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In October, severe storms and flooding from remnants of Typhoon Halong devastated areas of Alaska. State and local response efforts began immediately, with FEMA stepping in to assist.
FEMA teams set up locations in Alaska to help survivors apply for disaster assistance.
"We are going into these impacted communities to make FEMA assistance available to those impacted families to help them continue with their recovery,” said Willie Nunn, Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected areas.
FEMA inspectors are also meeting with registered applicants to verify damage to their home and personal property.
Survivors can apply for disaster assistance by calling the dedicated Alaska Call Center at (866) 342-1699 Monday-Sunday from 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. or visiting DisasterAssistance.gov.
FEMA recently obligated more than $1.3 million for the reconstruction of three senior centers in Puerto Rico, helping to create safe, accessible spaces for more than 300 adults. Senior centers support communities across the island, including the approximately 771,000 residents aged 65 or older, and serve them during disasters.
One of these senior centers is the La Nueva Aurora, Carmen Josefina “Cambu” López Rijos Senior Center in Dorado. The center completed repairs with over $779,000 in federal funds. The center serves 120 participants aged 60 or older and another 130 people, including regular participants and others who receive home delivery food service.
La Nueva Aurora offers social work, nursing, recreation, housekeeping and transportation services. The facilities also provide spaces where participants can enjoy arts and crafts workshops or stroll in a covered patio and terrace.
Reconstruction work for this senior center included restoring the air conditioning, lighting and security systems to improve quality in the living quarters and addressing roof and gazebo repairs in recreational areas, among other work.
Meanwhile, the Ernestina Rodríguez Senior Home, built in the municipality of Ponce in 1892, began its recovery with nearly $489,000 in federal allocations. The home serves 40 adults and doubles as a community shelter during disasters. The facilities will benefit from repairs to the roof sealing, electrical and air conditioning upgrades and the replacement of kitchen equipment.
In the island municipality of Culebra, the Marcelina Díaz Pellot Senior Center received more than $69,000 for reconstruction. The center provides meals, exercise, games and beach outings and coordinates with other centers to accompany participants on their errands. Repairs for the structure included roof waterproofing to protect equipment, property and materials. The air conditioning compressor and electrical meter panels were also replaced, improving ventilation and strengthening energy services.
These are three of several senior centers across the island that have benefitted from FEMA allocations following Hurricane Maria. To date, the agency has obligated nearly $34.8 billion for nearly 11,100 projects to address Puerto Rico’s recovery.
Winter weather can bring extreme cold, heavy snowfall and unexpected challenges. Are you ready to face the season safely? From dressing for the cold to preventing home fires, power outages and generator mishaps, preparation is key.
Don’t let winter catch you off guard. Read the full blog now to learn how to prepare and stay safe all season long by visiting FEMA.gov.
FEMA’s new Building Codes Enforcement Playbook is designed to support building code officials in effectively administering and enforcing modern, hazard-resistant codes.
Drawing on insights from code professionals across the country, the playbook highlights practical strategies, proven models and challenges commonly faced in the field. It emphasizes that while adopting up-to-date codes is essential, communities cannot fully benefit from them unless they are properly administered and enforced.
The playbook covers a wide range of important topics, including establishing jurisdictional authority for code enforcement; developing sustainable staffing, training and mentorship; and securing adequate funding, including federal and state grants. It outlines the legal foundations for code adoption, territories of authority and enforcement mechanisms such as permitting, inspections, violations and appeals.
Highlighted solutions include interagency coordination, public outreach and leveraging digital tools and emerging technologies like online permitting, virtual inspections and artificial intelligence to streamline workflows and boost compliance rates. The playbook showcases the importance of integrating building departments into broader community functions to align operations and improve resilience. It also presents ideas for increasing public awareness of code benefits, involving stakeholders such as contractors and real estate professionals and collecting meaningful data to track program performance.
The playbook includes not only practical, action-oriented guidance but also a robust set of appendices with tool and templates, including inspection checklists, permit templates, code enforcement notices and variance forms.
It aims to ensure safer, more resilient communities by strengthening building code enforcement across jurisdictions, transforming codes from abstract regulations into practical tools for disaster risk reduction and community resilience. Through this, FEMA helps to provide states and communities with the tools they need to enforce safer, more resilient communities in the face of evolving risk.
To access the Building Code Enforcement Playbook, visit FEMA.gov.
Renters and homeowners who had wind or water damage from the June 12-16 flooding, and are enrolled Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribal members, may be eligible for FEMA disaster assistance. The deadline to apply for disaster assistance is Friday, Dec. 5.
Survivors are encouraged to file insurance claims for damage to their homes, personal property and vehicles before they apply for FEMA assistance. FEMA Individual Assistance cannot pay for expenses insurance or other sources will cover.
Homeowners, renters, nonprofits and businesses impacted by storms and flooding that occurred June 12-16, 2025, can apply for both FEMA disaster assistance and a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) low-interest disaster loan but need to apply by this Friday, Dec. 5.
Apply at the Flood Asssitance Center located inside the SWO Tribal Headquarters Building, 12554 BIA Highway 711, Agency Village. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. this Friday, Dec. 5. Free transportation is available through SWO Community Transport at 605-698-7511, promo code 4890. Or call the Flood Assistance Center directly at 605-776-6003.
To view an accessible video on how to apply, visit What to Expect Before Applying for FEMA Assistance.
Public Assistance federal funding is available to Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate tribal local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Learn more about FEMA’s Public Assistance program at FEMA.gov.
For more information, visit fema.gov/disaster/4890.
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