A group of people affected by disasters across the country is calling on Congress to restore federal emergency management as an independent agency, rather than an arm of Homeland Security.By Arcelia MartinHeather Talley’s life savings are tied up in a Swannanoa, North Carolina, home she can’t live in after Hurricane Helene. Bill Gould wants to rebuild his home after it was burned down in the wildfires that destroyed Altadena, California, but can’t get soil contamination testing approved.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: February 24, 2026 10:22 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
429.9 ppm
+17.3
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1946.47 ppb
+6.49
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year