Emergency and disaster management briefing for May 13, 2016: Fort McMurray evacuees receive one-time payments to help cover emergency expenses, wildfires burn across Russia, Venezuela continues to struggle through its energy crisis, the NGA calls for immediate action on U.S. Zika funding, and Flint, MI gets an influx of private funds to aid recovery efforts.

1. Hundreds of displaced Fort McMurray residents were able to [link url=”http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/hundreds-of-fort-mcmurray-evacuees-line-up-for-emergency-funds-1.2897767″ title=”pick up one-time emergency funds“] in Edmonton this week. According to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, all adult Fort McMurray evacuees are eligible for a [link url=”http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/hundreds-of-fort-mcmurray-evacuees-line-up-for-emergency-funds-1.2897767″ title=”one-time payment of $1,250,“] while minor evacuees can [link url=”http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/hundreds-of-fort-mcmurray-evacuees-line-up-for-emergency-funds-1.2897767″ title=”each receive $500.“] The one-time payouts aim to help displaced Fort McMurray residents cover immediate emergency expenses like temporary housing, food and clothing.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/ft-mcmurray-is-on-fire-and-it-matters-to-all-of-us/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/wildfires-how-to-prepare-and-protect-homes-and-families/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/nifc-releases-seasonal-wildfire-outlook/”]

2. A total of at least [link url=”http://tass.ru/en/society/875068″ title=”116 wildfires are burning in Russia,“] which prompted the Emergencies Ministry to mobilize dozens of amphibious aircraft to fight the fires. The fires are raging across eight different Russian regions, including the Amur Region in the Far East, the Republic of Buryatia and the Trans-Baikal Territory in East Siberia. The Amur Region is one of the hardest hit areas; at least 24 wildfires are burning an area of at least 42,000 hectares in the Amur River basin, which has many communities nearby. Fires in eastern parts of the country have grown large enough that a [link url=”https://weather.com/news/news/russian-wildfire-seen-from-space” title=”massive smoke plume can be seen from space.“]
3. A [link url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-workers-idUSKCN0Y1000″ title=”lingering drought and severe energy crisis“] continue to plague Venezuela after months of dry weather and drastic energy-saving measures that have done little to help. While the country’s electricity shortage began as a direct result of a lack or rain (the nation relies heavily on hydropower), the struggles have also highlighted the [link url=”https://amuedge.com/awash-in-crisis-venezuela/” title=”lack of diversify in its energy portfolio.”] One weather expert said yesterday that [link url=”http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/venezuela-drought-relief-on-horizon-hydroelectric-energy-shortage-la-nina/57298404″ title=”drought relief may be on the horizon,“] as the country is now heading toward the heart of its rainy season.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/awash-in-crisis-venezuela/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/venezuela-taking-drastic-measures-amid-energy-crisis-drought/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/venezuela-a-case-study-in-the-effects-of-severe-drought/”]

4. Earlier this week, the National Governors Association (NGA) published an [link url=”https://amuedge.com/nga-calls-for-action-on-zika-funding-senate-set-to-vote-on-tuesday/” title=”official statement“] urging politicians to put aside differences and work to pass Zika virus funding immediately. Yesterday, a new Zika funding deal arose, and the [link url=”http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/governors-push-congress-to-approve-emergency-zika-funding-222970″ title=”Senate is now set to vote“] on that and two other Zika funding options early next week.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/zika-and-the-threat-of-denial/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/study-estimates-zika-virus-risk-in-50-u-s-cities/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/the-battle-for-zika-funds-to-be-continued/”]

5. Flint, MI will soon be receiving [link url=”http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/05/11/ten-foundations-donate-flint-recovery-efforts/84215338/” title=”$125 million in private foundation support“] to help in its recovery from the recent water contamination crisis. [link url=”http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/michigan/flint-water-crisis/2016/05/11/ten-foundations-donate-flint-recovery-efforts/84215338/” title=”Ten different foundations“] are collectively committing the $125 million in private donations to six main areas of concern: water quality, family health programs, early education, economic development efforts, local engagement of city issues, and general help to the city’s non-profit agencies.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/flint-michigan-water-crisis-seeking-an-innovative-hero/” url2=”http://edmdigest.com/response/heres-to-the-heroes-of-flint/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/dol-gives-15-million-in-aid-to-flint-for-recovery/”]

6. California Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation this week that requires gas company officials and state energy regulators to [link url=”http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160510/legislation-calls-for-114-aliso-canyon-natural-gas-wells-to-be-tested” title=”adhere to strict safety standards“] before the re-opening of the Porter Ranch / Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility that leaked for months before being capped in February. The legislation calls for the [link url=”http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20160510/legislation-calls-for-114-aliso-canyon-natural-gas-wells-to-be-tested” title=”testing of 114 Aliso Canyon natural gas wells“] before Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) can resume injections of natural gas into the storage facility.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/the-dangers-of-hidden-infrastructure/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/infrastructure-how-bad-is-it-really/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/the-infrastructure-bill-is-due/”]

7. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reportedly considering implementing a [link url=”http://www.krdo.com/news/future-disaster-victims-may-have-to-pay-deductible-for-federal-aid/39490642″ title=”‘disaster deductible’“] that would serve to help the Agency recover some of the costs of funds paid to disaster victims. A House emergency management subcommittee held a hearing yesterday morning titled [link url=”http://www.krdo.com/news/el-paso-county-commissioner-testifies-in-washington-dc/39515938″ title=”Controlling the Rising Cost of Federal Responses to Disaster“] to discuss the “disaster deductible” topic in detail.

[relink url=”https://amuedge.com/pausing-to-consider-femas-strategic-foresight-initiative/” url2=”https://amuedge.com/fema-regions-getting-to-know-you/” url3=”https://amuedge.com/fema-encourages-participation-in-americas-prepareathon/”]

8. Baltimore police officer [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecutors-baltimore-police-officer-edward-nero-follow-protocols/story?id=39064198″ title=”Edward Nero’s trial began“] — the latest in a group of officer trials tied to the death of Freddie Gray. Nero is being charged with assault, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office for his involvement in the events of Gray’s arrest and Gray’s injury that later led to his death. As the trial opened, prosecutors argued that Neto showed a [link url=”http://abcnews.go.com/US/prosecutors-baltimore-police-officer-edward-nero-follow-protocols/story?id=39064198″ title=”failure to follow basic police protocols,“] including the fastening of a seat belt.
9. More than [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/05/06/35-tons-dead-fish-wash-up-china-lake/84014548/” title=”35 tons of dead fish“] washed up in a lake in southern China last week. The mass killing reportedly occurred as the fish were likely pushed up an estuary by a tidal surge and then subsequently became stuck in a pumping system. The system ultimately deposited the fish into the lake, in Haikou city on China’s southern Hainan island. Workers reportedly bagged up the tons of dead fish and [link url=”http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2016/05/06/35-tons-dead-fish-wash-up-china-lake/84014548/” title=”sent them off to garbage incinerators“] in an effort to keep them from surfacing at local markets.

Well, that stinks. Literally. 35 tons of dead fish washed up in China: https://t.co/99eoZLmKzqhttps://t.co/RGq1TzfFI4

— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 7, 2016

10. Iowa Governor Terry Branstad [link url=”http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/iowa-emergency-response-communications-system-signed-into-law-20160512″ title=”signed a new bill into law“] that allows for the creation of a statewide system for cross-agency communication during emergencies and natural disasters. The new radio communication system will enable law enforcement agencies and emergency responders to [link url=”http://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/public-safety/iowa-emergency-response-communications-system-signed-into-law-20160512″ title=”communicate with each other“] during emergency situations.