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FEMA and Texas Offer Funeral Assistance for Flood Victims

Indira Zaldivar
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FEMA and Texas Offer Funeral Assistance for Flood Victims

Following the devastating storms and floods that began July 2, survivors in Texas may be eligible for financial help covering funeral or burial expenses.

The Funeral Assistance program, managed by the State of Texas with FEMA’s support, aims to ease some of the burdens families face after a disaster-related loss.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify, applicants must be U.S. citizens, non-citizen nationals, or qualified aliens, and FEMA must be able to confirm their identity. The program covers deaths directly or indirectly caused by the disaster.

“Whether a loved one died from the disaster itself or from unsafe conditions during cleanup, we are here to help,” the program guidance states.

Understanding Disaster-Related Deaths

A direct disaster-related death could be caused by collapsing buildings or flying debris, officials explained. Indirect causes include dangerous conditions during preparations, the storm itself, or post-disaster cleanup, as well as worsening of pre-existing health conditions due to the disaster.

However, officials caution that documents stating a death “may have been caused by” the disaster do not qualify.

How to Apply

Survivors can apply by visiting DisasterAssistance.gov, using the FEMA app, calling 800-621-3362, or visiting a Disaster Recovery Center. One such center is currently open daily at First Baptist Church in Kerrville, Texas.

What Costs Are Covered?

The assistance may help cover:

  • Funeral services, including clergy fees
  • Burial expenses like caskets, urns, burial plots, or cremation niches
  • Reinterment costs for displaced remains
  • Travel for up to two people to identify the deceased if required
  • Death certificate fees and other legally required expenses

Limits and Exclusions

Eligible families may receive up to $9,000 per death or disinterment. FEMA emphasized that some expenses are not covered, such as flowers, obituaries, catering, or transportation to the funeral.

Assistance for Out-of-State Families

Applicants do not need to live in Texas but must prove that the death or disinterment happened in the disaster area.

Required Documentation

Applicants must provide an official death certificate or a statement from a medical examiner or funeral home, along with receipts or estimates for funeral costs and proof that no other financial aid covered the expenses.

Appeals Process Available

“If you disagree with the amount of assistance, you can appeal,” the guidance states. Applicants must submit additional documents explaining why they need further help.

Continuing Support for Flood Recovery

FEMA reminds Texans that disaster recovery assistance is available to all eligible residents without regard to race, nationality, or income level.

For more information, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Iliamna Volcano Shows Signs of Activity After a Century of Dormancy

Michael Esparza
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Iliamna Volcano Shows Signs of Activity After a Century of Dormancy

The Iliamna volcano in southern Alaska, quiet for more than 100 years, is showing signs of renewed seismic activity. NASA has described the volcano as “ready to rumble,” though scientists caution the shaking could signal a large avalanche rather than an imminent eruption.

Recent Seismic Activity Raises Concerns

Located near Cook Inlet, Iliamna last erupted in 1867 but has a history of producing avalanches powerful enough to register on seismic monitors. On June 15, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported hours of nearly continuous shaking, following satellite images captured on June 10.

Avalanches Likely the Cause of the Shaking

Experts say the tremors resemble those caused by the slipping of ice and rock, which often lead to avalanches on the glacier-covered volcano. Iliamna’s unstable mix of volcanic heat, glacial ice, and weakened rock frequently causes these massive slides.

A History of Minor Eruptions and Smoke

Though it has not erupted in over a century, Iliamna has occasionally emitted smoke and light ash, with the last confirmed vapor columns seen in 1958. Other minor activity was reported in the early and mid-1900s but never confirmed as full eruptions.

Close Monitoring Despite Remote Location

Iliamna sits in the Chigmit Mountains of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. While remote, its activity is closely monitored because communities within 200 miles—including Pedro Bay, Port Alsworth, and Anchorage—could be affected by an eruption or significant avalanche.

No Current Eruption Warning

Despite the recent rumblings, the U.S. Geological Survey has kept Iliamna at a “normal” alert level. Volcanologists continue to monitor it alongside 51 other active volcanoes in Alaska, including the nearby Redoubt Volcano, which is known for more frequent eruptions.

