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Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery [July 12, 2010]
"In the aftermath of presidentially declared disasters, Congress has used a variety of programs to help states and local governments finance recovery efforts, among them the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. Over the years, Congress has appropriated supplemental CDBG funds to assist states and communities recover from such natural disasters as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. In addition, CDBG funds supported recovery efforts in New York City following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001; in Oklahoma City following the bombing of the Alfred Murrah Building in 1995; and in the city and county of Los Angeles following the riots of 1992. In response to those calamities, CDBG funds were made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. The Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005 (Katrina, Rita, and Wilma) resulted in the largest appropriation of CDBG funds for disaster relief and recovery in the program's history. Since December 2005, Congress has provided $19.85 billion in CDBG disaster-related assistance to the five states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes of 2005. This included $11.5 billion in CDBG assistance appropriated in the Defense Appropriations Act for FY2006, P.L. 109-148; $5.2 billion in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery Act of 2006, P.L. 109-234; and $3 billion (exclusively for Louisiana's Road Home Program) appropriated in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for FY2008, P.L. 110-116."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Boyd, Eugene
2010-07-12
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Repairing and Reconstructing Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges: The Role of Federal-Aid Highway Assistance [February 22, 2010]
"This report describes FHWA [Federal Highway Administration] assistance for the repair and reconstruction of disaster-damaged highways and bridges or catastrophic failures (such as a bridge collapse). It begins with a brief discussion of the legislative origins of federal assistance and describes the ER program in its current form. The report then discusses eligibility issues and program operation. The report briefly describes the major findings of a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on ER."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kirk, Robert S.
2010-02-22
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Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces: Facts and Issues [March 16, 2010]
"Since the early 1990s, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Task Forces have been certified, trained, and funded by the federal government. Twenty-eight task forces are located in 19 states. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials may call out the task force (or forces) in closest proximity to the disaster to help locate and extricate victims from collapsed buildings and structures. The task forces represent a partnership involving federal, local government, and private sector experts. Most recently, USAR teams received considerable publicity, and reportedly achieved life-saving results, in their mission to Haiti after the earthquakes of early 2010. Legislation pending before Congress would affect the USAR system in two ways. First, H.R. 119 would designate a New Jersey task force to be part of the system. Other legislation (H.R. 706 and H.R. 3377) would establish statutory authority and federal funding for a USAR response system. Members of Congress will consider FY2011 funding for the task forces during the second session of the 111th Congress, and may elect to debate issues associated with the deployment of USAR task forces to foreign countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith
2010-03-16
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California Emergency Management and Homeland Security Statutory Authorities Summarized [March 17, 2004]
"The key emergency management and homeland security statutes for the state of California include the Emergency Services Act, the Disaster Recovery Reconstruction Act and the Disaster Assistance Act. These statutes allow the governor to declare an emergency, provide funds to small businesses and residents for disaster recovery, plan for and mitigate the effects of disasters, and establish a process for the continuation of government should gubernatorial or legislative vacancies occur as the result of a disaster. Although California is not a member of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact the legislature has enacted intrastate mutual aid agreements; the governor has authority to enter into interstate agreements. Other statutes address issues such as disaster dog teams, state employees volunteering for emergency service and agricultural terrorism. This report is one of a series that profiles the emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and three territories (American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Warnock, Kae M.
2004-03-17
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National Flood Insurance Program: Status and Remaining Issues for Congress [December 10, 2012]
"On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast region, flooding some coastal areas and causing massive economic disruptions in states throughout the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic region. Communities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut were particularly hard hit. In the wake of disaster recovery from Hurricane Sandy, policy awareness has refocused on the effectiveness of the existing unified national program for floodplain management in reducing the loss of life and property from weather-related coastal hazards (hurricanes, storm surges, and tornadoes), aging coastal protection infrastructure and increasing vulnerability to storm impacts, persistently low insurance participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and the escalating cost of flooding to taxpayers. […] This report provides an analysis of U.S. flood risk management policy, summarizes major challenges facing the NFIP, and outlines key insurance reform provisions in the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012 (Flood Reform Act of 2012). The report also identifies and presents some key remaining flood management issues of contention for congressional consideration, and it concludes with a discussion of policy options for the future financial management of flood hazards."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
King, Rawle O.
