Following the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s reinstatement of the largest federal grant program for disaster preparedness, increased competition and delays have left hundreds of small towns nationwide awaiting funds that Congress has already appropriated. Speaking with NPR, Andrew Rumbach, a senior fellow and climate and communities expert at the Urban Institute, said this makes these places “vulnerable to hazards like floods and wildfires,” which are becoming “more common and more costly.”

For inquiries, please email [email protected].