Latest news with #floodwarnings
CNN
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNN
Flash Floods swamp Northeast US metro areas
Flash floods swamp Northeast US metro areas Millions across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic remain under flash flood warnings as slow-moving summer storms bring heavy showers to the East Coast, impacting transportation and leaving people stranded in vehicles on waterlogged roads. 01:01 - Source: CNN Vertical Top News 17 videos Flash floods swamp Northeast US metro areas Millions across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic remain under flash flood warnings as slow-moving summer storms bring heavy showers to the East Coast, impacting transportation and leaving people stranded in vehicles on waterlogged roads. 01:01 - Source: CNN Trump announces novel plan to send weapons to Ukraine In an Oval Office meeting, President Trump announced that the US will sell weapons to European nations who will then send them to Ukraine. The president also threatened new trade consequences if no peace deal is reached with Ukraine within 50 days. 00:26 - Source: CNN Deadly fire at Massachusetts assisted living facility Nine people died Sunday night after an assisted living facility caught fire in Fall River, Massachusetts, officials said, with elderly people begging for help from first responders as smoke poured out of the building. 00:37 - Source: CNN Journalist offers new account of Trump assassination attempt The Secret Service has issued suspensions for several agents involved in securing the Pennsylvania rally last year where Donald Trump was shot in the ear and a rally goer was killed by the would-be assassin, according to multiple sources. Journalist Salena Zito, who witnessed the assassination attempt, joined Jake Tapper to discuss why she believes "it's about time" suspensions are doled out. 00:49 - Source: CNN ICE vehicle runs through protesters CNN affiliate KGO reports that an ICE vehicle ran through protesters attempting to stop an alleged deportation outside the San Francisco Federal Immigration Court. 00:59 - Source: CNN How the first 48 hours of the Texas floods unfolded The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes on the morning of July 4th, leading to devastation and more than 100 deaths across Central Texas. CNN recounts what happened in the first 48 hours of the flood. 05:02 - Source: CNN Analysis: Do Trump's words affect Putin's actions? President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin out for throwing "bullsh*t" on peace talks with Ukraine - hours later, Russia launched its largest ever drone attack on Ukraine. CNN's Matthew Chance analyzes whether the US leader's comments have an impact on Russia's military operations. 01:23 - Source: CNN Federal agents face off with protesters at California farm The Ventura County Fire Department said they responded to calls of people having breathing problems at a farm in Ventura County, California, after federal agents appeared to deploy tear gas canisters into the crowd. A DHS spokesperson told CNN that they were "executing criminal warrants at a marijuana facility." It is unclear if any arrests were made. 01:24 - Source: CNN Birkin bag smashes auction records at $10 million Scuffed, scratched and stained, this black leather Hermès Birkin bag just sold for €8.6 million ($10 million), with fees, becoming the most expensive handbag to ever sell at auction. After a dramatic bidding war, the hammer fell at a winning bid of €7 million ($8.2 million). Known as 'The Original Birkin,' the rarefied handbag is the first version of this timeless luxury staple, inspired by its owner — '60s 'It-girl' Jane Birkin. 01:52 - Source: CNN Moo Deng turns one The Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand celebrated the first birthday of Moo Deng – a pygmy hippo who rose to fame last year after heartwarming and mischievous videos of her went viral. CNN spoke to Moo Deng fans who flew from around the world to celebrate her special day. 01:13 - Source: CNN Father was on the phone with son before he was swept away by Texas floods CNN's Kaitlan Collins interviews Thad Heartfield, a father searching for his 22-year-old son Aiden, who is missing after the flash floods that devastated central Texas. 01:20 - Source: CNN Video: Bodycam footage shows Olympic gold medal gymnast arrested for DUI The City of Fairmont Police Department released bodycam videos showing iconic Olympic gold medal gymnast Mary Lou Retton struggling to take a field sobriety test during a May traffic stop in West Virginia. Retton was arrested and paid a fine after a court hearing, after which she released a statement apologizing. 02:27 - Source: CNN Video shows 31 workers rescued after tunnel collapse 31 workers were craned out of an industrial site after part of a tunnel for a municipal wastewater project collapsed in Los Angeles. No injuries or missing persons have been reported. 00:38 - Source: KABC Doctors in Gaza struggle to keep babies alive CNN's Paula Hancocks reports on the situation in Gaza as doctors try to keep preterm babies alive in a warzone where formula, medicine and fuel are in short supply. 02:48 - Source: CNN GOP senator reveals details of conversations with Trump over bill vote Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) joins CNN's Jake Tapper to discuss his private conversation with President Donald Trump after voting against the president's agenda — just before announcing he would retire from Congress instead of seeking reelection next November. 03:27 - Source: CNN Brothers recount being rescued during flood CNN's Pam Brown speaks to two brothers, 7-year-old Brock and 9-year-old Braeden Davis, who were at Camp La Junta when catastrophic flooding swept central Texas. 01:28 - Source: CNN Trump praises Liberian leader's English. It's his native language During a White House meeting with leaders of African nations, President Donald Trump complimented Liberian President Joseph Boakai's English pronunciation, even though English is Boakai's native language. 00:49 - Source: CNN
