"An Act entitled the 'Disaster Relief Act: Amendments of 1974.'" Also known as the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, this act was enacted on 22 May 1974, and has since been amended several times. "It is the intent of the Congress, by this Act, to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters by: expanding relief programs; encouraging comprehensive disaster preparedness plans; achieving greater coordination and responsiveness of disaster preparedness programs; encouraging individuals, States, and local governments to protect themselves by obtaining insurance; encouraging hazard mitigation measures to reduce losses from disasters; providing Federal assistance programs for both public and private losses sustained in disasters; and providing a long-range economic recovery program for major disaster areas."