contain important limitations that Pittsburgh residents should understand.

When FEMA May Cover Tree Removal in Pittsburgh

FEMA assistance for tree removal is available only under certain conditions:

Declared Disasters

First and foremost, FEMA will only consider covering tree removal expenses if the damage occurred during a federally declared disaster. For Pittsburgh residents, this typically happens after major events like:

Severe storms with flooding

Winter storms and extreme snowfall

Hurricanes or tropical storms that reach Pennsylvania

Other catastrophic weather events

If the President has not declared a disaster for Allegheny County or specifically for Pittsburgh, FEMA assistance won't be available regardless of the damage severity.

Tree Removal Eligibility Requirements

Even during declared disasters, FEMA has strict criteria for when tree removal qualifies for assistance:

Direct Threat to Safety: The fallen tree must present an immediate threat to lives, public health, or safety.

Access Blockage: FEMA may cover removal costs if the tree blocks access to your home. This includes trees blocking driveways, walkways, or entrances that prevent safe passage.

Home Damage: If a tree has fallen on your home and caused damage, FEMA may help cover its removal as part of addressing the home damage.

Public Right-of-Way: Trees blocking public roads may be removed through FEMA's Public Assistance program, which works with local governments rather than individual homeowners.

What FEMA Will Not Cover

Many Pittsburgh homeowners are surprised to learn about the limitations of FEMA's tree removal assistance:

Aesthetic or Convenience Concerns

FEMA does not provide assistance for removing trees that:

Have fallen in your yard without causing damage or safety issues

Are unsightly or leaning but not an immediate threat

Dropped branches or debris that don't block access or threaten structures

Pre-existing Issues

Trees that were dead, diseased, or at risk before the disaster event aren't eligible for FEMA assistance. This includes trees affected by common Pittsburgh tree diseases such as oak wilt, Dutch elm disease, or emerald ash borer damage.

Trees on Vacant Lots

FEMA generally doesn't cover tree removal from undeveloped properties or vacant lots, even if owned by the applicant.

Multiple Tree Removal Limitations

FEMA typically limits reimbursement to one tree per residence that blocks access to the home or presents a threat. Multiple trees may require special justification.

The Application Process for Pittsburgh Residents

If you believe your situation meets FEMA's criteria for tree removal assistance, you should:

Document Everything: Take photos of the damage before any work begins. This documentation is crucial for your claim.

Register with FEMA: Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov, through the FEMA mobile app, or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

Request Inspection: A FEMA inspector will visit your property to assess the damage and determine eligibility.

Keep Receipts: If you've already paid for emergency tree removal, keep all receipts and documentation to submit with your claim.

FEMA Assistance Amounts for Tree Removal

When approved, FEMA's financial assistance for tree removal in Pittsburgh typically has limitations:

FEMA may not cover the full cost of professional tree removal services

Reimbursement amounts are often standardized based on average costs in the Pittsburgh area

The focus is on safe, cost-effective removal rather than complete property restoration

Most Pittsburgh homeowners find that FEMA assistance, when available, covers only a portion of their total expenses, especially for large trees requiring specialized equipment.

Private Insurance vs. FEMA for Tree Removal

Before turning to FEMA, Pittsburgh homeowners should check their insurance policies:

Homeowners Insurance Coverage

Many homeowners insurance policies in Pennsylvania cover tree removal under specific circumstances:

When a tree damages insured structures (home, garage, fence)

If a tree blocks access to your home

When trees fall due to covered perils like wind or weight of ice/snow

Insurance typically offers more comprehensive coverage than FEMA and should be your first resource. However, insurance deductibles apply, and rates may increase after claims.

Insurance Gaps

Typical scenarios where neither insurance nor FEMA might help include:

Trees that fall without hitting structures or blocking access

Gradual tree damage or diseases requiring removal

Removal of stumps (often considered a separate service)

Preventative removal of dangerous trees before they fall

Alternative Resources for Pittsburgh Residents

When FEMA and insurance don't provide coverage, Pittsburgh homeowners have several alternatives:

City of Pittsburgh Services

Following major storms, the City of Pittsburgh may provide limited curbside pickup of tree debris. However, this usually doesn't include removal of whole trees or stumps from private property.

