Advanced search Help
Searching for terms: EXACT: "McCarthy, Francis X." in: author
Clear all search criteria
Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: South Carolina [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. South Carolina is part of Region IV, headquartered in Atlanta, GA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: South Dakota [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. South Dakota is part of Region VIII, headquartered in Denver, CO."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Daniel J.; King, Rawle O.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Tennessee [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Tennessee is part of Region IV, headquartered in Atlanta, GA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Washington [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Washington is part of Region X, headquartered in Seattle, WA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Daniel J.; King, Rawle O.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Utah [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Utah is part of Region VIII, headquartered in Denver, CO."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Vermont [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Vermont is part of Region I, headquartered in Boston, MA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Daniel J.; King, Rawle O.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: West Virginia [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. West Virginia is part of Region III, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Wyoming [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Wyoming is part of Region VIII, headquartered in Denver, CO."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Daniel J.; King, Rawle O.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Alaska [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Alaska is part of Region X, headquartered in Seattle, WA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Richardson, Daniel J.; King, Rawle O.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
FEMA DRF Major Disaster Assistance: Alabama [January 28, 2015]
"The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the primary source of funding used to provide assistance following a major disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T. Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act (P.L. [Public Law] 93-288). The information below includes only the funding provided as a result of a major disaster declaration, not other assistance funded through the DRF. Additionally, this information does not include other federal sources of disaster assistance, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans. FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices around the country. Alabama is part of Region IV, headquartered in Atlanta, GA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Lindsay, Bruce R.; Brown, Jared T. . . .
2015-01-28
-
Examination of Federal Disaster Relief Under the Budget Control Act [November 8, 2013]
This report discusses the pitfalls of current budget estimation tools regarding emergency management; the authors make observations and recommendations. "On August 2, 2011, the President signed into law the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA, P.L. 112- 25), which included a number of budget-controlling mechanisms. As part of the legislation, caps were placed on discretionary spending for the next ten years, beginning with FY2012. […] On October 29, 2013, Hurricane Sandy came ashore, causing loss of life and billions of dollars in damage. The Administration proposed a relief package that exceeded the allowable adjustment for disaster relief under the BCA. The Administration requested, and Congress for the most part agreed, to designate the Hurricane Sandy supplemental as emergency spending outside of the limited disaster relief adjustment made available under the BCA. The history of the legislative response to this disaster demonstrated that while the BCA included an accommodation to provide dedicated additional funding for many disasters, catastrophic events such as Sandy remain a challenge to those developing long-term budgeting strategies. […] In the face of these challenges, Congress could choose to continue to use emergency funding to meet unbudgeted disaster relief needs, or change the allowable adjustment mechanism, the formula for calculating the allowable adjustment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; Painter, William L.; McCarthy, Francis X.
2013-11-08
-
Stafford Act Declarations 1953-2011: Trends and Analyses, and Implications for Congress [August 31, 2012]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act authorizes the President to issue declarations that provide states and localities with a range of federal assistance in response to natural and man-made incidents. Since 1953 the number of declarations issued each year has steadily increased. For example, the average number of major disaster declarations issued from 1960 to 1969 was roughly 18 per year. In contrast, the average number of major disaster declarations issued from 2000 to 2009 was 56 per year. The highest number was declared in 2011, with 99 major disaster declarations. Declarations are of congressional concern for at least two reasons: (1) scrutiny of the budget has led to an awareness of expenditures for disaster assistance, and (2) some are skeptical that declarations are solely made to provide disaster relief. They argue that declarations have become political tools--especially during election years--to gain political favor. Advocates of this position point to incidents which, in their view, could have been handled without federal assistance. This report describes the declaration process and the types of declarations that can be declared under the Stafford Act: (1) Fire Management Assistance Grants, (2) emergencies, and (3) major disasters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X.
