Agencies

Five New Counties Eligible for FEMA Disaster Assistance

Published: 11 July 2025
Categories: FEMA News

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

AUSTIN, Texas – Homeowners and renters in Burnet, San Saba, Tom Green, Travis and Williamson counties are now eligible for FEMA disaster assistance after the severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding that began July 2.

FEMA and the State of Texas may be able to help with serious disaster-related needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs and personal property loss. Previously, Kerr County was designated for FEMA assistance, meaning survivors with losses in Kerr County could apply even if they do not live in the county or in Texas.

Survivors with homeowners’, renters and flood insurance are encouraged to file a claim with their insurance carrier as soon as possible. By law, FEMA cannot provide funding for losses covered by your insurance. If your policy does not cover all disaster expenses, you may be eligible for federal assistance.

There are several ways to apply. 

The fastest way is to go to DisasterAssistance.gov. You may also use the FEMA App for mobile devices or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Lines are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT. If you use a relay service, captioned telephone or other service, you can give FEMA your number for that service. Helpline operators speak many languages. Press 2 for Spanish.

You may also visit a Disaster Recovery Center to receive in-person assistance. A recovery center is open from 8

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Scott County Disaster Recovery Center to Close July 18

Published: 11 July 2025
Categories: FEMA News

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

SIKESTON, Mo. – The Disaster Recovery Center in Scott County is scheduled to close permanently on Friday, July 18 at 7 p.m. 

Scott County Disaster Recovery Center LOCATIONHOURS OF OPERATIONTanner Street Church of God
619 Tanner St. 
Sikeston, MO 63801Saturday, July 12: 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Sunday: Closed 
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 8 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

At this center, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration will help impacted residents with their disaster assistance applications, answer questions, and upload required documents.

To save time, please apply for FEMA assistance before coming to the Disaster Recovery Center. Apply online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. 

If you are unable to apply online or by phone, someone at the Disaster Recovery Center can assist you. You may visit any location, no matter where you are staying now. For locations, visit: FEMA.gov/DRC.

The FEMA application deadline for the May 16 disaster is August 11, 2025. 

If your home or personal property sustained damage not covered by insurance, FEMA may be able to provide money to help you pay for home repairs, a temporary place to live, and replace essential personal property that was destroyed.

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NSF Graduate Research Fellow contribution to flight could aid disaster relief

Published: 9 July 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

With the devastating hurricanes that swept the southeastern United States at the end of 2024, new and better ways to get critical supplies to disaster zones and rural areas are essential. U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow Garrett Asper is devoting his research during his fellowship to advancing flight control systems for electric or hybrid vertical takeoff and landing vehicles (eVTOLs), which can move people and cargo “more quickly, quietly and cost-effectively than traditional helicopters or ground transportation” according to this article from Virginia Tech.

EVTOLs, which combine the vertical takeoff of helicopters with the ability to transition to horizontal flight like airplanes, are being called “the future of flight.” However, the controls during transitioning from horizontal to vertical flight still need improvement before they can be deployed during disasters. Asper’s research focuses on developing and flight-testing new control algorithms to ensure the safety, speed and efficacy of eVTOL transport. He aims to make the tools he’s creating open source, allowing other researchers to use them to test their work. By doing so, he hopes to advance the entire field and bring us closer to the day when critical supplies and aid can be quickly airlifted to disaster zones.

An aerospace engineering doctoral candidate at Virginia Tech, Asper is a researcher in the Nonlinear Systems Laboratory and the NSF-funded Uncrewed Systems Laboratory. He

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NSF advances 29 semifinalists in the second NSF Regional Innovation Engines competition

Published: 8 July 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program announced the 29 semifinalists advancing to the next stage of the second competition – spanning critical technologies and applications ranging from energy grid security to maximizing the yield of critical minerals mining to advanced optical sensors. The semifinalist teams, many of whom have been building their regional coalitions for a year or longer, are led by universities, nonprofits, private industry and other organizations from across the United States. View a map of the NSF Engines semifinalists.

Credit: U.S. National Science Foundation

A map showing the locations of the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) program’s 29 finalists for 2025. Explore the map semifinalists in more detail.

“This outstanding cohort of semifinalists clearly demonstrates that America’s technology competitiveness will depend as much on expanding our ability to unlock innovation capacity in every part of our country — from the rural plains and western ranges to cities with rich industrial and manufacturing legacies — as it will on advancing the technologies themselves,” said Erwin Gianchandani, NSF assistant director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP). “Each team was selected because it brought strong public and private partners to the table and outlined a promising vision for research, innovation and workforce development in

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