Small Business Administration (SBA) Loans

The SBA offers low-interest disaster loans that can help cover expenses not paid by insurance or FEMA, including more extensive tree removal costs.

Local Community Programs

Pittsburgh and surrounding communities sometimes establish special programs after significant weather events to help residents with tree removal costs. Check with the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works or your local borough offices.

Nonprofit Assistance

Organizations like Team Rubicon or local volunteer groups sometimes help with tree removal for elderly or disabled residents following disasters.

Preparing for Future Tree Emergencies in Pittsburgh

Given the limitations of FEMA assistance, Pittsburgh homeowners should consider these preparedness steps:

Professional Tree Assessment

Have a qualified arborist inspect trees on your property regularly to identify potential hazards before they become emergency situations. Many tree service companies in Pittsburgh offer free assessments.

Preventative Maintenance

Regular trimming and proper care can reduce the risk of tree failure during storms. This includes:

Removing dead or weakened branches

Cable bracing for trees with structural weaknesses

Treating trees affected by pests or diseases common to Western Pennsylvania

Emergency Fund Planning

Set aside funds specifically for tree maintenance and potential emergency removal, recognizing that these costs may not be covered by FEMA or insurance.

Document Pre-disaster Condition

Maintain current photos of your property's trees to establish their condition before any disaster. This documentation can help with both insurance claims and FEMA applications.

Tree Removal Costs in Pittsburgh

Understanding typical costs helps in planning and evaluating assistance options:

Small Trees (under 30 feet): $150-$450

Medium Trees (30-60 feet): $450-$700

Large Trees (60-100 feet): $700-$1,400

Extra Large Trees (over 100 feet): $1,400-$2,000+

Additional factors affecting Pittsburgh tree removal costs include:

Location and accessibility on your property

Proximity to structures or power lines

Type and condition of the tree

Additional services like stump grinding

Emergency service premiums

Conclusion

FEMA's assistance for tree removal in Pittsburgh is limited to specific scenarios during federally declared disasters. Even when available, this assistance typically covers only a portion of the costs associated with removing trees that cause damage or create hazards.

For Pittsburgh homeowners, the best approach is a combination of:

Understanding your insurance coverage

Maintaining trees properly to prevent emergencies

Having a financial plan for tree maintenance and removal

Knowing how to apply for FEMA assistance when disasters occur

When facing tree emergencies that require immediate professional attention in the Pittsburgh area, Solid Oak Tree Service provides expert removal services with the local knowledge needed to help homeowners navigate the aftermath of storms and other tree emergencies.

Solid Oak Tree Service

 724-596-0171

106 High St, Freeport, PA 16229

Visit: https://solidoaktreeservices.com/

[marta-bee]

News of the Day 5/7/25: Who You Know

Paywall be gone.

Paywall be gone.

It's a tale of two natural disasters.

Back in February, Kentucky was hit hard by some absolutely torrential rains and flooding. It made national news at the time, to the point Trump's FEMA really had no choice but to declare it a national disaster. Later, FEMA still refused to certify several counties, and the KY governor's appealing. A few weeks later, Arkansas had a similar situation, to my understanding less severe but still not nothing. There, the government refused to certify it as a disaster from the beginning.

Both states are ruby-red, politically, but Arkansas's governor is Sarah Huckabee Sanders, one of Trump's press secretaries from the first term.

While both states appealed the decisions through the normal channels, Sanders also called up Trump directly. It didn't seem to work, at least not yet, but it fascinates me she thought that was how to handle this. I'm reminded of Elon Musk's comments about how DOGE would make mistakes but they'd fix them quickly and told a group of Congressmen (Republicans, of course) to call him with any concerns about programs that shouldn't have been cut.

More related links about FEMA, NOAA, and this growing need for personal appeals below the cut.