2012-08-31
-
FEMA's Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer [May 18, 2011]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (referred to as the Stafford Act - 42 U.S.C. 5721 et seq.) authorizes the President to issue 'major disaster' or 'emergency' declarations before or after catastrophes occur. Emergency declarations trigger aid that protects property, public health, and safety and lessens or averts the threat of an incident becoming a catastrophic event. A major disaster declaration, issued after catastrophes occur, constitutes broader authority for federal agencies to provide supplemental assistance to help state and local governments, families and individuals, and certain nonprofit organizations recover from the incident. The end result of a presidential disaster declaration is well known, if not entirely understood. Various forms of assistance are provided, including aid to families and individuals for uninsured needs and assistance to state and local governments and certain non-profits in rebuilding or replacing damaged infrastructure. The amount of assistance provided through presidential disaster declarations has exceeded $140 billion. Often, in recent years, Congress has enacted supplemental appropriations legislation to cover unanticipated costs. While the amounts spent by the federal government on different programs may be reported, and the progress of the recovery can be observed, much less is known about the process that initiates all of this activity. Yet, it is a process that has resulted in an average of more than one disaster declaration a week over the last decade."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2011-05-18
-
Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program and Homeless Assistance [April 10, 2013]
"The Emergency Food and Shelter National Board (EFS) Program provides supplemental funding to homeless services providers across the nation. EFS was first authorized by P.L. 100-77, the Stewart B. McKinney-Bruce Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Title III, McKinney-Vento Act), which became law in 1987. Eligible services include the provision of overnight shelter and served meals, assistance to food banks and pantries, one month's rental or mortgage assistance to prevent evictions, and one month's utility payments to prevent service cut-offs. Since its inception, the program's recipient organizations have provided over 2 billion meals, 241 million nights of shelter, 4.3 million rent and mortgage payments, and 5.9 million utility payments. The program is administered by the EFS National Board, which is chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and is comprised of representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities USA, the National Council of Churches, the Salvation Army, the Jewish Federations of North America, and United Way Worldwide. Two of the program's distinguishing features are its focus on local decision-making, and its relatively modest administrative costs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2013-04-10
-
Potential Stafford Act Declarations for the Gulf Coast Oil Spill: Issues for Congress [May 13, 2010]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, P.L. 93-288, presents several options, and could provide a number of programs, to address the Gulf Coast oil spill. That spill is currently being addressed by a law fashioned for that purpose, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, P.L. 101-380. An emergency declaration under the Stafford Act would appear a potential approach to the current situation since it is intended to lessen the impact of an imminent disaster. A major disaster declaration would open up more Stafford Act programs that might be especially appropriate for the needs generated by the spill. FEMA assistance can be rapid and flexible, but it also would need to be carefully delineated to avoid duplication of benefits and general confusion when working in the milieu of P.L. 101-380. […]. During the previous large spill, the Exxon Valdez in 1989, the President turned down the governor of Alaska's two requests for an emergency declaration. The rationale for the turndowns was that a declaration by the President would hinder the government's litigation against Exxon that promised substantial compensation for the incident. Using a Stafford Act declaration, either an emergency or a major disaster declaration, for Gulf Coast states that are now approaching the fifth anniversary of the Hurricane Katrina landfall would present not only a reminder of difficult, lingering issues from that disaster in 2005 but also an opportunity for a second chance at long-term recovery assistance. Managing public expectations is difficult even in the smallest disaster event."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2010-05-13
-
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues [Updated June 26, 2008]
This CRS report discusses FEMA's pre-disaster mitigation program. "Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), as federal law and a program activity, began in 1997. Congress established a pilot program, which FEMA named 'Project Impact,' to test the concept of investing prior to disasters to reduce the vulnerability of communities to future disasters. Public Law 106-390, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, authorized the PDM program in law as Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. [...] One major development has taken place in FY2008. Congress, in P.L. 110-161, directed 95 grants to 28 states, which totaled close to 44% of all PDM funds. These were the first such earmarks for the PDM program. While some of the projects meet PDM eligibility standards, others appear to consist of preparedness projects, rather than mitigation projects, which are not eligible for grants, as defined by PDM guidance. At a mark-up on May 22, 2008, H.R. 6109 was ordered to be reported out by voice vote from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill awaits action before the full House. This report will be updated as warranted by events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2008-06-26
-
FEMA's Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer [March 18, 2010]