2012-12-10
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National Flood Insurance Program: Background, Challenges, and Financial Status [June 12, 2012]
"Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the United States. In 1968, Congress established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) to address the nation's flood hazard exposure and challenges inherent in financing and managing flood risks in the private sector. The program has played a central role in U.S. flood risk management policy--that is, the prevention and recovery from flooding disasters. Under the NFIP, the federal government (1) identifies areas of flood risk; (2) encourages communities to implement measures to mitigate against the risk of flood loss; and (3) provides financial assistance, through contracts of insurance, to help individuals and small businesses recover rapidly from flood disasters. Until 1986, the NFIP was financially self-supporting from policy premium revenue and fees that covered all expenses and claim payments. However, because of its below-market insurance rates and catastrophic hurricane-related floods in recent years, the NFIP has accrued a substantial debt that as of September 30, 2011, stands at $17.75 billion. Under current law, the funds borrowed from the U.S. Treasury must be repaid with interest. Because the NFIP cannot charge risk-based premiums for all of its policies, hold loss reserve funds to offset unusually catastrophic losses, or purchase reinsurance, the program faces a constant risk of financial insolvency. The NFIP currently covers approximately 5.6 million households and businesses across the country for a total of $1.25 trillion in exposure."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
King, Rawle O.
2012-06-12
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National Emergency Powers [Updated September 18, 2001]
"The President of the United States has available certain powers that may be exercised in the event that the nation is threatened by crisis, exigency, or emergency circumstances (other than natural disasters, war, or near-war situations). Such powers may be stated explicitly or implied by the Constitution, assumed by the Chief Executive to be permissible constitutionally, or inferred from or specified by statute. Through legislation, Congress has made a great many delegations of authority in this regard over the past 200 years. There are, however, limits and restraints upon the President in his exercise of emergency powers. With the exception of the habeas corpus clause, the Constitution makes no allowance for the suspension of any of its provisions during a national emergency. Disputes over the constitutionality or legality of the exercise of emergency powers are judicially reviewable. Indeed, both the judiciary and Congress, as co-equal branches, can restrain the executive regarding emergency powers. So can public opinion. Furthermore, since 1976, the President has been subject to certain procedural formalities in utilizing some statutorily delegated emergency authority. The National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601-1651) eliminated or modified some statutory grants of emergency authority, required the President to declare formally the existence of a national emergency and to specify what statutory authority, activated by the declaration, would be used, and provided Congress a means to countermand the President's declaration and the activated authority being sought. The development of this regulatory statute and subsequent declarations of national emergency are reviewed in this report, which is updated as events require."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Relyea, Harold
2001-09-18
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Offsets, Supplemental Appropriations, and the Disaster Relief Fund: FY1990-FY2013 [December 4, 2012]
"This report discusses the recent history of offsetting rescissions in paying for supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). As Congress has debated the growing size of the budget deficit and national debt in recent years, efforts have intensified to control spending and offset the costs of legislation. In 1995, 2011, and again in 2012, the question of offsetting disaster relief spending emerged in congressional debate. In 2011, a series of disasters threatened to deplete the DRF, which is the primary source of assistance to state and local governments as well as individuals in the wake of disasters. [...] Traditionally, supplemental disaster relief funding has been treated as emergency spending, not counted against discretionary budget caps, and not requiring an offset. However, supplemental spending packages have at times carried rescissions that have offset, to one degree or another, their budgetary impact. In some instances, the supplemental spending packages have contained both appropriations for the DRF and offsetting rescissions. This report examines the use of offsets in connection with supplemental funding for the DRF since FY1990, reviewing three specific incidences where bills that had an impact on the level of funding available in the DRF were fully offset, and points out a number of issues Congress may wish to consider in this debate."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2012-12-04
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Offsets, Supplemental Appropriations, and the Disaster Relief Fund: FY1990-FY2012 [March 29, 2012]
"This report discusses the recent history of offsetting rescissions in paying for supplemental appropriations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Relief Fund (DRF). As Congress has debated the growing size of the budget deficit and national debt in recent years, efforts have intensified to control spending and offset the costs of legislation. In 1995 and again in 2011, the question of offsetting disaster relief spending emerged in congressional debate. In 2011, a series of disasters threatened to deplete the DRF, which is the primary source of assistance to state and local governments as well as individuals in the wake of disasters. Traditionally, supplemental disaster relief funding has been treated as emergency spending, not counted against discretionary budget caps, and not requiring an offset. However, supplemental spending packages have at times carried rescissions that have offset, to one degree or another, their budgetary impact. In some instances, the supplemental spending packages have contained both appropriations for the DRF and offsetting rescissions. This report examines the use of offsets in connection with supplemental funding for the DRF since FY1990, reviewing three specific incidences where bills that had an impact on the level of funding available in the DRF were fully offset, and points out a number of issues Congress may wish to consider in this debate. Since FY1990, there has only been one case in which supplemental funding for the DRF was completely offset by rescissions. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Painter, William L.
