Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Albert Shingiro, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi. The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed the domestic situation in Burundi and United Nations development cooperation. They also discussed key peace and security developments in the Great Lakes region, notably the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Source: US State of Florida
The Florida Disaster Fund is the State of Florida’s official private fund established to assist Florida’s communities as they respond to and recover during times of emergency or disaster. In partnership with the public sector, private sector, and other non-governmental organizations, the Florida Disaster Fund supports response and recovery activities.
Donations made to the Disaster Fund are tax-deductible. Donations may be made by visiting FloridaDisasterFund.org, or by mail to the below address. Checks should be made payable to the Volunteer Florida Foundation and should include “Florida Disaster Fund” in the memo line.
Volunteer Florida Foundation
Attention: Florida Disaster Fund
1545 Raymond Diehl Road Suite 250
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Serving as the emergency response arm for the Hope Florida initiative, Activate Hope pulls together the private sector, nonprofits, and government resources to help Floridians get back on their feet following disaster. Activate Hope is currently helping to connect Floridians with food, household goods, home repairs, and resources following Hurricane Helene.
Volunteer Florida is the state’s lead agency for volunteerism and community service. Established in 1994 as the Florida Commission on Community Service, Volunteer Florida promotes volunteerism and community service throughout the state, administers national service programs, and coordinates disaster recovery efforts in impacted communities.
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Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates.
The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed regional issues of mutual interest, including the conflict in the Middle East and the war in Sudan. The Secretary-General thanked the United Arab Emirates for its strengthened engagement with the United Nations.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Scalise (1st District of Louisiana)
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.), Speaker Johnson, Whip Emmer, and Chairwoman Stefanik released the below statement after the longtime leader of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut.
“Hassan Nasrallah’s reign of bloodshed, oppression, and terror has been brought to an end. A puppet of the Iranian regime, he was one of the most brutal terrorists on the planet, and a coward who hid behind women and children to carry out his attacks. Thanks to the brave men and women of the Israeli military, justice was delivered for Israeli victims of his heinous crimes, their families, and the United States. The world is better off without him.
“We call on the Biden-Harris Administration to end its counter-productive calls for a cease-fire and its ongoing diplomatic pressure campaign against Israel. Nasrallah’s death is a major step forward for the Middle East, and today’s victory for peace and security should be used to reassert America’s ironclad support for Israel as it fights for its very right to exist.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)
“The operation was a response not only to Nasrallah’s decades of terror but also to Hezbollah’s recent repeated attacks on undisputed Israeli territory. Since October 8, 2023, Hezbollah terrorists have launched nearly 10,000 rockets at Israeli civilians. More than 60,000 people in Northern Israel have fled their homes to escape Hezbollah’s violence, unable to return for months on end.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, as does every other sovereign nation. Israel’s strikes against Hezbollah’s leadership, launch sites, and missile arsenal – especially its long-range rockets – are vital to dismantling the terrorist organization’s ability to carry out further attacks against the Israeli people on behalf of Iran.
“The world cannot allow Iran to rebuild its proxy network on Israel’s doorstep. Israelis, Lebanese, Syrians, and others in the region deserve to live free from Hezbollah’s interference, and the displaced ought to be able to return home. Hezbollah must not be allowed to return to the northern border, and Hamas must never reassert control over Gaza. This war will not end until these Iranian-backed terrorists are defeated. The United States stands firmly with our ally Israel in that effort.”
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Advance, N.C. — Today, Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) released a statement after receiving an operational briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), North Carolina Emergency Management, National Weather Service, and the American Red Cross on the damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene.
Senator Budd said:
“My team and I just got off a call with FEMA, North Carolina Emergency Management, National Weather Service, and the American Red Cross.
“It is clear that the damage in Western North Carolina is catastrophic. There is no doubt that the road to recovery will be long and difficult, but we will marshal all available resources to assist the region, including public, private, and charitable. We are all in this together.
“I want to thank the National Guard, the Red Cross, state and local emergency personnel, and countless others for their swift assistance in helping the people of Western NC.