"The disaster declaration procedure is foremost a process that preserves the discretion of the governor to request assistance and the President to decide to grant, or not to grant, supplemental help. The process employs some measurable criteria in two broad areas: Individual Assistance that aids families and individuals and Public Assistance that is mainly for repairs to infrastructure. The criteria, however, also considers many other factors, in each category of assistance, that help decision makers assess the impact of an event on communities and states. Under current law, the decision to issue a declaration rests solely with the President. Congress has no formal role, but has taken actions to adjust the terms of the process. For example, P.L. 109-295 established an advocate to help small states with the declaration process. More recently, Congress introduced legislation, H.R. 3377, that would direct FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] to update some of its criteria for considering Individual Assistance declarations. Congress continues to examine the process and has received some recommendations for improvements. Given the importance of the decision, and the size of the overall spending involved, hearings have been held in the 111th Congress to review the declaration process so as to ensure fairness and equity in the process and its results. This report will be updated as warranted by events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2010-03-18
-
Congressional Primer on Major Disasters and Emergencies [May 23, 2012]
"The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated supplemental resources and assistance. A declaration of a major disaster or emergency must, in almost all cases, be requested by the governor, who at that point has declared that the situation is beyond the capacity of the state to respond. The governor also determines which parts of the state they will request assistance for and suggests the types of assistance programs that may be needed. The President considers the governor's request, in consultation with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and makes the initial decisions on the areas to be included as well as the programs that are implemented. The immediate response to a disaster is guided by the National Response Framework (NRF), which details roles and responsibilities at various levels of government, along with cooperation from the private and non-profit sectors, for differing incidents and support functions. […] While the disaster response and recovery process is fundamentally a relationship between the federal government and the requesting state government, there are roles for congressional offices to play in providing information to the federal/state response and recovery teams in their respective states and districts. Congressional offices also serve as a valuable source of accurate and timely information to their constituents."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Brown, Jared T.
2012-05-23
-
Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies [April 30, 2014]
"The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local, tribal, and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated supplemental resources and assistance, if requested and approved. The immediate response to a disaster is guided by the National Response Framework (NRF), which details roles and responsibilities at various levels of government, along with cooperation from the private and nonprofit sectors, for differing incidents and support functions. A declaration of a major disaster or emergency under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, P.L. [Public Law] 93-288, must, in almost all cases, be requested by the governor of a state or the chief executive of an affected Indian tribal government, who at that point has declared that the situation is beyond the capacity of the state or tribe to respond. The governor/chief also determines which parts of the state/tribal territory they will request assistance for and suggests the types of assistance programs that may be needed. The President considers the request, in consultation with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and makes the initial decisions on the areas to be included as well as the programs that are implemented. The majority of federal aid is made available from FEMA under the authority of the Stafford Act."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Brown, Jared T.
2014-04-30
-
Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies [May 24, 2013]
"The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local, tribal, and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated supplemental resources and assistance, if requested and approved. The immediate response to a disaster is guided by the National Response Framework (NRF), which details roles and responsibilities at various levels of government, along with cooperation from the private and non-profit sectors, for differing incidents and support functions. [...] The majority of federal aid is made available from FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] under the authority of the Stafford Act. In addition to that assistance, other disaster aid is made available through programs of the Small Business Administration (which provides disaster loans to both businesses and homeowners), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT), and, in some instances, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (in the form of Community Development Block Grant funds being made available for unmet disaster needs). While the disaster response and recovery process is fundamentally a relationship between the federal government and the requesting state or tribal government, there are roles for congressional offices to play in providing information to the federal response and recovery teams in their respective states and districts. Congressional offices also serve as a valuable source of accurate and timely information to their constituents."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Brown, Jared T.
2013-05-24
-
Fire Management Assistance Grants: Frequently Asked Questions [September 25, 2014]
"Section 420 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288) authorizes the President to 'declare' a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). This authority has been delegated to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Regional Administrators. Once issued, the FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance such as the provision of equipment, personnel, and grants to state, local, and tribal governments for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on certain public or private forest land or grassland that might become a major disaster. The current FMAG system was established by regulation in October of 2001. Prior to that time, the program was known as the Fire Suppression Assistance Program. However, the program was administered in similar fashion with the FEMA Regional Administrators working with the requesting state and the 'Principal Advisor,' as well as consulting with FEMA leadership prior to the announcement of Stafford Act assistance under Section 420. This report answers frequently asked questions about FMAGs. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lindsay, Bruce R.; McCarthy, Francis X.; Hoover, Katie . . .