For more updates, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million or Apology From Trump Administration

Edward Saenz
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Mahmoud Khalil Seeks $20 Million or Apology From Trump Administration

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and pro-Palestinian activist, has filed an administrative complaint against the Trump administration seeking $20 million in damages or an official apology. Khalil spent more than three months in ICE detention before a federal judge ordered his release in June.

Allegations of False Arrest and Retaliation

Khalil’s complaint, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, accuses the administration of false arrest, malicious prosecution, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. He claims his detention was a retaliatory act against his role in leading Columbia’s pro-Palestinian protests during the 2024 Israel-Hamas war.

Activist Targeted Amid Trump’s Crackdown on Campus Protests

ICE agents arrested Khalil, a green card holder married to a U.S. citizen, in March at his New York apartment. He became the first high-profile pro-Palestinian activist detained during Trump’s efforts to suppress campus protests, which he called “hotbeds of antisemitism.”

Administration Cited National Security Risk

The Trump administration alleged that Khalil supported Hamas, though his lawyers say no evidence was provided. Secretary of State Marco Rubio used a rare legal provision to justify Khalil’s deportation on foreign policy grounds.

Court Ordered Release but Deportation Effort Continues

While an immigration judge in Louisiana initially ruled against Khalil, a federal judge in New Jersey later barred his deportation and ordered his release on June 20. Despite the ruling, the administration is still pursuing his removal from the U.S.

Khalil: Damages Would Support Other Activists

According to the Center for Constitutional Rights, Khalil intends to use any awarded damages to assist others targeted by the Trump administration and Columbia University. The group said he would accept an apology and an end to the administration’s deportation policies instead of payment.

DHS Defends Its Actions

DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended the detention, saying the Trump administration acted within its legal authority. She dismissed Khalil’s claims as “absurd,” accusing him of promoting antisemitism and terrorizing Jewish students through his actions and rhetoric.

For more on Khalil’s case, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Assault Charges in London

Indira Zaldivar
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Chris Brown Pleads Not Guilty to Additional Assault Charges in London

Chris Brown appeared in a London court on Friday, July 11, where he pleaded not guilty to two additional charges stemming from an alleged nightclub assault on music producer Amadou “Abe” Diaw in February 2023.

Accused of Assault With a Tequila Bottle

Brown faces charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and carrying an offensive weapon. Prosecutors allege he attacked Diaw with a tequila bottle and stomped on him during the altercation.

Previous Plea and Courtroom Support

Last month, Brown pleaded not guilty to the most serious assault charge but delayed addressing the other charges while his legal team reviewed newly submitted evidence. During Friday’s hearing, about 20 supporters were present, with some shouting words of encouragement as Brown left court.

Arrest, Bond, and Tour

Brown was arrested in May at a Manchester hotel. Initially denied bail due to the severity of the allegations, he was later released on a $6.7 million bond. Despite the charges, Brown was permitted to continue his world tour, which kicked off in the U.K. and Europe and is set to reach North America later this month.

Rapper HoodyBaby Also Charged

HoodyBaby, also known as Omolulu Akinlolu, was charged alongside Brown. Akinlolu, a close friend and collaborator of the singer, pleaded not guilty to charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and causing actual bodily harm.

Related Civil Suit Dropped

The criminal case follows a civil lawsuit Diaw filed against Brown in October 2023 over the same alleged attack. Diaw dismissed the civil suit with prejudice recently, meaning it cannot be refiled. No settlement has been confirmed.

For more on Brown’s legal trouble, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

ICE Agents Confronted by Clinic Staff During Arrest Attempt

Indira Zaldivar
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ICE Agents Confronted by Clinic Staff During Arrest Attempt

Federal immigration agents chased a Honduran landscaper into Ontario Advanced Surgery Center in Southern California, leading to a tense confrontation with medical staff. The agents, wearing masks and bulletproof vests, were met with demands from clinic workers to show a warrant and identify themselves.

Viral Video Shows Staff Protecting Detainee

Video from the scene shows clinic staff in scrubs shielding the landscaper, who was crying and struggling to breathe. One staff member is heard saying, “Get your hands off of him. You don’t even have a warrant. Let him go. You need to get out.”

DHS Defends Operation, Accuses Staff of Obstruction

The Department of Homeland Security said officers were conducting a targeted arrest of two men illegally in the U.S. when one fled into the clinic. The agency accused staff of “assaulting law enforcement” and obstructing the arrest. The surgical center has not commented publicly.