FEMA

Trump Is Now Screwing Over Republicans in Need of Disaster Relief. Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wrote a letter to the president begging him to approve aid for the state after a series of destructive storms (X)

The GOP’s proposed cuts to FEMA and Medicaid reveal the paradox of red state dependence (X)

Trump administration continues to suggest FEMA could go away (X)

Trump cuts will lead to more deaths in disasters, expert warns: ‘It is really scary’

FEMA losing roughly 20% of permanent staff, including longtime leaders, ahead of hurricane season (X)

When FEMA failed to test soil for toxic substances after the L.A. fires, The Times had it done. The results were alarming (X)

Why didn't FEMA lease apartments for survivors of the L.A. fires? (X)

FEMA Is Ending Door-to-Door Canvassing in Disaster Areas (X)

FEMA ended a grant program designed to help communities prevent disaster damages. Here’s where that leaves Vermont. (X)

Levee protection concerns rise in Luzerne County amid FEMA funding loss (X)

When it comes to FEMA and Helene relief, Trump leaves (NC US Rep.) Edwards flat on his back (X)

Other Cuts to NOAA, weather forecasting, climate change science

Trump has launched more attacks on the environment in 100 days than his entire first term

US weather forecasting is more crippled than previously known as hurricane season nears (X)

Three NASA Climate Satellites Are Dying. There’s No Plan to Replace Them. (X)

Trump administration fires authors of key climate report (X). Scientific societies say they’ll step up to run the report privately.

President Donald Trump proposed drastic budget cuts that could stymie green energy projects, gut environmental protections, and further hobble health and climate research in the US. (X)

How Trump May Unintentionally Cut Carbon Emissions. Despite his administration’s lack of concern about climate change, a recession would give the atmosphere a break. At least in the short term. (X)

Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances (X)

The Trump admin is suing four states to stop them from holding fossil fuel giants accountable for climate damage (X)

The Keystone oil pipeline was shut down Tuesday morning after a rupture in North Dakota halted the flow from Canada to U.S. refineries.

Trump’s More Personal Approach to Governing (that’s being generous)

It Actually Makes Perfect Sense That Trump Has Given Marco Rubio Four Jobs (X)

Feds launch discrimination probe against NY officials — after Trump backs Massapequa Chiefs name (X)

Duffy slams Defense Department over recent National Airport incident: ‘No more helicopter rides for VIPs’

Trump administration plans to shut down nearly 30 U.S. embassies — over half in Africa (X)

State Department says a draft executive order, which would have created new loyalty requirements for career staff and eliminated many offices, is fake. A reorganization of the department is still expected shortly. (X)

Trump orders Justice Department to investigate Democrats’ top fundraising platform

President Trump says he'll revoke Harvard's tax-exempt status (X). Meanwhile, IRS Apologizes For Aggressive Scrutiny Of Conservative Groups back from 2013.

US reaches agreement to settle lawsuit brought over Ashli Babbitt’s shooting during Capitol riot. She was a January 6th sedition killed by Capitol police during the protest; the implication was the cops were in the wrong.

Lovefest or Cabinet meeting? For Donald Trump, it’s both

Even MAGA Is Disgusted by Trump’s “Kim Jong Il–Style” Cabinet Meeting (X)

SpaceX's Rocket Launch Site in Texas Is Now Its Own City (X)

Meta's new board members include former Trump security advisor (X)

Corporate Chiefs Gave Trump’s Inaugural Committee $250 Million. Benefits Abound. Trump’s record haul is a slush fund—and an ethics nightmare. (X)

Trump directed his health department on Tuesday to work with Congress on revamping a law that allows Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices, seeking to introduce a change the pharmaceutical industry has lobbied for. (X)

[jadestormcloud2]

"Under President Donald Trump, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has denied federal assistance for tornadoes in Arkansas, flooding in West Virginia and a windstorm in Washington state. It also has refused North Carolina’s request for extended relief funding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

...

“This is very unusual,” said Karina Shagren, communications director with the Washington Military Department, which oversees the state’s emergency management division. “This is the first time in recent memory that we have hit all the indicators to get FEMA’s public assistance program and we’ve been denied.”

...

If Trump intends to curtail federal support, Coen said, he should give states clear guidelines.

“They should have a dialogue with the states, so the states aren’t spinning their wheels making requests that are going to get denied,” Coen said.

