Stafford Act, Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2007 Modifications
Stafford Act, Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2007 Modifications : "Subtitle E improves existing disaster relief authorities by providing the President additional program flexibility, financial incentives to control costs, and by addressing unique aspects of catastrophic disasters. The subtitle maintains the primacy of state governments and the supporting role of federal assistance under the Stafford Act. The changes: (1) Allow for accelerated federal assistance and federal support to save lives, prevent human suffering, mitigating severe damage in the absence of a specific request for assistance; (2) Require national disaster recovery and housing strategies to clearly define the roles and responsibilities of federal agencies and other organizations during large scale disasters; (3) Provide the President additional flexibilities under the individual assistance program to limit the excessive use of trailers in future disasters. Allows the use of semi-permanent housing in remote areas; (4) Increase flexibility and imposes a total assistance cap on mitigation programs. The change institutes a sliding scale program for the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program allowing 15 percent for disaster amounts no greater than $2 billion, 10 percent for disaster amounts between $2 - $10 billion, and 7.5 percent for disaster amounts between $10 - $35 billion. Removes the caps on repair or replacement assistance or individual assistance. Allows for utility payment, security deposits, and hook-up charges to be included in individual assistance; (5) Allow the President to appoint a multi-state Federal Coordinating Officer; (6) Requires the development of capabilities necessary to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities; (7) Requires FEMA to develop a voluntary family registry and locator system and to coordinate with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the Center's development of a National Emergency Child Locator Center; (8) Requires FEMA in coordination with state and local governments to take into account populations with limited English proficiency, special needs populations, and individuals with disabilities in sharing best practices and maintaining and informational clearinghouse; (9) Authorizes the President to provide transportation assistance to return evacuees to their residences; (10) Allows the President to provide case management services to victims of major disasters to identify and address unmet needs; (11) Allows the President to designate a Small State and Rural Advocate; (12) Allows for the repair, restoration and replacement of damaged private non-profit educational facilities; (13) Creates a housing pilot program to reduce the need for large scale trailer parks; and (14) Creates a public assistance pilot program to create financial incentives to reduce total costs, prevent fraud, and expedite completion of two of the most expensive aspects of federal disaster assistance: debris removal and the reconstruction of public facilities". (NEMA, Legislative Report on Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, October 10, 2006, pp. 7-8)
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