Disaster Relief Act of 1988 (Stafford Act)
Disaster Relief Act of 1988 (Stafford Act) : See also: Robert T. Stafford Act & Stafford Act. "In November 1988, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act was passed. This act provided a framework for continued disaster relief and provided the authority for FEMA's role in managing Federal disaster assistance. It also legislated a minimum 75- percent Federal/25-percent State and local cost sharing for the PA Program. The Stafford Act refocused assistance for non-natural disasters, unless caused by fire, flood, or explosion, to a more limited scope. It also confirmed the importance of individual assistance and added an emphasis on mitigation of future losses. Key features of the act are: (1) State, Tribal, and local governments have the primary responsibility to respond to a disaster. (2) Federal assistance is designed to supplement the efforts and available resources of State, Tribal, and local governments, and voluntary relief organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering resulting from a disaster. (3) FEMA may task any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to provide assistance to State, Tribal, and local disaster efforts in a declared disaster. Disaster assistance programs included in the Stafford Act are: (4) Individual Assistance (IA), in the form of individual and household grants and temporary housing. (5) PA, including grants for emergency work, repair and restoration, and debris removal. Mitigation grants, to reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters". (FEMA, Disaster Basics (IS-292), May 24, 2007 update, pp. 2-7, 2-8)
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