He added that states need guidance if they’re expected to build emergency management programs to take on what the feds once handled. Not all states, Coen said, have the capacity to replicate those functions. And disasters are expected to increase in frequency and severity because of climate change.

“Having that capability in every single state instead of having one FEMA is not the best use of tax dollars to prepare for the worst day,” he said.

...

Issaquah, Washington, was among the cities hit hard by the “bomb cyclone” that ripped through the state last November. Severe winds killed two people in the state, knocked out power for hundreds of thousands of residents and caused millions in damage, state officials said.

...Mayor Mary Lou Pauly said the city has seen four events since 2020 that qualified for federal disaster aid, with no previous denials.

...“Our residents pay federal taxes, and this is what they think they pay them for, this is what they expect their national government to do. They do not want me to set property taxes 100% higher.”

“What we all want to know is what are the rules of the game?” she said. “If the criteria has changed, then why aren’t we getting told about it?”

Washington state leaders said they were shocked when FEMA denied their request for $34 million to help repair roads, utilities and power systems. Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson said the state’s application met all of the “very clear criteria to qualify.” He has vowed to appeal the decision."

...

Other states also have been surprised by FEMA denials. Arkansas suffered 14 tornadoes last month, triggering a request for a disaster declaration from Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. But the feds told state leaders to handle it on their own.

...

In West Virginia, state leaders asked for disaster aid to cover 14 counties that were struck by flooding in February. But FEMA denied individual assistance to seven of those counties.

...

Meanwhile, FEMA has said it will no longer match 100% of North Carolina’s spending to recover from September’s Hurricane Helene. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein said the cost share was crucial to the state’s efforts to rebuild."

[findme-at1am]

For letters dated April 25th.

"If the president does not sign this request," Gov. Beshear cautioned. "That'll be $40,000 less that's available for our families to recover."

It's time for our representatives to start talking Greed yesterday. As well as actually voice their concerns instead of just Beshear speaking up once and a while and Rand Paul's damage control.

Regarding the April flooding event, the Gov. Beshear requested a Major Disaster Declaration from President Donald Trump on April 11. The state is still waiting to hear if that request has been approved. In it, the Governor asked for Individual Assistance for 13 counties and Public Assistance and Direct Federal Assistance for 33 counties. Gov. Beshear stressed that this includes just the initial counties in order to make the best case for assistance and that more counties could be added.

Selling us short to appease a group of greedy billionaires only leaves you with two enemies instead of one. The American people and the group of 19 or so billionaires, which one would our reps rather face? ..we already know the answer to that one.

That's only April's flooding. After the Feb. 14th flooding we waited & were denied April 23rd...

On that same note FEMA cuts and program cuts by the Trump administration & D.O.G.E.

In a news release Friday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said it was ending the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, calling the move part of efforts to eliminate “waste, fraud and abuse.” “The BRIC program was yet another example of a wasteful and ineffective FEMA program. It was more concerned with political agendas than helping Americans affected by natural disasters,” the agency said in a statement. In addition to ending the program going forward, FEMA said it was also cancelling all applications to the program from 2020 to 2023 and that money that was awarded as part of grants but not already distributed would be immediately returned to the federal government.

The program was started under the first Trump administration and then expanded under the Biden administration.

...

The announcement didn’t detail what exactly the agency found to be “wasteful,” but the Trump administration has targeted programs or funding across the federal government that goes to address climate change or that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion goals. Under the Biden administration, the BRIC program was a key part of the government’s efforts to address climate change and while grants were awarded to a wide range of communities across the country, there was a special emphasis on helping historically underserved communities.

Call your legislators:

Call your senators (both links are titled the same ik):

The Chevron doctrine required courts to defer to a federal agency’s interpretation of the law, even when that interpretation expanded the agency’s own authority.

Summary: Senators are angry at checks and balances being in place and are laying the groundwork for Trump to be able define his own powers. This allows Trump's executive orders to commence with little appeals or pushback.

Latest Action: Senate - 01/08/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

University spokesperson Jay Blanton says the school will find ways to honor and support all students and that student organizations are independent groups and can host their own private graduation events.