RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners, renters and businesses have until Thursday, Sept. 4, to apply for federal disaster assistance if you had damage or losses from the July storms and flooding in Central Texas.

Ten counties are designated for federal assistance for the July 2-18 flooding: Burnet, Guadalupe, Kerr, Kimble, McCulloch, Menard, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson.

By law, FEMA cannot pay for losses covered by your insurance. That’s why disaster survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their primary homes, personal property and vehicles before applying for FEMA assistance. You must also submit the insurance settlement or denial letter to FEMA.

FEMA grants may be used to rent housing if you are displaced from your home because of the disaster. They can be used to make accessibility repairs and upgrades such as exterior ramp and grab bars. Grants may also be used for medical and/or dental expenses because the disaster caused an injury or illness. And they can be used for funerals or reburial expenses.

FEMA works closely with the U.S. Small Business Administration, which provides low-interest disaster loans for homeowners, renters, nonprofit organizations and businesses of all sizes.

The last day to apply for an SBA physical disaster loan is the same as the FEMA deadline: Sept. 4

Keep in mind that applying for federal assistance is not the same as reporting your damage

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) announced an inaugural investment of nearly $32 million to five teams across the U.S. through the NSF Use-Inspired Acceleration of Protein Design (NSF USPRD) initiative. This effort aims to accelerate the translation of artificial intelligence-based approaches to protein design and enable new applications of importance to the U.S. bioeconomy.

“NSF is pleased to bring together experts from both industry and academia to confront and overcome barriers to the widespread adoption of AI-enabled protein design,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for TIP. “Each of the five awardees will focus on developing novel approaches to translate protein design techniques into practical, market-ready solutions. These efforts aim to unlock new uses for this technology in biomanufacturing, advanced materials, and other critical industries. Simply put, NSF USPRD represents a strategic investment in maintaining American leadership in biotechnology at a time of intense global competition.”

Researchers have made significant progress in predicting the 3D structures of proteins and are now leveraging this knowledge to design proteins with specific, desirable characteristics. These advances have been driven by macromolecular modeling, access to training data, applications of AI and machine learning, and high-throughput methods for protein characterization. The NSF USPRD investment seeks to build on this foundation by bringing together cross-disciplinary and cross-sector experts nationwide. The goal is to

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

In-brief analysis

August 7, 2025

Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration analysis based on Global Trade Tracker, Argus, and Vortexa
Note: Data for 2025 are preliminary. 1H25=first half of 2025. figure data

From 2020 to 2024, crude oil and condensate exports from Russia averaged 5.0 million barrels per day (b/d). Exports from Russia in the first half of 2025 (1H25) were 4.3 million b/d (compared with 4.8 million b/d in 2024). Even as crude oil export volumes from Russia have remained relatively high, the destination of these exports has shifted, mainly due to sanctions related to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Europe received 51% of Russia’s crude oil and condensate exports in 2020. However, this volume fell to 12% in 2024 and 11% in 1H25. Over half of Russia’s exports to Europe went

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RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

DENVER – This afternoon FEMA authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for two fires in Colorado, the Lee Fire and the Elk Fire burning within 15 miles of each other in Rio Blanco County near the town of Meeker. 

FEMA Region 8 Acting Regional Administrator Katherine Fox approved the state’s request for federal Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) after receiving two separate requests earlier this afternoon and determining that each fire threatened such destruction that either fire would constitute a major disaster.

At the time of the request, the Lee Fire had burned more than 45,000 acres of land, nearly 40% of which is state or private land. The Elk Fire has burned more than 14,250 acres of land, more than 60% of which is state or private land. Both fires are 0% contained with continuing fire weather in the forecast. 

The fires started August 2, 2025 and have prompted 2500 residents in the town of Meeker to be placed under various evacuation orders. There are 1000+ homes threatened, one primary evacuation route open, and a  local hospital and nursing home already evacuated. There are nine other large fires burning uncontrolled within the state. 

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75-percent of the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants do not provide assistance

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