Detroit officials identified at least 101 properties damaged by the September 3 EF2 tornado, the first tornado to strike the city since 1997, with nine structures potentially requiring emergency demolition. Damage assessments so far cover 55 businesses, 24 single-family homes, 21 multi-family properties and one manufactured home on the city's east side. The city's Department of Human, Homeless and Family Services coordinated emergency Housing Choice Voucher assistance for two households that lost their homes entirely and arranged board-up and stabilization for five households.
Mayor Mary Sheffield signed a local state-of-emergency order September 4, which authorizes discussions with state and federal officials about possible financial assistance.
The National Housing Law Project submitted a comment September 8 opposing HUD's proposed rescission of portions of the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, writing that the proposal "puts poor and working families that rely on HUD assistance at greater risk of danger, displacement, and homelessness by reducing notification and mitigation requirements for homes that are vulnerable to flooding." HUD published the proposed rule July 10, 2026; supporters of the rescission argued local governments know their flood conditions better than federal officials. The comment period closed September 8.
Comments on the proposed rule (Federal Register document 2026-13939, published July 10, 2026) closed September 8, 2026.
HUD announced federal disaster assistance for Indiana areas affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred on August 11, following the presidential major disaster declaration issued August 25. The package includes a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured mortgages in declared areas, Section 203(h) and 203(k) mortgage insurance options, and administrative flexibility available to CDBG, HOPWA, CoC, ESG, HOME, and HTF grantees.
The presidential major disaster declaration for Indiana was issued August 25, 2026.
The first prefabricated unit of a 14-unit low-income rental complex arrived in West Altadena, trucked roughly 70 miles from Perris, to replace courtyard apartments on East Pine Street destroyed in the Eaton Fire. The Altadena Builds Back Foundation helped assemble nearly $6 million for the project, drawing on donations to the Pasadena Community Foundation and philanthropist Molly Munger. A lottery will be held in October to decide who the units will be offered to.
A survey conducted last year by the Eaton Fire Collaborative found that 72% of Altadena renters are still in need of housing.
The Senate confirmed Cameron Hamilton as FEMA administrator on August 7 by a 51-47 vote as part of an en bloc package of 74 nominees, and he was sworn in August 10. Hamilton is the first Senate-confirmed FEMA administrator of the second Trump term and takes charge as the agency manages more than 1,000 open disasters; NLIHC noted he previously served as FEMA's acting head until his dismissal in May 2025.
Hamilton said at his June 17 confirmation hearing he would not support a 2025 proposal to quadruple the damage threshold states must meet to access assistance.
HUD is accepting comment through Sept. 7 on a proposal to rescind the 2024 Federal Flood Risk Management Standard rules for federally funded projects in flood-prone areas and replace major components with the agency's previous floodplain review framework. The National Association of Home Builders said it plans to support repeal; the Association of State Floodplain Managers said projects would be less resilient, the U.S. Green Building Council said the change would make HUD-assisted housing less resilient, and the Union of Concerned Scientists said it would increase flood risk. HUD said the changes would reduce costs and support affordable housing development.
HUD published the rescission proposal in the Federal Register on July 10; the 2024 flood-risk rules were targeted by a January 2025 executive order, and FEMA halted implementation.
Federal Register (HUD) · on HUD request for comment on the CDBG-DR allocation formula
HUD published a notice seeking additional comment on the methodology it uses to calculate Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery allocations, with comments due Sept. 14, and said it will use the formula from its January 2025 notice for allocations to 2023 and 2024 disasters until rulemaking is complete. The notice, required by Section 504 of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, asks for comment on dropping SBA disaster loan data and FEMA Public Assistance estimates from the formula and on a "catastrophic" eligibility standard limiting which disasters receive grants.
The ROAD to Housing Act's Reforming Disaster Recovery Act provisions gave the CDBG-DR program standing statutory authorization for the first time.