Advocates Question ICE’s Claims

Javier Hernandez of the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice said the man was eventually arrested and his current whereabouts are unknown. He said the landscaper was supporting his mother’s dialysis treatments back in Honduras. Hernandez questioned ICE’s claim of a targeted operation, noting that agents interrogated two co-workers until confirming their legal status.

Growing Concern Over Public Arrest Tactics

Hernandez praised the clinic staff for their courage and expressed concern over increasingly aggressive tactics by ICE.

“It’s getting harder because the tactics are getting more violent,” he said.

Similar Incident Sparks Protest in San Francisco

In another incident this week, ICE agents leaving an immigration courthouse in San Francisco handcuffed a man and put him in a black SUV. Protesters tried to block the vehicle, with one person clinging to the hood as it sped away.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Out with the dust, in with higher rain chances for the weekend

ABC13 Houston
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Out with the dust, in with higher rain chances for the weekend

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Thursday’s hazy gray sky leaves us on Friday, and by Saturday, we’ve got more widespread tropical downpours in the forecast.

We’re expecting a few showers to develop near the coast Friday morning, and those showers will be the seeds for thunderstorms that pop up later in the day near and north of I-10. As temperatures warm in the mid 90s, the atmosphere will become unstable enough to produce a few strong thunderstorms capable of heavy rain, frequent lightning, pea size hail, and gusty winds over 40 mph.

Will the weekend be a washout?

No. Despite the high rain chances on Saturday and Sunday, we do not expect it to rain all day. If you have outdoor plans, especially in the afternoon, be prepared for them to be interrupted for an hour or two when the scattered storms rumble through Southeast Texas. Have a place where you could run for cover if a heavy thunderstorms impacts your outdoor plans.

Is there any triple-digit heat in the forecast?

Not at this time. In fact, we still haven’t hit 100 so far this summer! Next week, the rain faucet should turn off for at least a few days, which should push temperatures back into the upper 90s but still shy of the triple digits.

What’s happening in the tropics?

We’re watching the Gulf for tropical development late next week. For a thorough update and in-depth video on what’s happening in the tropics, head to our tropical update page.

This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.

Keep up with all things Houston with us on Que Onda Magazine.

A Triumphant Return: Superman Soars in a Fresh, Hopeful Adventure

Michael Esparza
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A Triumphant Return: Superman Soars in a Fresh, Hopeful Adventure

James Gunn’s new Superman movie offers a vibrant and confident vision of the iconic hero, proving that superhero stories can still feel fresh and compelling. Rather than retelling the famous origin, the film launches right into Clark Kent’s established life as both the Man of Steel and a citizen of Metropolis. This approach brings immediate energy and allows the story to focus on the emotional and moral dilemmas that make Superman such a lasting symbol of hope.

The film excels in balancing action, humor, and sincerity. It doesn’t shy away from the superheroic absurdities of its world—embracing influences from classic comics and earlier Superman adaptations with self-awareness and heart. Fans will enjoy seeing characters like Krypto, Lex Luthor, Hawkgirl, and more, with each given a distinct personality. Superman is portrayed as warm, idealistic, and deeply connected to humanity, reminding viewers why he’s considered the gold standard of heroes.

Performances are a strong suit here, with David Corenswet delivering a nuanced and earnest take on Clark/Superman. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Lois Lane, capturing the iconic character’s drive and wit. Nicholas Hoult’s Lex Luthor is especially memorable, bringing a blend of intelligence and menace while still remaining believable as the world’s greatest schemer. The chemistry among the cast makes even the most fantastical moments feel emotionally real.

Visually, the movie is lively and colorful, distinct from the often darker palette of recent superhero films. Its action scenes are brisk and engaging, if sometimes a bit chaotic, but they always serve the story’s emotional stakes. James Gunn’s direction emphasizes hope, positivity, and the value of doing good for its own sake, rather than focusing purely on spectacle.

The movie is not without flaws—some may find the pacing crowded with its large ensemble of characters, and the plot, while interesting, can feel overcomplicated. The humor occasionally leans into silliness, which may not appeal to everyone, especially during intense moments. Yet, these shortcomings never overshadow the film’s core strengths: its optimistic tone and the authentic spirit of Superman.

