Adjunct Professor Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, Director of the DiMartino/Smith Public Interest Center at St. John’s Law, has a new article out in the American Bar Association’s Probate & Property magazine (January/February 2026 issue).

In “At the Intersection of Property and Disaster Recovery: Inside the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Latest Reforms,” she examines recent regulatory changes at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and their implications for long-term housing stability, equity, and legal practice.

Drawing on reforms to FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program adopted in 2021 and 2024, the article explores expanded aid for underinsured survivors, updated documentation standards, and broader definitions of habitability, while underscoring the essential role lawyers play in helping communities recover after disasters.