“My offices in Asheville, and across the state, are ready and able to help anyone who needs assistance. Please visit ReadyNC.gov for the most up-to-date emergency information or Budd.Senate.gov to contact my team.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chuck Edwards (NC-11)
Dear Friend,
Yesterday morning around 8:30 a.m., Hurricane Helene hit our beautiful mountains with a ferocity unmatched by any storm in our district’s history. We have witnessed 1,000-year flooding, and with more rain expected this afternoon, we are not out of the woods.
But I have been encouraged by the number of neighbors I’ve seen helping neighbors, and I know our community will persist. Mountain folk are resilient. We will make it through this, together.
To keep you informed, I am committed to sending you a daily update on the steps being taken to respond and recover from Hurricane Helene. Today is update number one, with more information to follow in the coming days. Please make sure to read it through and share it with your friends and family.
Food and water
Power and Gas
Roads
Asheville Regional Airport
Cell Service
North Carolina National Guard
Shelters
For those unable to evacuate to a safe location or in need of a place to go, the following shelters are currently open and available as of September 28:
Source: NASA
NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will soon dock with the International Space Station as part of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission, a venture which will enhance scientific research and bolster the knowledge about how people can live and work in space.
During the planned five-month mission, Hague’s mission tasks will include participating in a variety of research projects for NASA’s Human Research Program. Each study is designed to help address the health challenges that astronauts may face during future long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
“Hague’s experiences and research may potentially lead to scientific breakthroughs that may not be possible on Earth,” said Steven Platts, chief scientist for human research at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.
A major focus for Hague’s time aboard the station is to study the suite of space-related vision disorders called Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS) which occur as body fluids shift toward the head in weightlessness. These shifts can cause changes to the eye: the optic nerve can swell, the retina may develop folds, and the back of the eye can even flatten. Earlier research suggests multiple factors contribute to the syndrome, so two vision-related studies on this mission will tackle different yet distinct approaches that may help address or even prevent such changes during future missions.
One project, called Thigh Cuff, will explore whether wearing fitted cuffs could counter the syndrome by keeping more bodily fluids in the legs. Thigh cuffs are compact, lightweight, and easy to use, which makes them appealing for potential use during long-duration, deep space missions.
For this study, Hague will wear the thigh cuffs for six hours during two sessions. To help researchers measure how well the cuffs work, he will record ultrasound images of blood flow in his legs and neck veins during the sessions. Researchers will also compare this data against ultrasounds taken without the cuff to examine flow differences.
“Thigh cuffs like these may allow researchers to better investigate medical conditions that result in extra fluid in the brain or too much blood returning to the heart,” said study leader Brandon Macias at NASA Johnson.
In another study, Hague will test if a vitamin regimen may help combat SANS. The study, led by Sara Zwart, a nutritional biochemist at NASA Johnson, seeks to examine if a daily vitamin B supplement—taken before, during, and after flight—can prevent or mitigate swelling at the back of the eye. The research will also assess how an individual’s genetics may influence the response.
“Earlier research suggests that some people are more susceptible to this ocular syndrome than others based on genetics that can influence B vitamin requirements, so taking daily vitamins may make all the difference,” Zwart said. “We think by giving the B vitamins, we could be taking that piece of genetic variability out of the equation.”
The work also may eventually improve care options for women on Earth with polycystic ovary syndrome, a condition that can cause eye changes and infertility in women. Researchers hope that patients may similarly benefit from targeting the same genetic pathways and vitamin supplementation as crew members in space.
Hague also will record data to study whether a new way of administering a common anti-nausea medicine can help alleviate motion sickness following launch and landing. In this study, Hague can self-administer a novel nasal gel formulation of the medication scopolamine. Hague will note his experiences using this medicine and any other motion sickness aides, including alternative medications or behavioral interventions like specific head movements.
This research, led by neuroscientist Scott Wood of NASA Johnson, eventually will include 48 people.
“Our goal is to understand how to help future space travelers adapt to motion sickness when living and working in space,” Wood said. “Crew members must stay healthy and perform key tasks, including landing on the Moon and other destinations.”
To help NASA plan future missions, Hague also will participate in human research studies that tackle other space challenges, such as avoiding injury upon landing back on Earth and learning how space travel affects the human body on a molecular level.