2012-03-29
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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
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Emergency Relief Program: Federal-Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges [November 5, 2012]
"The major highways and bridges recently damaged during Hurricanes Sandy and Irene are part of the federal-aid highway system and were therefore eligible for assistance under the Emergency Relief Program (ER) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Following a natural disaster or catastrophic failure (such as a bridge collapse), ER funds are made available for both emergency repairs and restoration of federal-aid highway facilities to pre-disaster conditions. State departments of transportation typically have close ongoing relationships with FHWA's division offices in each state, which facilitate a quick, coordinated response to disasters. Although ER is a federal program, the decision to seek ER funding is made by the state, not by the federal government. [...] The 112th Congress authorized an emergency relief program for public transportation systems. However, this program does not have a permanent funding source, and funds are to be provided only by appropriation. No money has been appropriated to or expended under this program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kirk, Robert S.
2012-11-05
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United States Fire Administration: An Overview [January 3, 2012]
"The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)--which includes the National Fire Academy (NFA)--is currently housed within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The objective of the USFA is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire. The United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008 was signed into law on October 8, 2008 (P.L. 110-376). The Department of Defense and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (P.L. 112-10) funded USFA at $45.588 million, the same as the FY2010 level. The FY2012 budget proposal requested $42.538 million for USFA, about 7% under the FY2011 level. The budget proposal reflected an overall $1.72 million program reduction. P.L. 112-74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2012, provided $44.038 million for USFA in FY2012. As is the case with many federal programs, concerns in the 112th Congress over the federal budget deficit could impact budget levels for the USFA. Debate over the USFA budget has focused on whether the USFA is receiving an appropriate level of funding to accomplish its mission, given that appropriations for USFA have consistently been well below the agency's authorized level. An ongoing issue is the viability and status of the USFA and National Fire Academy within the Department of Homeland Security."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2012-01-03
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FEMA's Mission: Policy Directives for the Federal Emergency Management Agency [Updated March 13, 2002]
"The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assists states and localities overwhelmed by, or at risk from, disasters. FEMA also coordinates federal emergency management activities and planning for the continuity of government should national security be threatened. [...] This report identifies authorities drawn from public sources. It does not refer to classified authorities not available to the public, does not include references to temporary authorities that require FEMA to provide assistance for specific disasters or needs, and does not include information on plans, regulations, or operating manuals developed to implement these policies."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith
2002-03-13
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Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Highlighted Actions and Issues [May 11, 2011]
"This report highlights actions taken and issues raised as a result of the April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, and the resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Readers can access more extensive discussions in various CRS [Congressional Research Service] reports, identified at the end of this report. Members in the 112th Congress continue to express concerns regarding various oil spill-related policy matters. At least three committees in both the House and the Senate have held hearings on issues associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Members have introduced multiple proposals that would address various issues, including: 1) the regulatory regime for outer continental shelf (OCS) oil exploration and development activities; 2) the liability and compensation framework created by the 1990 Oil Pollution Act; 3) technological challenges involved with deepwater activities; 4) response activities (e.g., the use of chemical dispersants) and decision-making."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Hagerty, Curry L.
