AG19891002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

9-28-89 ; 4:38PM ; CONGRESSMAN REFNER~ ;l~ 2 DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE Regu~es~in~t Df_sas t e r' As. sistance The Federal Emergency ~nagement Agency(FEMA) serves as the central point of contact within the federal government for a wide range of emergency response activities including planning, mitigation, response, and recovery in crisis situations. Disaster assistance is provided under the authority of Public Law 93-288, as amended by PL 100-707. When a disaster situation is beyond the capabilities of local and state forces, supple~eflted by private and volunteer organizations, the GOvernor may request that the President declare a "~aJor disaster". The Governor's request includes a statement Of the i~Dact on the affected area, the resources on hand, and the ~n~et needs which require federal assistance. A Governor's request for federal aid, addressed to the President, is forwarded to f'EMA for evaluation which includes an on-scene damage assessment and analysis. FEMA'a recom~endation is then forwarded to the President. At the time of the Presidential declaration of a "major disaster", FEMA designates the counties that are eligible for federal aid. (Additional COUnties are sometimes designated at a later point.) T~e president's declaratio~ also names a Federal COordinating Officer (FCC) who, as the President's representative, will direct federal recovery and coordination activities. FEMA'a res~onsibility is to supplement disaster assistance available through state and local governments, not to supersede it. FEMA is also respoD~iDle for coordinating disaster assistance provided by all other federal agencies, state and local goverrm~nts, and, with their con~ent, those of private relief agencies as well. Basic disaster assistance from the federal government falls into two possible categories: o Individual assista~ce, which can provide help to individuals, fa~llie~ a~d b~inassee, including far,ers; and c Public assisted%ce is designed to provide federal grants to state and local governments and certain private non-profit organizations.~ Whether both categories of assistance are ~ade available is a determination made for each county and depends on the needs identifY, ed during damage assessments Dy teams usually made Up of federal, state and local officials. Some declarations will involve only individual assistance or only p~blic assistance programs. Ff:~A's fira~ ~onrern is for families and lndlvidual~ adversely affected by the dilaate~. ~e degree of sufferin~ and deprivation plays a ma~or role in determining the need for federal assistance. T~ere are ~o hard and fast rules within FEMA requirin~ that a specified number of ~eople must be affected ~efore a request ca~ ~e ¢o~sidered. The critical consideration is whether those ~mpacted by the disaster have uninsur~ needs Which state, local and/or volunteer recovery efforts eaPhot ~t for one reaso~ or another~_~