CNET
3 days ago
- CNET
Don't Miss Critical Emergency Alerts. Check Your Phone Settings Now
After the devastating Texas flooding earlier this month and with hurricane season now underway, it's more urgent than ever to make sure your phone can alert you -- loudly and clearly -- when danger is approaching. Emergency alerts are only effective if people receive them in time and recognize their urgency. Yet, many Texas residents reported receiving flood warnings too late or not at all, underscoring gaps in public alerting systems. Whether you live in a hurricane-prone area, a tornado alley or just want to stay prepared, following the steps below will ensure your phone is properly set up to deliver emergency warnings that can cut through silent mode, wake you up and possibly save your life during an emergency. Read also: Tornadoes, Floods, Wildfires, Intruders: 4 Ways Your Phone Can Help in an Emergency 1. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts On iPhones: CNET Go to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts. Make sure Public Safety Alerts, Emergency Alerts and Always Play Sound are turned on. The "Always Play Sound" option is crucial. This ensures alerts will sound even when your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb mode. On Android devices: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Wireless Emergency Alerts (location may vary slightly depending on your phone model). Turn on Allow Alerts, and make sure both Extreme Threats and Severe Threats are enabled. These alerts use a distinct, loud tone and vibration pattern to get your attention -- even in the middle of the night. 2. Enable location services for accuracy Emergency alerts are often geo-targeted. If your phone doesn't know your location, it may not receive a relevant warning. For iPhones: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Weather. Set it to Always Allow and enable Precise Location. For Android devices: Check that your weather or emergency apps have location permissions enabled. Enable "Use Precise Location" if your phone supports it. Without location services, you may miss localized alerts, or frustratingly, receive alerts for areas you're not in. 3. Supplement with weather apps and local alert services While government alerts are vital, they're not the only way to stay informed. Redundancy is key to staying safe in case of an emergency weather event. Install apps like Storm Shield, NOAA Weather Radar Live or the American Red Cross Emergency App. These can provide push notifications or voice alerts that often come faster than WEA alerts. Many of them will override silent mode as well. Also, be sure to sign up for your local city or county emergency alert system, which may offer targeted text messages, phone calls or emails, too. Having multiple systems in place ensures you get the message even if one alert fails or is missed. 4. Use a NOAA weather radio for backup Technology fails. Cell towers go down. Power gets knocked out. That's why the National Weather Service recommends keeping a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio on hand. A weather radio never relies on cell service and can be a literal lifesaver, especially at night or during power outages. It's best practice to look for models with loud alerts, multiple power sources (battery, solar, crank) and SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) to program for your location. Reliable options include radios from Midland and Raynic, which are widely available online. 5. Test your system regularly Just like a smoke detector, your alert system needs maintenance. Here are a few ways to maintain your system: Periodically check that WEA alerts are still enabled. Ensure your apps are updated and functional. Verify that your phone's volume and alert settings haven't changed after system updates. Test your NOAA radio and replace batteries as needed. Proactive checks can prevent false security and help you act quickly when a real threat arises. 6. Customize alerts and encourage smart use To ensure alerts stand out and are taken seriously: Customize the tone or vibration pattern for weather alerts or alerting apps. Don't ignore alerts or disable them after receiving a non-emergency or misclassified message. Encourage family members to do the same, especially older relatives who may not be tech-savvy. Some experts suggest alert tones should be more distinct between different alert types (like Amber Alerts versus weather alerts) to reduce confusion and improve responsiveness. Why emergency alerts matter now The recent flooding in Texas highlighted a sobering truth -- that even modern alert systems aren't perfect. People reported receiving warnings too late, after water had already risen, or mistaking flood alerts for other alerts due to similar tones. In hurricane-prone or flood-prone regions, this kind of delay can mean the difference between safely evacuating and getting caught in life-threatening conditions. With extreme weather events becoming more common and intense due to climate change, making sure your phone is properly set up to receive and respond to emergency alerts is a small but essential step in protecting yourself and your family. Here are some additional resources:
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
FEMA needs 'improvements' on flood warnings: Texas Governor Abbott
STORY: :: Texas Governor Abbott says FEMA needs 'improvements' following criticism of flood warnings :: July 14, 2025 :: Leander, Texas :: Rep. Greg Abbott, (R) Texas "So, one thing I think most state governors, most state officials, as well as the federal government, could agree upon, and that is, we needed improvements in FEMA. And it needed to be what I call right-sized so that it would be more nimble, quicker in the response. But also, understanding that it's the locals who know what is best in responding to a disaster." "But by working on the reforms that we will work with FEMA and with the presidential team on, we're going to work to find ways to streamline the process, cut through all the red tape, to ensure that even when we do that, the monetary resources that we are receiving now, they're much needed for things like having the emergency first responders or debris removal or search and rescue operations. Those will still be funded, but we will have the ability to do it a whole lot faster, a whole a lot quicker without waiting around for the federal government." Abbott's comments came after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Sunday (July 13) defended FEMA's response to deadly floods in Texas last week, saying her agency acted swiftly and that Texas officials had praised the administration's actions. During an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press," Noem denied that a memo she issued in June requiring her to approve FEMA expenditures over $100,000 had caused the agency to move more slowly. President Donald Trump suggested after taking office in January that his administration would abolish FEMA, formally called the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Republican president said the agency had bungled past disasters and that federal aid could go directly to states. But in the midst of U.S. hurricane season and the aftermath of the Texas floods, Trump and his top officials have taken a softer tone, indicating the agency could be rebranded. Flash floods swept through parts of Texas Hill Country on July 4, killing at least 120 people and leaving another 160 still missing. The disaster put a renewed focus on Trump administration moves to deemphasize FEMA.
CNET
10-07-2025
- CNET
Make Sure Your Phone Will Give You Loud and Clear Emergency Alerts
After the devastating Texas flooding earlier this month and with hurricane season now underway, it's more important than ever to make sure your phone can alert you -- loudly and clearly -- when danger is approaching. Emergency alerts are only effective if people receive them in time and recognize their urgency. Yet, many Texas residents reported receiving flood warnings too late or not at all, underscoring gaps in public alerting systems. Whether you live in a hurricane-prone area, a tornado alley or just want to stay prepared, following the steps below will ensure your phone is properly set up to deliver emergency warnings that can cut through silent mode, wake you up and possibly save your life during an emergency. Read also: Tornadoes, Floods, Wildfires, Intruders: 4 Ways Your Phone Can Help in an Emergency 1. Turn on Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) On iPhones: CNET Go to Settings > Notifications > Government Alerts. Make sure Public Safety Alerts, Emergency Alerts and Always Play Sound are turned on. The "Always Play Sound" option is crucial. This ensures alerts will sound even when your phone is on silent or Do Not Disturb mode. On Android devices: Go to Settings > Safety & Emergency > Wireless Emergency Alerts (location may vary slightly depending on your phone model). Turn on Allow Alerts, and make sure both Extreme Threats and Severe Threats are enabled. These alerts use a distinct, loud tone and vibration pattern to get your attention -- even in the middle of the night. 2. Enable location services for accuracy Emergency alerts are often geo-targeted. If your phone doesn't know your location, it may not receive a relevant warning. For iPhones: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Weather. Set it to Always Allow and enable Precise Location. For Android devices: Check that your weather or emergency apps have location permissions enabled. Enable "Use Precise Location" if your phone supports it. Without location services, you may miss localized alerts, or frustratingly, receive alerts for areas you're not in. 3. Supplement with weather apps and local alert services While government alerts are vital, they're not the only way to stay informed. Redundancy is key to staying safe in case of an emergency weather event. Install apps like Storm Shield, NOAA Weather Radar Live or the American Red Cross Emergency App. These can provide push notifications or voice alerts that often come faster than WEA alerts. Many of them will override silent mode as well. Also, be sure to sign up for your local city or county emergency alert system, which may offer targeted text messages, phone calls or emails, too. Having multiple systems in place ensures you get the message even if one alert fails or is missed. 