2014-09-25
-
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues [Updated August 27, 2014]
From the Program Purposes: "The purpose of the original pre-disaster hazard mitigation pilot program, known as Project Impact, as well as the successor Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program, has been to implement hazard reduction measures prior to a disaster event. Those measures are similar to those actions taken following a disaster under the authority of the Section 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The range of eligible projects might include retrofitting public buildings against hurricane-force winds or seismic damage, acquiring and relocating properties out of a flood plain, elevating structures in a flood plain, flood-proofing public buildings, managing vegetation to mitigate against wildfires, or constructing or converting public spaces into 'safe rooms' in tornado-prone areas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brown, Jared T.; McCarthy, Francis X.
2014-08-27
-
Congressional Primer on Major Disasters and Emergencies [August 31, 2011]
"The principles of disaster management assume a leadership role by the local and state governments with the federal government providing coordinated supplemental resources and assistance. A declaration of a major disaster or emergency must, in almost all cases, be requested by the governor, who at that point has declared that the situation is beyond the capacity of the state to respond. The governor also determines which parts of the state they will request assistance for and suggests the types of assistance programs that may be needed. The President considers the governor's request, in consultation with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and makes the initial decisions on the areas to be included as well as the programs that are implemented. […] In addition to that assistance, other disaster aid is made available through programs of the Small Business Administration (which provides disaster loans to both businesses and homeowners), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) within the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (in the form of Community Development Block Grant funds being made available for unmet disaster needs). While the disaster response and recovery process is fundamentally a relationship between the federal government and the requesting state government, there are roles for congressional offices to play in providing information to the federal/state response and recovery teams in their respective states and districts. Congressional offices also serve as a valuable source of accurate and timely information to their constituents."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Brown, Jared T.
2011-08-31
-
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues [July 10, 2009]
"Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), as federal law and a program activity, began in 1997. Congress established a pilot program, which FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] named 'Project Impact,' to test the concept of investing prior to disasters to reduce the vulnerability of communities to future disasters. P.L. 106-390, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, authorized the PDM program in law as Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. From its beginnings as 'Project Impact' to its current state, the PDM program has grown in its level of appropriated resources and the scope of participation nationwide. Along with that growth have come issues for Congressional consideration, including the approach for awarding grant funds, the eligibility of certain applicants, the eligibility of certain projects, the degree of commitment by state and local governments, and related questions. Authorization for the PDM program expires on September 30, 2009. In the 111th Congress, Representative Oberstar and other sponsors introduced H.R. 1746 to re-authorize the program for an additional three years at $250 million per year and to remove the sunset provision. The bill would also increase the minimum amount each state can receive from $500,000 to $575,000. H.R. 1746 includes provisions that have been part of appropriations statutes that award funds both through a formula (with, as noted, a minimum amount available per state) as well as a competitive process for the majority of the funds."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Keegan, Natalie
2009-07-10
-
FEMA Disaster Housing: From Sheltering to Permanent Housing [August 27, 2010]
"For over three decades the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided temporary housing assistance to eligible victims of natural disasters. FEMA has responded to more than a thousand disaster and emergency events over this period, employing a number of options for meeting the needs of people who have lost their primary housing as a result of a disaster declared by the President. The cycle of help from sheltering provided by local organizations in the immediate aftermath, to the eventual repair and rebuilding or replacement of private homes and rental units, is the focus of this report. Because of the historic nature of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, much of FEMA's work has been defined and measured by its response to that event. Katrina was an outlier in scope and not representative of disasters declared, on almost a weekly basis, over the last 30 years. But Katrina highlighted the gaps in FEMA's housing authorities, raised questions regarding the agency's leadership in exercising existing authorities, and provoked an examination of the flexibility, or lack thereof, in the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and its implementing regulations. The congressional response to Katrina increased FEMA's authority and ability to address many housing issues in the post-disaster environment. Further, subsequent analysis of the Katrina response has also directed attention to the authorities of other federal agencies charged with federal housing responsibilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2010-08-27
-
FEMA Disaster Cost-Shares: Evolution and Analysis [March 9, 2010]