2011-05-11
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Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) [Updated March 25, 2002]
"Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) provides assistance to previously employed or self- employed individuals rendered unemployed as a direct result of a major disaster and who are not eligible for regular federal/state unemployment insurance (UI). DUA is federally funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but is administered by the state UI agencies. This report will be updated as events warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lake, Jennifer E.
2002-03-25
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Forest Fire Protection [December 5, 2000]
"The 2000 fire season was, by most standards, one of the worst in the past half century. National attention began to focus on wildfires when a prescribed burn in May escaped control and burned 235 homes in Los Alamos, NM [New Mexico]. In September, the Clinton Administration proposed an additional $1.6 billion for wildfire management, and Congress enacted much of this proposal in the FY2001 Interior Appropriations Act (P.L. 106-291). However, Congress still faces questions about forestry practices, continued funding, and the federal role in wildland fire protection. Many factors contribute to the threat of wildfire damages; two major factors are the decline in forest and rangeland health and the expansion of residential areas into wildlands--the urban-wildland interface. Over the past century, aggressive wildfire suppression, as well as past grazing and logging practices, have altered many ecosystems, especially those where light, surface fires were frequent. Many areas now have unnaturally high fuel loads (e.g., dead trees and dense thickets) and an historically unnatural mix of plant species (e.g., exotic invaders). Fuel treatments have been proposed to reduce the wildfire threats. Prescribed burning -- setting fires under identified conditions -- can reduce the fine fuels that spread wildfires, but can escape and become catastrophic wildfires, especially if fuel 'ladders' and wind spread the fire into the forest canopy. Commercial timber harvesting is often proposed, and can reduce heavy fuels and fuel ladders, but can increase the threat unless the slash (tree tops and limbs) is properly disposed of."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gorte, Ross W.
2000-12-05
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Earthquakes: Risk, Detection, Warning, and Research [January 14, 2010]
"An ongoing issue for Congress is whether the federally supported programs aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes are an adequate response to the earthquake hazard. Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They variously assess U.S. earthquake hazards, send notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. [...] This report discusses: NEHRP--the multi-agency federal program to reduce the nation's risk from earthquakes; earthquake hazards and risk in the United States; federal programs that support earthquake monitoring; the U.S. capability to detect earthquakes and issue notifications and warnings; and federally supported research to improve the fundamental scientific understanding of earthquakes with a goal of reducing U.S. vulnerability."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2010-01-14
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Overview of the U.S. Public Health System in the Context of Bioterrorism [January 17, 2003]
The anthrax attacks in 2001, along with the events of September 11, have heightened concern about the nation's ability to respond to bioterrorist attacks. The role of public health in bioterrorism preparedness and response is to plan and coordinate emergency medical and public health response capabilities, to detect, investigate and identify disease outbreaks using surveillance systems, epidemiology and laboratory services, and to communicate rapidly and clearly with response partners, health practitioners, the media and the public. The capacity to fulfill these responsibilities depends on the strength of the infrastructure that supports the provision of public health services. The public health infrastructure is the organizations, people and data systems needed to assure the provision of essential public health services. Even before September 11 and last fall's anthrax attacks, a consensus had emerged among public health experts that the public health system had deteriorated. Recent congressional action has provided funding and guidance to improve public health capacity at the federal, state and local level. Challenges remain in a variety of areas, including: coordination and communication between public health officials and other participants in public health preparedness and response, upgrading data and information systems capabilities, improving laboratory capacity, increasing emergency medical response capacity, improving the skills and education of the public health workforce, and conducting research to improve bioterrorism prevention, detection and treatment options. Finally, many worry about how to be sure that the increased funding devoted to increasing public health capacity yields results in improved preparedness and response capability.