____
NASA’s Human Research Program pursues the best methods and technologies to support safe, productive human space travel. The program studies how spaceflight affects human bodies and behaviors through science conducted in laboratories, ground-based analogs, commercial missions, and the International Space Station. Such research continues to drive NASA’s mission to innovate ways that keep astronauts healthy and mission-ready as space exploration expands to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington Maria Cantwell
09.28.24
Cantwell Celebrates Grand Opening of Largest Public Project in Mount Vernon’s History
New regional transportation hub near I-5 will host largest public EV charging station in the U.S.; Sen. Cantwell secured $3 million for project in FY2024 annual appropriations bill
MOUNT VERNON, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined local officials and community members at the grand opening of the Mount Vernon Library Commons – the largest public project in Mount Vernon’s history.
“Transit oriented development projects like this create more livable communities,” Sen. Cantwell said. “Come up here, recharge, go to the Co-op, stop at the library — see all the wonderful things in Skagit County.
This year alone, we’ve been able to provide [$12.5] million from the bipartisan infrastructure bill for the 78 electrical charging stations and more in the future, and the entire building really is an apex of what energy efficiency is. Even the concrete used to bore the foundation took the environment into consideration,” she continued.
“So it is really, really a great testament to the leadership of this city today […] making this region an even more attractive place to be and live.”
Following the speaking program, Sen. Cantwell joined the community for a ribbon cutting and tour of the new space; b-roll is available for download HERE.
Located right off I-5, the Mount Vernon Library Commons will serve as a regional transportation hub, featuring a public library, a young adult STEM center, a community conference center, a commercial kitchen, and charging stations for electric vehicles and electric bicycles. The facility boasts 76 public EV charging spaces and infrastructure to increase capacity by 200 stations, making it the largest public EV charging station in the country.
The Library Commons was awarded a $12.5 million Charging & Fueling Infrastructure Grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Sen. Cantwell championed. She also secured a $3 million Congressionally Directed Spending request for the Library Commons project in the FY 2024 annual Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The Library Commons project also received a $26.8 million Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) loan, the first ever TOD loan in the nation, which saved the City of Mount Vernon $3 million.
The Library Commons is the first publicly bid building in Washington state to be certified to Passive House standards – one of the highest environmental certifications for reduced energy use. The building utilizes solar panels that supply 19-21% of the building’s power demand.
Video of the speaking program and b-roll of the ribbon cutting and tour are HERE; photos are HERE; and a transcript of Sen. Cantwell’s remarks is HERE.
Source: Government of Canada News (2)
Canada is deeply concerned by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, in Lebanon, which has caused a rapid increase of humanitarian needs. More than 90,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon since early September.
September 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Canada is deeply concerned by the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, in Lebanon, which has caused a rapid increase of humanitarian needs. More than 90,000 people have been displaced within Lebanon since early September.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada is providing $10 million in funding for humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of civilians in Lebanon. This funding will help provide food, water, emergency healthcare (including sexual and reproductive healthcare), protection services and other life-saving assistance.
This funding is in addition to the US$10 million already allocated to the crisis in Lebanon by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Canada is a key donor.
Alongside our partners, we call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire across the Lebanon-Israel border to provide space for diplomacy towards the conclusion of a diplomatic settlement consistent with UNSCR 1701, and the implementation of UNSCR 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Canada urges all parties involved in the conflict to protect civilians, including humanitarian workers, from harm, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Canada continues to monitor the situation and remains in close contact with humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency
Headline: FEMA Administrator Surveys Damage in Florida as Hurricane Helene Response Efforts Continue
FEMA Administrator Surveys Damage in Florida as Hurricane Helene Response Efforts Continue
WASHINGTON — Today, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is in Florida surveying damage and assessing the need for federal resources to support Hurricane Helene response activities.
This whole-of-government effort includes the support of more than 2,300 federal personnel and voluntary agencies across six states. More than 800 FEMA personnel are deployed to assist with response efforts and are working to determine the scope of the storm’s impact and coordinate resource support and assistance.
The Biden-Harris Administration approved emergency declarations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. This type of declaration allows federal resources to begin flowing immediately as damage assessments are conducted to determine what additional resources may be available if a major disaster is declared.
