This bill updates parts of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to strengthen predisaster mitigation. It defines "high hazard risk," "environmental justice community," and "small impoverished community." The bill directs FEMA to issue guidance that includes ways to include climate change in the National Risk Index, cost-benefit analyses, and building codes. It requires guidance so mitigation projects are planned and built for future climate conditions (flooding, wildfires, and other natural hazards).
The bill would require FEMA to give priority for mitigation assistance to high hazard risk areas, environmental justice communities, places with low tax revenue per person, and places with low code adoption/enforcement and infrastructure maintenance. It allows the President to pay up to 90% of the cost of mitigation projects in small impoverished communities and environmental justice communities. It raises a predisaster mitigation set-aside from 6 percent to 15 percent and permits a 2 percent set-aside for community planning and capacity building from certain disaster funds.
The bill also requires community outreach, in partnership with organizations such as the Cooperative Extension System and the Extension Disaster Education Network, to help targeted communities plan projects and apply for grants. Finally, FEMA must create a central federal database within three years to consolidate post-disaster and predisaster mitigation funding data, include census-tract and demographic information as allowed, and publish post-project evaluations.
If you live in a community labeled as an environmental justice community or a small impoverished community, your community would be prioritized for mitigation help and could be eligible for a larger federal share of project costs (up to 90 percent). Local officials would receive more FEMA guidance on planning projects that consider future climate risks and on adopting updated codes and standards. FEMA and partner organizations would provide outreach and help with applying for grants. FEMA will also collect and publish more data about disaster and mitigation spending.
No publicly available information on total projected federal costs or savings. The bill changes funding rules: it raises a predisaster mitigation set-aside from 6% to 15% of a specified program amount, allows a 2% set-aside for planning and capacity building for certain disaster grants, and permits up to a 90% federal contribution for projects in small impoverished or environmental justice communities. The bill text does not include overall dollar estimates.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.