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Harvey, Holly
2003-01-17
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Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding [December 1, 2009]
"On November 18, 2009, H.R. 3791, the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009, was passed by the House. The legislation reauthorizes AFG and SAFER through FY2014 and modifies the distribution of fire grant funds. Debate over the AFG reauthorization has reflected a competition for funding between career/urban/suburban departments and volunteer/rural departments. The urgency of this debate has been heightened by the reduction of overall AFG funding in FY2010, and the economic downturn in many local communities increasingly hard pressed to allocate funding for their local fire departments."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2009-12-01
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Louisiana Emergency Management and Homeland Security Authorities Summarized [November 22, 2004]
From the Document: "The Louisiana Homeland Security and Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act requires that state emergency management functions be coordinated with those of the federal government and other states. The statute also confers emergency powers upon the governor and parish presidents and requires the preparation of statewide and local plans for emergency preparedness. The Louisiana Health Emergency Powers Act requires that actions be taken to protect life and control diseases in a public health emergency. Louisiana's Emergency Interim State Executive Succession Act, the Emergency Interim Legislative Succession Act, the Emergency Interim Judicial Succession Act, and the Emergency Interim Local Executive Succession Act provide lines of succession for all levels of government in the state. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Warnock, Kae M.
2004-11-22
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Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries [February 7, 2003]
"This report summarizes principal federal disaster assistance programs. A number of federal agencies provide assistance to victims; state, territorial, and local governments; and nongovernmental entities following a disaster. Among other forms of assistance, federal programs can provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, temporary housing, and counseling. The programs summarized in this catalog fall into two broad categories. First are programs specifically for disaster situations; most of these programs are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred FEMA to the new Department of Homeland Security. Second are general assistance programs that may be used in disaster situations, as well as meet regular service needs. Many federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, administer programs that may be brought to bear under certain circumstances. The programs may also be classified by recipients: primarily individuals, state and local governments, or businesses. They address such short-term needs as food and shelter, and such long-term needs as repair of public utilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Canada, Ben
2003-02-07
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Kentucky Emergency Management and Homeland Security Authorities Summarized [March 23, 2004]
From the Document: "Kentucky's primary emergency management statutes create a statewide comprehensive emergency management program with an integrated emergency management system, and provide for assessment, mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery from threats to public safety and all major hazards. They confer emergency management powers upon the governor and the chief executives of local governments. The statutes also provide for mutual aid among the cities and counties, with other states, and the federal government. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Richardson, Sula P.
2004-03-23
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Kansas Emergency Management and Homeland Security Authorities Summarized [March 23, 2004]
From the Document: "Kansas statutes establish a procedure for assessing the need for and distribution of basic necessities following a natural disaster. The governor is authorized to issue a state of emergency proclamation and the legislature plays an oversight role concerning the duration or termination of the emergency. Provisions exist for all three branches of state government to ensure the continuity of government operations. School districts are authorized to donate surplus property to disaster relief programs. This report is one of a series that profiles emergency management and homeland security statutory authorities of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Each profile identifies the more significant elements of state statutes, generally as codified. Congressional readers may wish to conduct further searches for related provisions using the Internet link presented in the last section of this report. The National Conference of State Legislatures provided primary research assistance in the development of these profiles under contract to the Congressional Research Service (CRS). Summary information on all of the profiles is presented in CRS Report RL32287. This report will be updated as developments warrant."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bea, Keith; Runyon, L. Cheryl; Warnock, Kae M.
