People whose properties were damaged or destroyed in natural disasters this year are about to face another storm: a congressional battle as House Republican leaders seek to match any additional spending for disaster relief with equal cuts elsewhere in the budget.
Unless additional disaster aid is appropriated, federal officials said, communities trying to rebuild from natural disasters this year in the Midwest and South will have to wait while money is diverted to help victims of Hurricane Irene.
The recent string of national disasters, such as the tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo., and the floods that inundated Minot, N.D., is running into the same political buzz saw that emerged during the fight over the debt ceiling this summer.
NYC SUBWAY BACK TO NEAR-NORMAL
The New York City subway, whose closing as Hurricane Irene moved up the coast was perhaps the most unsettling element of a huge storm preparation effort, was back to its usual robust self Monday, with most trains running on a nearly normal schedule.
All of the subway's 22 lines were restored, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. While the agency said fewer trains ran than in a regular morning rush, anecdotal reports from commuters suggested most routes were operating smoothly.
Still, other parts of the region's mass transit network remained partly paralyzed for the morning commute, and many commuters from New York's northern and western suburbs had to make do without the suburban rail networks that carry thousands of workers to hospitals, investment houses and corner bodegas alike.
Airlines in Northeastern cities took to the air again, but many warned that travelers whose plans were thrown into disarray by Irene could still face scheduling problems and delays through the week.
NEWS SERVICES
