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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

“We are seeing a huge shift in areas of extreme risk and increasingly severe weather” - but I was told by skeptics that disaster losses are purely about asset values and land use decisions?

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

I spoke with the Christian Science Monitor about the challenges that Cameron Hamilton faces as he assumes the leadership of FEMA. Long conversations always get reduced to sound bites, so I would add back some context... 1/2 www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/...

csmonitor.com

Trial by fire – and flood: A new chief pursues FEMA reforms

Cam Hamilton faces a test as the new Federal Emergency Management Agency head, addressing rising needs while letting local responders take the lead.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This piece by @renlarson.bsky.social, @propublica.org and Citizen-Times on North Carolina mobile home parks and Hurricane Helene is excellent. Carefully unpacks the layers of complexity that make easy solutions hard to come by: www.citizen-times.com/story/news/2...

citizen-times.com

Why NC's mobile homes keep ending up in harm's way

Residents of a riverfront trailer park have lost homes and loved ones in multiple storms. A policy gap puts mobile home residents in harm’s way again and again.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

There are numerous paths to preserving and protecting affordability in manufactured home parks. In Washington, Habitat for Humanity is purchasing parks to manage as a non-profit housing provider: www.opb.org/article/2026...

opb.org

Vancouver Habitat for Humanity buying mobile home parks to protect affordable housing

State funding will help lock down rents in a sector that’s become a target for corporate investors.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Today we are launching The Climate Commons, a resource for community & economic development practitioners to take climate action and for resilience-focused colleagues to learn about community development and its vital role in equitable climate action: theclimatecommons.substack.com/p/welcome-to...

theclimatecommons.substack.com

Welcome to the Climate Commons

A new resource for community and economic development practitioners

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

FEMA is the lead story on @npr.org today, a piece on David Richardson and his new (self-published) book. I spoke with her about Richardson's poor understanding of the agency and the more credible efforts at reform coming from different places along the political spectrum: www.npr.org/2026/09/03/n...

npr.org

Inside the failed mission to eliminate FEMA

David Richardson worked to eliminate the country's top disaster agency when he led FEMA last year. Now, he says the administration has abandoned that goal.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

My longtime fandom of MRESteve has finally intersected with work...the man, the myth, the legend reviews the FEMA US Survivor daily ration: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWXc...

youtube.com

2023 US Survivor Daily Ration MRE Review Meal Ready to Eat Taste Testing

YouTube video by Steve1989MREInfo

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Disaster relief is often concentrated in the early days after disasters, but the financial stress can last for months or years. In our newest research article, we share findings from in-depth interviews with 20 families impacted by Hurricane Helene: www.urban.org/research/pub...

urban.org

Households Are Struggling to Recover Financially After Hurricane Helene. Here’s Why.

First-hand accounts from households affected by Hurricane Helene illustrate that postdisaster financial recovery is a long, uncertain process.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Indiana received a major disaster declaration today, one of the fastest decisions under the 2nd Trump Administration. Here are the counties eligible for individual assistance:

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

The scenes out of Nepal - what seems like a dam break or GLOF - are absolutely horrifying

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Indiana got hammered by flooding and straight line winds last week. How bad is the disaster, relative to the past? Pretty bad. substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

Putting Indiana’s Historic Flooding in Context

A ‘threshold’ state suffers one of its worst disasters.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Colleagues in Indiana or at FEMA Region 5: any word on the damage estimate included in the declaration request?

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I spoke with Madison Iszler at the San Antonio Express-News about the unique vulnerabilities of people living in recreational vehicles to flash floods, and what changes might be needed in places like the Texas Hill Country: www.expressnews.com/news/article...

expressnews.com

Will floods forever change Hill Country's RV, camping culture?

