Disasters

"The House passed a bill Thursday to make it easier for homeowners to obtain private flood insurance policies not provided directly through the National Flood Insurance Program. But moments later, the Senate declined to move the bill."

"President Trump this morning responded to mounting political pressure and a plea from Puerto Rico's governor by loosening little-known shipping rules to ease fuel transport to the storm-battered territory."

"A new report warns of a high price tag on the impacts of global warming, from storm damage to health costs. But solutions can provide better value, the authors say."

"As islanders wait for doctors, medicine, fuel and manpower to rebuild, the economic toll from the storms is only starting to come to light."

"It's been one week since Category 4 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, destroying the entire island's communications infrastructure, power grid, and leaving thousands homeless. The humanitarian crisis in the storm's wake is growing by the hour."

"The Environmental Protection Agency says it has recovered 517 containers of 'unidentified, potentially hazardous material' from highly contaminated toxic waste sites in Texas that flooded last month during Hurricane Harvey. The agency has not provided details about which Superfund sites the material came from, why the contaminants at issue have not been identified and whether there’s a threat to human health."

"José A. Rivera, a farmer on the southeast coast of Puerto Rico, stood in the middle of his flattened plantain farm on Sunday and tried to tally how much Hurricane Maria had cost him. 'How do you calculate everything?' Mr. Rivera said."

"A week after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, the US commonwealth's residents are struggling to survive without basic necessities as federal officials say aid is still on the way."

"The Trump administration says it is not planning to waive federal restrictions on foreign ships' transportation of cargo to Puerto Rico and other areas affected by Hurricane Maria, as it did following hurricanes Harvey and Irma."

"Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) is criticizing President Trump for his attacks on National Football League (NFL) players who kneel during the anthem, saying the president should instead be supporting Puerto Rico, which was devastated by Hurricane Maria."