"The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (The Stafford Act, P.L. 93- 288) contains discretion for the President to adjust cost-shares for the Public Assistance (PA) program, Sections 406 and 407 of the act, that provides assistance to states, local governments and non-profit organizations for debris removal and rebuilding of the public and non-profit infrastructure. The language of the Stafford Act defining cost-shares for the repair, restoration, and replacement of damaged facilities provides that the federal share 'shall be not less than 75 percent.' These provisions have been in effect for over 20 years. While the authority to adjust the cost-share is long standing, the history of FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency]'s administrative adjustments and Congress' legislative actions in this area, are of a more recent vintage. [...] Cost-share waivers can be a great help to a state and its communities seeking to recover from a disaster event and reeling from the economic problems caused by the disaster. But such actions also reduce the supplemental nature of Stafford Act funding through the increase of the federal share. How such cost-share waivers are administered is an issue that FEMA has addressed through regulation and Congress has addressed through legislation. This report will be revised as warranted by events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2010-03-09
-
FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues [February 18, 2010]
"Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), as federal law and a program activity, began in 1997. Congress established a pilot program, which FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] named 'Project Impact,' to test the concept of investing prior to disasters to reduce the vulnerability of communities to future disasters. P.L. 106-390, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, authorized the PDM program in law as Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. [...] Authorization for the PDM program expires on September 30, 2010. In the 111th Congress, Representative Oberstar and other sponsors introduced H.R. 1746 to re-authorize the program for an additional three years at $250 million per year and to remove the sunset provision. The bill would also increase the minimum amount each state can receive from $500,000 to $575,000. [...] It is notable that the Administration's budget for FY2010 requested that the competitive process be dropped in favor of a risk-based assessment by FEMA. The Administration's budget for FY2011 does not contain any reference to a risk-based assessment by FEMA. However, Congress may wish to hear more regarding the risk-based allocation formula before enacting the authorizing legislation for the coming years. [...] This report will be updated as warranted by events."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.; Keegan, Natalie
2010-02-18
-
FEMA Disaster Housing: From Sheltering to Permanent Housing [September 16, 2009]
"For over three decades the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided temporary housing assistance to eligible victims of natural disasters. FEMA has responded to more than a thousand disaster and emergency events over this period, employing a number of options for meeting the needs of people who have lost their primary housing as a result of a disaster declared by the President. The cycle of help from sheltering provided by local organizations in the immediate aftermath, to the eventual repair and rebuilding or replacement of private homes and rental units, is the focus of this report. [...]. This report reviews standard disaster housing procedures as well as options that could be taken to improve disaster housing including increased FEMA/[Housing and Urban Development] cooperation, the use of the case management authority, the repair and renovation of private rental housing units, and the use of alternative manufactured housing. It will be updated as warranted by events and legislative action."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2009-09-16
-
FEMA's Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer [Updated January 23, 2009]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report covers FEMA disaster relief and emergency assistance. "The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (referred to as the Stafford Act - 42 U.S.C. 5721 et seq.) authorizes the President to issue 'major disaster' or 'emergency' declarations before or after catastrophes occur. Emergency declarations trigger aid that protects property, public health, and safety and lessens or averts the threat of an incident becoming a catastrophic event. A major disaster declaration, issued after catastrophes occur, constitutes broader authority for federal agencies to provide supplemental assistance to help state and local governments, families and individuals, and certain nonprofit organizations recover from the incident. The end result of a presidential disaster declaration is well known, if not entirely understood. Various forms of assistance are provided, including aid to families and individuals for uninsured needs and assistance to state and local governments and certain non-profits in rebuilding or replacing damaged infrastructure."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2009-01-23
-
FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues [Updated August 8, 2008]
This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report is an update to a report of the same name that discusses the issue of FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina. "In the past, FEMA's approaches have turned on practical and theoretical considerations. Practical considerations include the agency's ability to house families and individuals within a short time frame and in proximity to the original disaster, and in the case of Hurricane Katrina, to make contact with the hundreds of thousands of applicants who registered for assistance. Some of the theoretical policy considerations include questions of equity, self-reliance, federalism, and the duration of federal assistance. Those considerations have led to process questions concerning program stewardship and the potential for waste, fraud, and abuse of federal resources. The Post-Katrina Act, enacted in October of 2006 (P.L. 109-295), includes changes in FEMA housing policy that provide the President with greater flexibility for meeting the challenges of disasters on a large scale. Also, Public Law 110-28 has eased the cost-share burden for some housing costs and other disaster relief programs. Future debate on the housing issue will also be informed by the report on the National Disaster Housing Strategy (as directed in P.L. 109-295). This Strategy was due to Congress in 2007, but a draft was not provided until late July of 2008. Following a 60-day comment period, a final National Disaster Housing Strategy is scheduled to be presented to Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McCarthy, Francis X.
2008-08-08