People in RVs and cabins were among the most vulnerable during the floods. Officials, park operators and RV owners are trying to figure out how to move forward.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

And we have our first permanent FEMA Administrator of the 2nd Trump Administration…Cameron Hamilton was confirmed today along with many other appointees.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

The West Virginia flash floods highlight the difficulties that rural communities face after disasters. We examine three dynamics at play: low media attention, the time from disaster until federal declaration, and the unusually high number of manufactured homes. www.urban.org/urban-wire/w...

urban.org

West Virginia Flash Floods Require Recovery Strategies Tailored for Rural Communities

West Virginia’s July flash floods show how rural disasters bring distinct challenges that require tailored responses.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Cameron Hamilton's confirmation to lead FEMA was approved out of committee, with one Democrat joining Republicans voting yes. That puts him on track to be the next Administrator, sometime in the next couple of weeks or potentially after the August recess. www.newsfromthestates.com/article/onet...

newsfromthestates.com

Onetime acting FEMA chief fired by Trump now on track to be confirmed to head agency

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Wednesday moved one step closer to confirming the first administrator for the Federal Emergency Management Agency since President Donald Trump took office last year. Th...

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Our upcoming special issue in Urban Studies on manufactured is a major step towards giving this oft-neglected housing the research attention it deserves. More later on the excellent contributions, but you can now read the open access editors that sets the stage. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...

journals.sagepub.com

Manufacturing the urban: Situating manufactured housing and manufactured home communities in urban studies and charting a course for research - Zachary Lamb, Esther Sullivan, Andrew Rumbach, 2026

Manufactured housing (MH) provides a key source of affordable housing in the United States and elsewhere, including in Canada and Australia. In this editors’ in...

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Last reminder, we are hosting an event tomorrow online and at Urban about the many intersections between community development & climate action. We will present new findings from a survey of 450 CED leaders and have a terrific group of panelists from across the sector. www.urban.org/events/mobil...

urban.org

Mobilizing Community and Economic Development to Address Climate Change: Paths for Transformative Action

Community and economic development organizations are on the front lines of climate change—protecting housing, supporting small businesses, and strengthening …

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

The time between a disaster and recovery funding from HUD varies wildly, from as little as 60 days to as long as 600, depending on Congress. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, now the law of the land, is meant to change that. I break it down here: substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is Law: What Comes Next For Disaster Recovery?

On June 23rd, the U.S.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

What better way to spend your Sunday than to read 2,500 words on the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act? The next period will hugely shape how the U.S. government supports communities after disasters. My breakdown of the law and key questions moving forward: andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/the-21st-c...

andrewrumbach.substack.com

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is Law: What Comes Next For Disaster Recovery?

On June 23rd, the U.S.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Vermont has been innovating on mobile homes and resiliency for years...love this example of helping households living in flood-prone units to relocate to new, energy efficient homes in a permanently affordable park. www.mynbc5.com/article/new-...

mynbc5.com

New homes in Brattleboro will move residents out of floodplains and into new, energy-efficient units

Efficiency Vermont staff were on site in Brattleboro Tuesday working on some of the new energy-efficient, affordable units at Tri-Park Cooperative Housing

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 22/06/2026

With Cameron Hamilton agreeing that FEMA programs should be administered fairly and promptly, I wanted to update myself on declaration activity since Markwayne Mullin took the helm at DHS. Short story is that FEMA has some work to do to return to historical norms: substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

An Update on FEMA's Disaster Declaration Activity - June 2026

Last week Cameron Hamilton, the President’s nominee for FEMA Administrator, had his confirmation hearing in front of the Senate Homeland Security Committee.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

The compromise ROAD to Housing Act legislation has been released and includes several important resilience provisions: 1. CDBG-DR is permanently authorized* (*for 3 years) 2. The PRICE program is in 3. The Whole Homes Repair Act pilot program is in andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/update-the...

andrewrumbach.substack.com

Update: The CDBG-DR Authorization Lives!

And other resilience morsels in the final language of the 21st Century Road to Housing Act

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Congress is, once again, one chamber away from permanently authorizing CDBG-DR. Get caught up on the long and tortured fight to make one of the largest disaster recovery programs an actual program: andrewrumbach.substack.com/p/once-again...

andrewrumbach.substack.com

Once Again, CDBG-DR Authorization Is on the Chopping Block

Et tu, House Committee on Financial Services?