FEMA’s priority remains providing life-saving and life sustaining support to affected areas. FEMA deployed Urban Search and Rescue teams with more than 1,270 personnel and Swift Water Rescue Capabilities to affected states. Our non-profit partners including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, Heart to Heart International and others are actively supporting survivors by providing emergency sheltering, food, water, clean up kits, healthcare supplies and other disaster relief items. Team Rubicon teams are helping to clear roads while the Salvation Army deployed seven mobile feeding units and crews.
As people begin to assess damage, it is important to continue listening to local officials for instructions and be aware of the possibility of life-threating post-storm hazards. People can download the free FEMA App available in English and Spanish languages to receive real-time weather alerts and find local emergency shelters in their area.
People who need help reconnecting with loved ones missing after the hurricane can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and provide as much detail available to assist operators in potentially locating missing loved ones. More than 540 American Red Cross volunteers are in the affected areas supporting communities with sheltering needs, reunification efforts and post-storm care.
Non-profit and charitable organizations are on the frontlines of the response to Hurricane Helene, providing critical support to people and communities. Here are just a few examples of the important work some of these organizations are doing on the ground.
mashana.davis
Source: United States Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 09/28/2024 04:30 PM EDT
09/28/2024 04:05 PM EDT
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Wisconsin Ron Johnson
Americans are facing a healthcare crisis, and those who question the current orthodoxy or offer alternative treatments are ridiculed, vilified, and canceled. On September 23, I was joined by a highly qualified group of doctors and nutritional experts to discuss our nation’s health and ask questions we haven’t been allowed to ask.
The roundtable discussion, American Health and Nutrition: A Second Opinion, provided a foundational and historical understanding of the changes that have occurred over the last century within agriculture, food processing, and healthcare industries, which impact the current state of national health.
WATCH FULL ROUNDTABLE (4 hours)
If you can’t spend the full 4 hours watching, I’d suggest you watch these quick highlights from Monday’s roundtable. It captures important points and powerful testimony.
WATCH 14-MINUTE HIGHLIGHT VIDEO
Dr. Casey Means explains that our food is leading to chronic illness. We can’t even ask questions without being ridiculed or vilified.
Dr. Means: “If the current trends continue… At best, we’re going to face profound societal instability and decreased American competitiveness, and at worst, we’re going to be looking at a genocidal level health collapse…” (Watch)
Other panelists included:
The greatest threat to our nation is that we are so horribly divided. We all agree on the major goals of life: safety, security, and raising our children well. I have no idea the political affiliation of this panel, but it doesn’t make any difference. This is a nonpartisan issue, and through these conversations, we can set an example of how to heal and unify our great nation.
WATCH: Sen. Johnson closing remarks on unity (2 minutes)
It was standing room only in the historic Kennedy Caucus room. Two overflow rooms were needed to handle the crowds. Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the roundtable. I hope America is listening and starts examining how and what they eat.
WATCH: Sen. Johnson on Newsmax discusses roundtable
MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French 1
Canada is extremely concerned about the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, in Lebanon, which has caused a rapid increase in humanitarian needs. More than 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the beginning of September.
September 28, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada
Canada is extremely concerned about the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization, in Lebanon, which has caused a rapid increase in humanitarian needs. More than 90,000 people have been displaced in Lebanon since the beginning of September.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, announced that Canada will provide $10 million in humanitarian assistance to address the urgent needs of the civilian population in Lebanon. This funding will provide food, water, emergency medical assistance (including sexual and reproductive health services), protection services and other life-saving assistance.
This funding is in addition to the US$10 million already allocated to this crisis by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund, to which Canada is a major donor.
Together with our partners, we call for an immediate 21-day ceasefire on the Israeli-Lebanese border to allow diplomacy to work towards a diplomatic settlement consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1701, and towards the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2735 regarding a ceasefire in Gaza.
Canada urges all parties to protect the civilian population from violence, including humanitarian workers, in accordance with international humanitarian law.
Canada continues to monitor the situation and remains in close communication with its humanitarian partners to assess and respond to evolving needs.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Filip Ivanović, Deputy Prime Minister for Foreign and European Affairs of Montenegro.
The Secretary-General and the Deputy Prime Minister discussed the accession process of Montenegro to the European Union, developments in the Western Balkans, the implementation of the Pact for the Future, and cooperation between the United Nations and Montenegro.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Murat Nurtleu, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. They discussed cooperation between the United Nations and Kazakhstan, including the proposal from Kazakhstan to establish a Centre for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan, in Almaty.