Ultimately, Superman is a triumphant and heartfelt reinvention of the character for a new generation. It balances fun comic book chaos with earnest storytelling, making it a great entry point to the new DC universe as well as a love letter to Superman fans old and new. Whether you’re a lifelong follower or someone meeting Superman for the first time, this film captures what makes the character timeless.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

Que Onda Editorial
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Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order

A federal judge in New Hampshire has halted the Trump administration’s executive order targeting birthright citizenship, granting a preliminary injunction in response to a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union.

Court Cites Irreparable Harm

U.S. District Judge Joseph Laplante ruled that without the injunction, the plaintiffs—pregnant immigrants, parents, and infants—would face irreparable harm. He also stated that the public interest favored protecting their constitutional rights.

Class Action Lawsuit Moves Forward

Despite a recent Supreme Court decision limiting nationwide injunctions, Laplante certified the case as a class action, allowing broader relief.

ACLU Celebrates Victory

“This ruling is a huge victory and will help protect the citizenship of all children born in the United States, as the Constitution intended,” said Cody Wofsy, deputy director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project.

Administration Allowed Time to Appeal

The judge’s order includes a seven-day stay, giving the Trump administration time to appeal the decision.

For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Ruidoso Faces Tragedy Again After Deadly Flash Flood

Michael Esparza
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Ruidoso Faces Tragedy Again After Deadly Flash Flood

The mountain village of Ruidoso, New Mexico, is once again rebuilding after flash floods on Tuesday killed three people, including two children, and severely damaged dozens of homes.

Just a year earlier, the area was devastated by wildfires and previous flooding.

Floodwaters Sweep Away Lives and Homes

Triggered by intense monsoon rains, the floodwaters overwhelmed the Rio Ruidoso, carrying away homes and sweeping a man and two children from an RV park. Their bodies were later found downstream. The children’s parents, with ties to Fort Bliss, are recovering from injuries in Texas.

Community Devastated, But Resilient

Ruidoso native Tracy Haragan watched helplessly as the floodwaters carried away belongings from nearby homes. “Everything went down,” he said. Mayor Lynn Crawford described the heartbreak the village is feeling but emphasized the community’s strength.

Rebuilding Efforts Continue Amid Ongoing Risks

Barbara Arthur, owner of Riverside RV Park, lost both her home and her business in the flood. She said Tuesday’s disaster was the worst of six recent flooding events, worsened by the wildfire burn scar that couldn’t absorb the rainfall.

Record-Breaking Flood Levels

New Mexico Flooding© Roberto E. Rosales

The National Weather Service confirmed that the Rio Ruidoso rose more than 20 feet, breaking the previous flood record by nearly five feet. Officials described the storm as a rare, 100-year event.

Swift Response and Federal Aid Sought

Emergency crews performed dozens of swift water rescues. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham requested a presidential disaster declaration, estimating more than $50 million in emergency costs. The village also seeks $100 million in federal aid to reduce future flood risks.

Village Still Vulnerable as Monsoon Season Continues

The flood came as the town was still working to replace warning systems lost in last year’s wildfire. With the monsoon season running through September, officials warn that more flooding could occur.

Economic Impact Felt Across the Village

The floods have also disrupted the local tourism economy, forcing the cancellation of a major horse race at Ruidoso Downs. Mayor Crawford urged residents to remain vigilant, saying, “Mother Nature is a much bigger, powerful force than we are.”

For more on the New Mexico’s storm recovery, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

Flash Flood Warning in Boston as Heavy Rain Soaks the City

Que Onda Editorial
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Flash Flood Warning in Boston as Heavy Rain Soaks the City

Boston is under a flash flood warning as intense rain pounds the region, creating life-threatening conditions and widespread flooding.

Up to 2 Inches of Rainfall Per Hour Reported

So far, 2 to 4 inches of rain have fallen, with rainfall rates reaching as high as 2 inches per hour. The National Weather Service described the situation as a “considerable” flash flood threat.

Major Roads Flooded

Massachusetts State Police reported flooding along Interstate 93 near Exit 3 and urged drivers to avoid the area until conditions improve.

Millions Across East Coast Remain at Risk

The flash flood threat extends beyond Boston, with more than 14 million people from the Carolinas to the Mid-Atlantic still facing risks after recent storms drenched the I-95 corridor.

Ongoing Developments

Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation. For more updates, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.

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