Recent Developments in Disaster Relief
- 10/3/18: Senate passed 93-6 the motion to concur in the House amendment to HR 302, that provides $1.68 billion in Hurricane Florence disaster recovery aid through the CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) disaster recovery program to rebuild housing, infrastructure, and assist local businesses. On 10/1, the Senate voted 90-7 to invoke cloture on the motion to concur. On 9/26, the House voted 398-23 to add the disaster funding. | R-Stmt | D-Stmt
- 9/26/18: House voted 398-23 to add Hurricane Florence aid as an amendment to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018 (HR 302); the amendment provides $1.68 billion for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) disaster recovery programs at HUD to rebuild housing, infrastructure, and assist local businesses. | R-Stmt | D-Stmt
- 2/9/18: PL 115-123: Further Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Requirements Act, 2018 and Continuing Resolution (through March 23, 2018)
- 01/18: NOAA reports that Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, combined with western wildfires and other natural disasters to cause $306 billion in U.S. damage — the most expensive year on record, as scientists fear climate change could increase extreme weather.
- 12/21/17: House passed an $81 billion aid package (HR 4667), nearly double the Administration’s request. CBO cost estimate Senate did not take up the measure due to concerns that it didn’t do enough to help California, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- 11/17/17: Administration on Nov. 17 requested $44 billion in disaster aid for Texas and Florida.
- 10/4/17: Administration $29.3 billion request for emergency aid for hurricane disaster relief, flood relief, and wildfires
- 9/8/17: President Trump signed HR 601, an emergency measure negotiated with congressional Democratic leaders, and passed by the Senate 80-17 and by the House 316-90. The bill has four components: 1. Provides $15.25 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for Hurricane Harvey and other disasters, including $7.4 billion for the FEMA Disaster Relief Fund (passed a day before FEMA’s disaster funds would have been exhausted), $450 million for the Small Business Administration Disaster Loan Program, and $7.4 billion in Community Development Block Grant funding for areas most affected by the 2017 disasters; 2. Extends the National Flood Insurance program, which was due to expire September 30, to December 8, 2017; 3. Suspends the debt ceiling through December 8, 2017, temporarily avoiding a Treasury default on U.S. obligations; and 4. Provides continuing appropriations (effectively, a “continuing resolution”) to fund the federal government at current FY 2017 levels through December 8, 2017, avoiding a federal shutdown when the new fiscal year begins October 1.
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Disaster Funding Summaries:
- GAO: Federal Response to 2017 Hurricanes and Wildfires (Sept 4 2018)
- CRS: Disaster Supplemental Appropriations (Jan 25 2018)
- CRS: Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Impact on Caribbean Countries and Foreign Territories (Sept 28 2017)
- CRS: Agricultural Disaster Assistance (July 27 2017)
- CBO: Potential Increases in Hurricane Damage in the United States: Implications for the Federal Budget (June 2016)
- CRS: An Examination of Federal Disaster Relief Under the Budget Control Act (Feb 24 2016)
- CRS: FEMA Disaster Relief Fund – Overview and Selected Issues (May 7 2014)
- CRS: Disaster Relief Funding and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations (April 12 2011)
Background: FEMA and Disaster Relief
- CRS: Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies Sept 8 2017
- CRS: Agricultural Disaster Assistance July 27 2017
- CRS: Federal Disaster Assistance Response and Recovery Programs July 18 2017
- NGA: Testimony – FEMA Recommendations Feb 14 2017
- NGA: FEMA Disaster Deductible Concept March 21 2017
- CRS: An Examination of Federal Disaster Relief Under the Budget Control Act Feb 24 2016
- GAO: Federal Disaster Assistance – Fed Departments and Agenices Obligated at Least $277.6 Billion during FY 2005-14 Sept 2016
- CRS: The SBA Disaster Loan Program – Overview and Possible Issues for Congress Oct 23 2015
- CRS: Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disaster and Emergencies May 19 2015
- CRS: FEMA Disaster Declaration Process – A Primer Nov 12 2014
- CRS: FEMA Disaster Relief Fund – Overview and Selected Issues May 7 2014
- NGA: Governors Guide to Mass Evacuation 2014
- CRS: Tax Provisions to Assist with Disaster Recovery Nov 29 2012
- CRS: FEMA Community Disaster Loan Program – History Analysis and Issues for Congress July 3 2012
- CRS: Community Development Block Grant Funds in Disaster Relief and Recovery Sept 21 2011
- CRS: Considerations for a Catastrophic Declaration – Issues and Analysis July 6 2011
- CRS: Disaster Relief Funding and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations April 12 2011
- CRS: FEMA Disaster Cost-Shares – Evolution and Analysis March 9 2010
- CRS: FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program – Overview and Issues July 10 2009
- CRS: The Use of Federal Troops for Disaster Assistance – Legal Issues Nov 28 2008
- CRS: The Public Health and Medical Response to Disasters Federal Authority and Funding Aug 1 2008
Background: National Flood Insurance Program
- CBO: The National Flood Insurance Program – Financial Soundness and Affordability Sept 1 2017
- CRS: Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program_NFIP_July 25 2017
- CRS: Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program June 2 2017
- CRS: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood April 6 2017
- FEMA: Report to Congress on Reinsuring NFIP Insurance Risk and Options for Privatizing Aug 13 2015
- Nat’l Assoc of Insurance Commissioners Letter re: legislation to facilitate the development of a private insurance market for flood insurance July 29 2015
- CRS: Deployable Federal Assets Supporting Domestic Disaster Response Operations May 13 2015
- GAO: Flood Insurance – Strategies for Increasing Private Sector Involvement Jan 2014
- CRS: The National Flood Insurance Program – Status and Remaining Issues for Congress Feb 6 2013
- CRS: Federal Emergency Management – Introduction Nov 30 2012
- CRS: Federal Flood Insurance – The Repetitive Loss Problem June 30 2005
Disaster Assistance Websites
- FEMA
- DisasterAssistance.gov
- Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
- NGA: American Red Cross Disaster Services Program
- Congressional Budget Office Disaster Preparation and Relief