They also exchanged views on developments in Afghanistan and Central Asia, as well as the Summit of the Future.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it has extended the deadline for survivors of the severe storms and flooding from June 16 through July 4 to file their applications for disaster assistance. Minnesota residents now have until Oct. 27, to apply for federal disaster loans for physical damage.
The disaster declaration covers the primary counties of Blue Earth, Cook, Cottonwood, Faribault, Freeborn, Goodhue, Itasca, Jackson, Lake, Le Sueur, Martin, Mower, Murray, Nicollet, Nobles, Rice, Rock, St. Louis, Steele, Waseca and Watonwan in Minnesota, which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for Economic Injury Disaster Loans: Aitkin, Beltrami, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Dakota, Dodge, Fillmore, Koochiching, Lyon, Olmsted, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Scott, Sibley and Wabasha in Minnesota; Dickinson, Emmet, Howard, Kossuth, Lyon, Mitchell, Osceola, Winnebago and Worth in Iowa; Minnehaha and Moody in South Dakota; and Douglas, Pepin and Pierce in Wisconsin.
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
Submit completed loan applications to SBA no later than Oct. 27, 2024. The deadline to submit economic injury applications is April 29, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
ATLANTA – The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that it will open Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 30 at the Wiltown Community Center in Adams Run, Colleton County Taxpayer Service Center in Walterboro, and the Dorchester County Library, in St. George, to assist South Carolinians with applying for SBA disaster loans for losses due to Tropical Storm Debby that occurred on Aug. 4-22.
The declaration includes the primary counties of Berkeley and Orangeburg and the adjacent counties of Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Charleston, Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Georgetown, Lexington and Williamsburg in South Carolina.
“When disasters strike, our Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are key to helping business owners and residents get back on their feet,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “At these centers, people can connect directly with our specialists to apply for disaster loans and learn about the full range of programs available to rebuild and move forward in their recovery journey.”
Customer Service Representatives are available at the Centers to assist business owners complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Center in advance. The Centers will operate as indicated below.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Berkeley County
Berkeley County Administration Building
1003 US-52
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closes: Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Charleston County
Wiltown Community Center
5779 Parkers Ferry Rd
Adams Runs, SC 29426
Opening: Monday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Closed: Saturday and Sunday
Permanently Closes: Friday, Oct 4 at 4 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Colleton County
Colleton County Taxpayer Service Center
118 Benson St.
Walterboro, SC 29488
Opening: Monday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closes: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Dorchester County
Dorchester County Library
506 North Parlor Ave
St. George, SC 29477
Opening: Monday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hours: Monday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closes: Monday, Oct. 7 at 4 p.m.
Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC)
Orangeburg County
Bowman Library
7105 Charleston Hwy
Bowman, SC 29018
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Permanently Closes: Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m.
For more information and to apply online visit sba.gov/disaster. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 18, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 18, 2025.
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About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United States Small Business Administration
WASHINGTON – Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are available to businesses and residents in Vermont following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration for severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred July 29-31.
“SBA’s mission-driven team stands ready to help Vermont small businesses and residents impacted by this disaster in every way possible under President Biden’s disaster declaration for certain affected areas,” said SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman. “We’re committed to providing federal disaster loans swiftly and efficiently, with a customer-centric approach to help businesses and communities recover and rebuild.”
The disaster declaration covers Caledonia, Essex and Orleans counties which are eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Franklin, Lamoille, Orange and Washington in Vermont; and Coos and Grafton in
New Hampshire.
SBA’s Business Recovery Center (BRC) is open to assist businesses complete their disaster loan application, accept documents, and provide updates on an application’s status. Walk-ins are accepted, but you can schedule an in-person appointment at an SBA Business Recovery Center in advance. The Center will operate as indicated below.
Business Recovery Center (BRC)
Washington County
Barre Municipal Auditorium
20 Auditorium Hill
Barre, VT 05641
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday
Disaster survivors should not wait to settle with their insurance company before applying for a disaster loan. If a survivor does not know how much of their loss will be covered by insurance or other sources, SBA can make a low-interest disaster loan for the total loss up to its loan limits, provided the borrower agrees to use insurance proceeds to reduce or repay the loan.
Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.
Disaster loans up to $500,000 are available to homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $100,000 to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed personal property.
Interest rates are as low as 4% for businesses, 3.25% for nonprofit organizations, and 2.688% for homeowners and renters, with terms up to 30 years. Interest does not begin to accrue, and monthly payments are not due, until 12 months from the date of the initial disbursement. Loan amounts and terms are set by the SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition.
Building back smarter and stronger can be an effective recovery tool for future disasters. Applicants may be eligible for a loan amount increase of up to 20% of their physical damages, as verified by the SBA for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements may include a safe room or storm shelter, sump pump, French drain or retaining wall to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.
“SBA’s disaster loan program offers an important advantage–the chance to incorporate measures that can reduce the risk of future damage,” said Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the Small Business Administration. “Work with contractors and mitigation professionals to strengthen your property and take advantage of the opportunity to request additional SBA disaster loan funds for these proactive improvements.”
With the changes to FEMA’s Sequence of Delivery, survivors are now encouraged to simultaneously apply for FEMA grants and the SBA low-interest disaster loan assistance to fully recover. FEMA grants are intended to cover necessary expenses and serious needs not paid by insurance or other sources. The SBA disaster loan program is designed for your long-term recovery, to make you whole and get you back to your pre-disaster condition. Do not wait on the decision for a FEMA grant; apply online and receive additional disaster assistance information at sba.gov/disaster.
Applicants may also call the SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or send an email to disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. For people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 25, 2024. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 26, 2025.
###
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba. They discussed relations between Cuba and the United States, the situation in Palestine and the implementation of the outcome of the Summit of the Future.
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El Secretario General se reunió con S.E. Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de la República de Cuba. Hablaron sobre las relaciones entre Cuba y los Estados Unidos, la situación en Palestina y la implementación de los resultados de la Cumbre del Futuro.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Albert Shingiro, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation of the Republic of Burundi. The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed the domestic situation in Burundi and United Nations development cooperation. They also discussed key peace and security developments in the Great Lakes region, notably the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E. M. Albert Shingiro, Ministre des Affaires étrangères et de la Coopération au développement de la République du Burundi. Le Secrétaire général et le Ministre ont discuté de la situation intérieure au Burundi et de la coopération au développement avec les Nations Unies. Ils ont également discuté des principaux développements en matière de paix et de sécurité dans la région des Grands Lacs, notamment le conflit dans l’est de la République démocratique du Congo.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman. The Secretary-General and the Foreign Minister discussed issues of common interest, including the situation in Yemen and the situation in the Middle East.
The Secretary-General commended Oman’s role in fostering multilateralism and expressed gratitude for its active promotion of dialogue and diplomacy in the region.
Source: Australian Ministers for Education
The Albanese Government is investing $70.9 million to get almost 1,500 new teachers from a range of backgrounds into schools across the country.
The Government is tripling the number of teachers entering into the High Achieving Teachers (HAT) Program, which provides financial assistance, mentoring and training to get teachers into the classroom more quickly, helping to tackle the teacher workforce shortage.
The funding will be provided to ten providers to get more people, including mid-career professionals and high-achieving school leavers, into the teaching profession.
The HAT Program is part of the National Teacher Workforce Action Plan that Education Ministers agreed to in 2022.
It builds on the success of Phase 1 of the HAT Program already underway in Victoria and New South Wales with 94 per cent of graduates from the La Trobe Nexus program continuing to teach after graduating.
The providers will support the teachers-in-training to complete their qualifications and make a successful start in the classroom, providing them with the skills they need to commence a career in teaching.
Participants receive a salary and split their time between practical teaching in the classroom and studying.
The new school teachers will start to be placed into schools that need them the most in 2025.
The program focuses on attracting new teachers, including with a STEM background, First Nations peoples, people with disability, teacher aides and people based in remote locations.
They will teach across all states and territories, in government and non-government schools, and across primary and secondary schools.