2004-03-23
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National Flood Insurance Program: Status and Remaining Issues for Congress [February 6, 2013]
"In late October 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused widespread flood-related property damage in coastal areas of states throughout the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic region. The storm exposed vulnerabilities in the region's public transportation and infrastructure and underscored the nation's growing exposure to extreme weather events, sea-level rise, and coastal flooding. Although the full economic cost of Sandy will not be known for years, the storm has resulted in substantial federal disaster recovery assistance, including tens of billions for flood and hurricane protection and coastal restoration, and the rebuilding of mass transit systems and housing. […] Early in 2012, Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, P.L. [Public Law] 112-141. The law reauthorized the NFIP [National Flood Insurance Program] through September 30, 2017, and made a number of reforms to strengthen the future financial solvency and administrative efficiency of the NFIP. In the wake of Sandy, Congress might choose to consider policy options to achieve greater sustainability and cost savings by addressing long-term flood management challenges. Options include the use of flood policies (10-20 years, rather than 1 year), privatization of flood risk, issuance of community based flood insurance contracts, and regulatory and tax changes to encourage financial innovation in financing recovery from largescale natural disasters. This report provides an analysis of flood risk management, summarizes major challenges facing the NFIP, and outlines key reforms enacted in the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012. The report identifies and presents some key remaining flood management issues for congressional consideration, and concludes with a discussion of policy options for the future financial management of flood hazards in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
King, Rawle O.
2013-02-06
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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
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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
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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
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United States Fire Administration: An Overview [June 10, 2013]
"The United States Fire Administration (USFA)--which includes the National Fire Academy (NFA)--is currently housed within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The objective of the USFA is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire. P.L. [Public Law] 112-74, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2012, provided $44.038 million for USFA in FY2012. The FY2013 budget proposal requested $42.52 million for USFA, a 3.4% reduction from the FY2012 level. Of the requested total appropriation, $13.327 million would be allocated to the National Fire Academy. The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (P.L. 113-6) funded USFA at $43.942 million. Additionally, the United States Fire Administration and Training budget account is subject to a 5.0% sequestration cut, putting the FY2013 level for USFA at $41.726 million. The FY2014 budget proposal requests $41.306 million for USFA. Of the requested total appropriation, $12.267 million would be allocated to the National Fire Academy, $11.205 million to National Fire Programs, and $17.834 million to National Emergency Training Center (NETC) Management, Operations and Support. H.R. 2217, as passed by the House on June 6, 2013, would provide $44 million to USFA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2013-06-10
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Emergency Relief Program: Federal-Aid Highway Assistance for Disaster-Damaged Roads and Bridges [November 1, 2012]
"The major highways and bridges damaged during Hurricanes Sandy in 2012 and Irene in 2011 are examples of disaster damaged federal-aid highway infrastructure that is eligible for assistance from the Emergency Relief Program (ER) of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). ER assistance is restricted to roads and bridges on the federal-aid highway system, which essentially includes all public roads not functionally classified as either local or rural minor collectors. For disaster-damaged roads that are not federal-aid highways, states may request reimbursement for emergency road repairs and debris removal from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA may also allow limited funding under its Public Assistance Program for such things as snow removal and related operating costs during extreme snowfalls, which are not eligible for ER funds. This report describes FHWA assistance for the repair and reconstruction of highways and bridges damaged by disasters or catastrophic failures (such as a bridge collapse). It begins with a brief discussion of the legislative origins of federal assistance and describes the ER program in its current form. The report then discusses eligibility issues and program operation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
2012-11-01
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United States Fire Administration: An Overview [September 29, 2014]
"The United States Fire Administration (USFA)--which includes the National Fire Academy (NFA)--is currently housed within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The objective of the USFA is to significantly reduce the nation's loss of life from fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and non-fatal injury due to fire. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (P.L. 113-76), signed into law on January 17, 2014, funded USFA at $44 million. The FY2015 budget proposal requested $41.407 million for USFA, a $2.593 million reduction (a 6% cut) from the FY2014 level. Of the requested total appropriation, $12.422 million would be allocated to the National Fire Academy, $11.264 million to National Fire Programs, and $14.666 million to National Emergency Training Center (NETC) Management, Operations and Support. Both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees recommended $44 million for USFA in FY2015. The FY2015 Continuing Resolution (P.L. 113- 164) funds USFA at the FY2014 levels (minus a 0.0554% across-the-board reduction) through December 11, 2014. On January 2, 2013, the President signed P.L. 112-239, the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act. Title XVIII, Subtitle B is the United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2012, which authorizes USFA at an annual level of $76,490,890 for FY2013 through FY2017."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Kruger, Lennard G.
2014-09-29
