News and reports from the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell is in Israel this week participating in a series of international bi-lateral meetings.

More than $3 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided to the state of Florida and to households after Hurricane Ian to help survivors jumpstart their recovery.

FEMA made additional disaster assistance available to the state of Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken in the state of Florida as a result of Hurricane Ian from Sept. 23 to Nov. 4, 2022.

Disaster Recovery Centers have opened in Georgetown and Horry counties to help South Carolina residents affected by Hurricane Ian apply for assistance.

If you live in the Regional Educational Attendance Areas (REAA’s) of Bering Strait, Kashunamiut, Lower Kuskokwim and Lower Yukon and were affected by the Sept. 15– 20 severe storms, flooding and landslides, you should apply for FEMA and State of Alaska Disaster Individual Assistance- you only have until Dec. 6, 2022.

If you were asked to apply with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as part of your Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Individual Assistance application, you must submit your application in order to be eligible for additional FEMA Individual Assistance AND State of Alaska Individual Assistance.

FEMA hosted its third annual civil rights summit on Nov. 29 and 30, assembling a diverse and experienced lineup of speakers from both the federal family and community organizations to discuss integrating civil rights into our work.

Earlier this week, the Biden-Harris administration announced the launch of a new Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation program, led by the Department of the Interior, to assist tribal communities severely impacted by climate-related environmental threats.

Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington,” 30, of Waterbury, was arrested today on a federal criminal complaint charging him with fraud and identity theft offenses related to his alleged theft of pandemic unemployment benefits.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $21 million to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Early Childhood Education and Care for purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, FEMA announced that additional disaster assistance is available to the Seminole Tribe of Florida by authorizing an increase in the level of federal funding for debris removal and emergency protective measures undertaken as a result of Hurricane Ian, beginning Sept. 23, 2022, and continuing.

More than $2.97 billion in federal grants, disaster loans and flood insurance payments has been provided to the state of Florida and to households after Hurricane Ian, with FEMA providing $769 million to households and $358 million to the state for emergency response.

Recovering after a flood can be overwhelming and FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is dedicated to getting you back on your feet after Hurricane Ian.

FEMA is still accepting applications through Dec. 16 from people in St. Clair County, Illinois, whose home or personal property was damaged by the July floods.

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the state of West Virginia to supplement local recovery efforts in the areas affected by severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides from July 12-13, 2022.