4. Use a NOAA weather radio for backup Technology fails. Cell towers go down. Power gets knocked out. That's why the National Weather Service recommends keeping a battery-powered NOAA Weather Radio on hand. A weather radio never relies on cell service and can be a literal lifesaver, especially at night or during power outages. It's best practice to look for models with loud alerts, multiple power sources (battery, solar, crank) and SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) to program for your location. Reliable options include radios from Midland and Raynic, which are widely available online. 5. Test your system regularly Just like a smoke detector, your alert system needs maintenance. Here are a few ways to maintain your system: Periodically check that WEA alerts are still enabled. Ensure your apps are updated and functional. Verify that your phone's volume and alert settings haven't changed after system updates. Test your NOAA radio and replace batteries as needed. Proactive checks can prevent false security and help you act quickly when a real threat arises. 6. Customize alerts and encourage smart use To ensure alerts stand out and are taken seriously: Customize the tone or vibration pattern for weather alerts or alerting apps. Don't ignore alerts or disable them after receiving a non-emergency or misclassified message. Encourage family members to do the same, especially older relatives who may not be tech-savvy. Some experts suggest alert tones should be more distinct between different alert types (like Amber Alerts versus weather alerts) to reduce confusion and improve responsiveness. Why emergency alerts matter now The recent flooding in Texas highlighted a sobering truth -- that even modern alert systems aren't perfect. People reported receiving warnings too late, after water had already risen, or mistaking flood alerts for other alerts due to similar tones. In hurricane-prone or flood-prone regions, this kind of delay can mean the difference between safely evacuating and getting caught in life-threatening conditions. With extreme weather events becoming more common and intense due to climate change, making sure your phone is properly set up to receive and respond to emergency alerts is a small but essential step in protecting yourself and your family. Here are some additional resources:
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DOGE Cut National Weather Service Jobs. Trump's NOAA Pick Now Says He Wants To Fill Them.
The Trump administration's so-called Department of Government Efficiency slashed jobs earlier this year at the National Weather Service, cutting roughly 600 positions in the name of combating government waste. Now Neil Jacobs, President Donald Trump's pick to run the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which oversees NWS, says that he'll make 'staffing the Weather Service offices a top priority' if he's confirmed. Jacobs' statement came during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday, as the administration has faced significant backlash over the NWS staffing cuts given the deadly flooding in Texas. A New York Times report this weekend raised concerns about whether staffing shortages inhibited NWS's communication about flash flood warnings with local officials. While former NWS officials told The Times that rain forecasts were as accurate as they could be under the circumstances, they noted that the weather service may have lost experienced staff who could have helped relay information about the flash flood warnings overnight. 'It's really important for the people to be there because they have relationships with the people in the local community,' Jacobs said during his Senate testimony. Previously, the Trump administration laid off or offered buyouts to hundreds of NWS staff. In the part of Texas where floods recently hit, the San Antonio/Austin NWS office was short six employees from its standard staffing of 26 people, NBC News reported. The San Angelo office, which provided alerts to parts of Central Texas, was also short four people from its standard staffing of 23, NBC noted. Tom Fahy, the legislative director of the NWS Employees Organization, told CNN that the Austin/San Antonio office was down a warning coordination meteorologist, a key liaison between forecasters and emergency managers. Jacobs' statement that staffing should be a 'top priority' at the weather service is just the latest to highlight DOGE actions that have needed cleaning up. The Trump administration previously dismissed employees who help oversee the country's nuclear weapons, as well as those who help fight bird flu, only to scramble to try to rehire them. It's unclear exactly how the weather service would pay for more staff. Jacobs also said Wednesday he supports Trump's budget, which cuts funding for NOAA by roughly a quarter.
