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Hunters Point: Leading the Charge in Hurricane Resilience
Hunters Point, a coastal community in Cortez, Florida, stands as a blueprint for hurricane-resilient development. Purposefully built above code, this net-zero neighborhood features elevated homes, hurricane-resistant materials, and systems that ensure continued operation. During Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, Hunters Point homes remained powered and undamaged, proving the value of forward-looking design. This story highlights how innovative construction and community-wide mitigation strategies can protect lives, property, and power during even the most severe storms.
Tampa General Hospital’s Implementation of a Deployable Flood Barrier During Hurricanes Helene & Milton
Tampa General Hospital, located in Tampa, Florida, has become a model of hurricane resilience through its strategic investments in emergency preparedness. Central to its efforts is a deployable flood barrier system that successfully protected the hospital during back-to-back hurricanes—Helene and Milton—in 2024. This story showcases how forward-thinking infrastructure, including flood defenses, a raised energy plant, and water and supply reserves, enabled the region’s only Level I trauma center to remain fully operational during two major storms.
FOIA Request 2025-00507: Georgia and South Carolina Hurricane Helene, Georgia Tropical Storm Debby
Documents reflecting total Individual Assistance (IA) claims made from individuals in Georgia and South Carolina during Hurricane Debby and Hurricane Helene.
FOIA Request 2023-01000: Hawaii Wildfires
Records concerning coordinated interagency emergency response efforts and protocols between 2018 and 2023 for FEMA's evaluation of, and correspondence with, emergency management officials for and in the state of Hawaii.
Success Story: How El Paso Modernized Its Plan Review Process with Digital Innovation
In 2020, the City of El Paso revolutionized its permitting and development processes by adopting a digital plan review platform, allowing for greater efficiency and collaboration across departments. With around 85% of plan submissions now submitted electronically, the city has seen faster response times and improved accessibility for applicants. This successful initiative has not only streamlined operations but also set a benchmark for neighboring jurisdictions.
FOIA Request 2025-00431: Hawaii Wildfires
(1) The Federal Coordinating Officer’s written request to the Assistant Administrator for Recovery demonstrating that Direct Lease was needed to respond to the disaster. (2) The Assistant Administrator for Recovery’s response to that request. (3) All written approvals from the Assistant Administrator for Recovery for Direct Lease costs above 200% of the HUD Fair Market Rent (FMR).
FOIA Request 2024-00072: Hawaii Wildfires
Digital copies of all photos and videos taken by FEMA personnel of the fire disaster zone in Lahaina, Maui on Aug. 8-15, 2023.
FOIA Request 2024-00702: East Palestine, OH Norfolk Southern Train Derailment
Email communications, and any preliminary or final reports from FEMA to the White House on unmet needs findings and recommendations following the President’s order to assess unmet needs in East Palestine.
Tribal Nations Take the Lead: Creating the First Multi-Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan
By day, smoke from fires choked out the sun, leaving the land and its people in a suffocating haze. By night, the sky lit up as the flames marched ever closer. Between 2015 and 2018, wildfires burned nearly three-quarters of Lake County, California. The Tribal Nations that live in the area—as they have for almost 12,000 years—dealt with the worst effects of these events. Some of the fires forced the Tribes to evacuate. Other times, both tribal and non-tribal residents sheltered in place to protect themselves.
Thinking Big: How a Small Town Achieves Large-Scale, Long-Lasting Mitigation
Whitestown, New York, is no stranger to flooding. Since the 1950s, flooding has been common. The source of the flooding is Sauquoit Creek, which flows north before ending at the Mohawk River just outside of the town.