A list of successful providers from the open-competitive grant opportunity follows:
|
Successful providers |
HAT Places |
|
Teach for Australia |
475 |
|
Australian Catholic University Limited |
285 |
|
La Trobe University |
231 |
|
Charles Sturt University |
100 |
|
Western Sydney University |
100 |
|
Queensland University of Technology |
90 |
|
Edith Cowan University |
74 |
|
University of Canberra |
60 |
|
University of South Australia |
42 |
|
University of Tasmania |
40 |
Further information is available on the Department of Education’s website.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“We don’t remember much about when we are little, but most of us remember our teachers’ names.
“That shows just how important our teachers are, and the impact they have on us. And we don’t have enough of them.
“This program targets recruiting and training more school teachers in schools that need them the most.”
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met today with H.E. Mr. Mohamed Ali Nafti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad of Tunisia. They discussed in particular the situation in the Middle East, in Libya, and the outcomes of the Summit of the Future.
The Secretary-General reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to continue to strengthen cooperation with Tunisia.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary-General met with H.E. Mr. Chenda Sophea Sok, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The Secretary-General and the Minister discussed domestic issues and accelerated efforts towards achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, as well as Cambodia’s contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions.
Source: United Nations secretary general
The Secretary General met with H.E. Mr. Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and Burkinabe Abroad of Burkina Faso. They discussed the political, humanitarian, security and development situation in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region.
The Secretary-General underscored the importance to ensure peace and stability in Burkina Faso and the Sahel region.
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Le Secrétaire général a rencontré S.E.M. Karamoko Jean-Marie Traoré, Ministre des Affaires étrangères, de la Coopération régionale et des Burkinabés de l’Extérieur du Burkina Faso. Leur échange a porté sur la situation politique, humanitaire, sécuritaire et du développement au Burkina Faso et dans la région du Sahel.
Le Secrétaire général a souligné, entre autres, la nécessité d’assurer la paix et la stabilité au Burkina Faso et dans la région du Sahel.
Source: US State of West Virginia
Gov. Justice released the following statement ahead of Monday’s Special Session:
“As I call this Special Session, the goal is clear that we need to help the hardworking people of West Virginia. I’m hopeful that we can get another personal income tax cut across the finish line. I’ve said it time and again: nothing will help our population grow, create new opportunities, and drive economic progress in West Virginia like eliminating our personal income tax. We’re on the right track, but we need to keep pushing forward. The growth and momentum we’ve built during my time as Governor is off the charts. It’s truly been a rocketship ride. We’ve also minded the store, and because of that we now have the opportunity to get these things done.
We also need to do something to help hardworking families afford childcare. Right now, families across the country are struggling with extreme childcare costs, and we can’t sit on the sidelines and watch it happen in West Virginia. We need to step in and help. That’s why I’m again asking for a childcare tax credit to lower costs for families. This will make things a lot better for working families.
There are additional things to address, such as more money for our schools and our nurses and getting major water, sewer, and infrastructure projects across West Virginia completed.
We all know my time as your Governor is coming to an end. But I promised you that I would run across the finish line, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Once the session gets underway, bill status may be found here.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chuanyi Ji, Associate Professor of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Hurricane Helene left more than 4 million homes and businesses in the dark across Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas after hitting Florida’s Big Bend region as a powerful Category 4 storm late on Sept. 26, 2024. As Helene’s rains moved inland, and mountain rivers caused devastating flooding, officials warned that fixing downed utility lines and restoring power would take days in some areas.
Electricity is essential to just about everyone – rich and poor, old and young. Yet, when severe storms strike, socioeconomically disadvantaged communities often wait longest to recover.
That isn’t just a perception.
We analyzed data from over 15 million consumers in 588 U.S. counties who lost power when hurricanes made landfall between January 2017 and October 2020. The results show that poorer communities did indeed wait longer for the lights to go back on.
A 10 percentile drop in socioeconomic status in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s social vulnerability index was associated with a 6.1% longer outage on average. This corresponds to waiting an extra 170 minutes on average for power to be restored, and sometimes much longer.
One likely reason for this disparity is written into utilities’ standard storm recovery policies. Often, these polices prioritize critical infrastructure first when restoring power after an outage, then large commercial and industrial customers. They next seek to recover as many households as they can as quickly as possible.
