US DHS disaster-response agency
The Texas Hill Country continues to face dangerous flash floods as heavy rainfall remains likely. Officials warn of rising rivers and ongoing rescues, with disaster declarations in place and no reported deaths or injuries so far.
A federal judge has blocked the administration from using a 2020 Tax Termination Clause revision to cut grants across crime prevention, science, and public safety programs. The decision rejects the government’s reading of the clause and preserves funding while a broader dispute over the clause continues.
West Virginia has faced severe floods after days of heavy rain. Officials confirm first fatalities and say several areas remain cut off as rescue operations continue. Floodwaters have overwhelmed roads, flooded stores, and forced dozens to be rescued from submerged vehicles.
The Pacific Northwest has seen a lightning-driven outbreak of wildfires that has burned more than 1.6 million acres and forced evacuations across Oregon and Idaho. Dry thunderstorms in mid‑July produced thousands of strikes that ignited dozens of blazes. Fire crews from across the region have mobilised as hazardous smoke degrades air quality across several states.
Federal agencies and state officials have reported coordinated cyberattacks that have targeted internet-connected controllers at water and wastewater utilities in at least a dozen states since late July. Operators have had passwords changed and been locked out, forcing many plants to revert to manual control; officials say drinking water remains broadly safe while investigations continue.
Firefighters have established containment lines around Spokane-area blazes, with cooler weather offering limited relief. Thousands remain evacuated as investigations probe arson and natural causes amid a record-breaking Northwest fire season.
The Independent reports that the Trump administration has advanced a plan to privatize airport security, beginning with Charleston, Des Moines, and Tampa. The policy envisions private contractors managing screening and technology under TSA oversight, with broader privatization possible. Union authorities warn the shift threatens security and jobs, while some airports push ahead citing funding pressures and previous shutdowns.
Heavy rains have inundated central Indiana, prompting local officials to seek federal help. Governors say President Trump has pledged to approve a presidential emergency declaration, unlocking resources for rescue and recovery as floodwaters crest along the White River. Dozens have been rescued; several fatalities are confirmed amid the deluge.
A derecho swept through Gary, Indiana, on Aug. 11, causing widespread outages and damage. Ten days later, tens of thousands remain without power as residents and businesses struggle to stay open. Restaurants like Koney King have adapted to keep serving the community, while others have faced more severe losses.
Since Aug. 7, 2026, more than 180,000 customers across San Juan and six nearby municipalities have faced 48-hour rotating water outages driven by drought and failing transmission pipes. Officials warn outages will persist through August as aging infrastructure leaks drain supplies and the system lacks independent oversight.
A federal judge has ruled that DHS exceeded its authority by attempting to cut FEMA staffing by 50%, saying the agency must lead staffing decisions. The ruling follows a wave of department changes and a broader push to shrink the federal workforce. The decision does not impose a specific remedy, sending the sides to negotiate relief.
The inspector general has found that the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility violated multiple detention standards, including space, hygiene and recreation. Detainees were held in cramped 18-square-foot cages and faced poor food, water and medical care. The facility, opened last year and closed this summer, is under ongoing legal scrutiny.
Tropical Cyclones Polo and Nolo are intensifying and threatening Mexico’s Pacific coast and Hawaii, with warnings of life-threatening flooding, mudslides, and widespread damage. Governments are mobilising evacuations, shelters, and power restoration efforts as forecasts shift.
The GAO has documented costly missteps in ICE's detention-expansion program after the Trump administration directed mass arrests. Agencies rushed to buy facilities and tented spaces without proper planning, resulting in unused assets and mounting costs as DHS pledges a strategic plan by 2027.
Nolo has strengthened toward a dangerous hurricane off Hawaii, while Polo threatens Mexico’s Baja California as forecasters warn of heavy rain, flooding and power outages. Authorities have activated emergency responses and urged precautions as the storms loom.
Polo has strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane with winds around 125 mph. It is moving toward the Baja California peninsula and mainland Mexico, bringing heavy rain, flooding and storm surge risks. Authorities say embankments in San Carlos and San Juanico face breach threats, prompting evacuations and shelter preparations. The storm could also trigger heavy rain and flooding in the U.S. Southwest as it tracks north.
El Niño is strengthening, bringing risks of floods, heat and rising seas. California officials warn of a potentially historic winter as climate pressures strain infrastructure and communities prepare for extreme weather and food impacts.
Isaias has strengthened into a major hurricane and is approaching the US Gulf Coast. States of emergency have been declared in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening storm surge, strong winds and heavy rain, with power outages anticipated inland as it moves toward landfall late Friday and into the weekend.
Hurricane Isaias has struck near Destin, Florida as a Category 2 storm and has weakened as it moved inland through Alabama. The system has cut power to hundreds of thousands, caused at least four storm-related deaths from fallen trees and a generator, and is producing heavy rain and flash-flood risks across the southeastern US.
Barbara Bush has donated to James Talarico’s Texas Senate campaign while Neil Bush backs his nephew’s opponent, Ken Paxton. The endorsements reflect a rare fissure within a prominent Republican family ahead of the November midterms as polling shows a tight race in a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.