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Your three-step solution to AI destroying academic legitimacy: 1. Cut publication rates by 75%. Reduce the number of journals. 2. Revise tenure expectations accordingly. 3. Pay reviewers for their time. The above would radically improve the entire system. Conferences would mean something again.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

For provocation and discussion: Local governments largely have the authority to keep development out of hazardous areas. Why don't they? Eight explanations, supported by science: substack.com/home/post/p-...

substack.com

Why Don't We Use Land Use Planning More Forcefully to Reduce Disaster Risk?

Eight explanations and the science that backs them up

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Today I am delivering the Walter Orr Roberts memorial lecture at AGCI focusing on land-use planning and disaster risk management. Why is land use planning important, why don't we use it more forcefully, and what places are breaking that trend? Please join us! www.agci.org/resources/a1...

agci.org

Will we ever learn? Upending high-risk development decisions for better disaster resilience

<img src="https://www.agci.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/26s2WOR_Flier.png"> As a nation we continue to build, and rebuild, housing and infrastructure in hazardous places, and even headline-grabbing ...

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Zachary Lamb @zacharylamb.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

Last commentary in our Urban Studies special issue is out! Pullen et al. compare industrialized construction in Sweden (where IC is huge) & the US (where it's not). Great context for understanding manufactured housing's past & future. @andrewrumbach.bsky.social journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

journals.sagepub.com

A tale of two houses: Manufactured homes and industrialized construction in the U.S. and Sweden - Tyler Pullen, Jerker Lessing, Santiago Ossa, 2026

Communities in the U.S. face an intensifying housing affordability crisis driven in part by rising construction costs, skilled labor shortages, and stagnant pro...

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Reposted by Andrew Rumbach

Kelly Hereid @kellyhereid.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

New Capital Weather [Gang] page is live! Welcome! www.capitalweather.com/welcome/ Wishing you all a safe parting from WaPo

capitalweather.com

Welcome!

It's time for a new adventure. We hope you'll join us.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

Not to be obtuse, but who benefits from a small bottle of water costing $6 at the airport? Does it at least underwrite/support the cost of the infrastructure?

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Reposted by Andrew Rumbach

Zachary Lamb @zacharylamb.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Two new wonderful commentaries from an upcoming special issue of Urban Studies on manufactured housing and manufactured home communities (aka mobile home parks) edited by @andrewrumbach.bsky.social, Esther Sullivan, and I are newly in the world:

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

The House amendment to the 21st Century Road to Housing Act does NOT include Section 501, Reforming Disaster Recovery Act, i.e. the permanent authorization of the CDBG-DR program. :screeeeeeeeeams: financialservices.house.gov/news/documen...

financialservices.house.gov

Financial Services Committee’s Bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Passes House

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

As an American, the TSA is so embarrassing. You fly into the US and encounter some of the rudest people on earth.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

States receiving the most manufactured housing face multiple, compounding hazard threats. That's why it is important that the HUD code reflect the best science on risk reduction in material selection, engineering, and installation standards: www.datawrapper.de/_/KqHFl/

datawrapper.de

The States Receiving the Most Manufactured Housing are At-Risk From Multiple Hazards | Created with Datawrapper

Per-Capita Expected Annual Loss From Natural Hazards by State

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Harris County Flood Control District is asking for extensions on flood mitigation projects costing hundreds of millions of dollars, putting their timeline (optimistically) at 10 years+ after the hurricane: communityimpact.com/houston/cypr...

communityimpact.com

Harris County Flood Control District to seek funding extension for Hurricane Harvey recovery projects

About half of HCFCD's disaster recovery projects are not on track to meet a state-mandated Feb. 28, 2027 deadline, according to a May 1 report.

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Andrew Rumbach @andrewrumbach.bsky.social · 15/05/2026

Hazard mitigation spending is back, but how back? I ran the numbers (tldr it’s back back). open.substack.com/pub/andrewru...

open.substack.com

Hazard Mitigation is Back, Baby!

A quick peek at the data on FEMA mitigation spending

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Reposted by Andrew Rumbach

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 11/05/2026

President Trump nominated Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA again. As acting head of FEMA last year, Hamilton had opposed abolishing the agency and was ousted.

nyti.ms

Trump Nominates Cameron Hamilton to Lead FEMA

President Trump chose Cameron Hamilton to direct federal disaster response. As acting head of FEMA last year, he had opposed abolishing the agency and was ousted.

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