While this approach may seem procedurally fair, these recovery routines appear to have an unintended effect of often making vulnerable communities wait longer for electricity to be restored. One reason may be that these communities are farther from critical infrastructure, or they may be predominantly in older neighborhoods where power infrastructure requires more significant repairs.
The upshot is that households that are already at greater risk from severe weather – whether due to being in flood-prone areas or in vulnerable buildings – and those who are least likely to have insurance or other resources to help them recover are also likely to face the longest storm-caused power outages. Long outages can mean refrigerated food goes bad, no running water and delays in repairing damage, including delays in running fans to dry out water damage and avoid mold.
Our study spanned 108 service regions, including investor-owned utilities, cooperatives and public utilities. The differential impact on poorer communities did not line up with any particular storm, region or individual utility. We also found no correlation with race, ethnicity or housing type. Only average socioeconomic level stood out.
There are ways to improve power recovery times for everyone, beyond the necessary work of improving the stability of power distribution.
Policymakers and utilities can start by reexamining power restoration practices and power infrastructure maintenance, such as replacing aging utility poles and trimming trees, with disadvantaged communities in mind.
Power providers already have granular data on power usage and grid performance in their service regions. They can begin experimenting with alternative recovery routines that consider the vulnerability of their customers in ways that do not substantially affect average recovery duration.
For socioeconomically vulnerable regions that are likely to experience long outages because of their locations and possibly the aging energy infrastructure, utilities and policymakers can proactively ensure that households are well prepared to evacuate or have access to backup sources of power.
For example, the U.S. Department of Energy announced in October 2023 that it would invest in developing dozens of resilience hubs and microgrids to help supply local power to key buildings within communities when the wider grid goes down. Louisiana plans several of these hubs, using solar and large-scale batteries, in or near disadvantaged communities.
Policymakers and utilities can also invest in broader energy infrastructure and renewable energy in these vulnerable communities. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Justice40 program directs that 40% of the benefit from certain federal energy, transportation and housing investments benefit disadvantaged communities. That may help residents who need public help the most.
Severe weather events are becoming more common as global temperatures rise. That increases the need for better planning and approaches that don’t leave low-income residents in the dark.
Chenghao Duan, a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech, also contributed to this article. This article, originally published on Feb. 7, 2024, has been updated with Hurricane Helene’s rising power outage toll.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Hurricane Helene power outages leave millions in the dark – history shows poorer areas often wait longest for electricity to be restored – https://theconversation.com/hurricane-helene-power-outages-leave-millions-in-the-dark-history-shows-poorer-areas-often-wait-longest-for-electricity-to-be-restored-240001
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) led the Tennessee delegation in sending a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to swiftly approve Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration in the wake of flash flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.
Read the full letter here or below.
Dear Mr. President:
We write to urge swift approval of Governor Bill Lee’s request for a major disaster declaration pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act due to severe weather occurring on September 26 and 27, 2024.
The remnants of Hurricane Helene have caused widespread damage across Tennessee, especially in East Tennessee. An estimated 6 to 10 inches of rain has fallen across the eastern part of the state over the past 48 hours. Catastrophic flash flooding has devastated communities across East Tennessee, causing I-40 to collapse and leaving homes destroyed. The Unicoi County Hospital has been inundated with flood waters, and patients and staff were forced to take shelter on the roof to await rescue. Over 75,500 power outages were reported statewide. With the heaviest rains expected to shift through Middle and West Tennessee over the weekend, more damage is expected.
To respond to this disaster, Governor Lee is specifically requesting an Emergency Declaration, Categories A and B, including Direct Federal Assistance. Governor Lee’s request is attached. On behalf of the State of Tennessee, we urge you to approve this request as soon as possible.
Our offices can provide you with any additional information you need.
CO-SIGNERS
Senator Blackburn was joined by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and U.S. Representatives Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), Mark Green (R-Tenn.), Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), David Kustoff (R-Tenn.), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), and John Rose (R-Tenn.) in sending the letter.
MIL OSI Translation. Region: Italy –
Source: Government of Italy
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September 28, 2024
the Presidency of the Council of Ministers adheres to the “World Heart Day – World Heart Day 2024”, scheduled for Sunday 29 September. Therefore, on the evening between 28 and 29 September, the façade of Palazzo Chigi is illuminated by the color red, symbol of the initiative.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.
