This bill amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to expand federal assistance for winter storms. It allows recipients of hazard mitigation and other disaster assistance to use funds to reduce future damage, including buying equipment to remove snow. The bill defines "winter storm" as heavy snow, blowing snow, or dangerous wind chills. It creates a FEMA rulemaking process to waive certain snowfall thresholds and statewide damage requirements for major disaster declarations when at least two specified conditions apply. The bill lists types of assistance that can be used for winter storms (for example, debris removal, roads and bridges, water control facilities, public buildings and utilities, and parks) and directs FEMA to issue implementing regulations. It raises minimum federal cost shares to 75 percent generally and to 90 percent in rural or disadvantaged areas for several assistance programs, and allows higher federal contributions for some hazard mitigation in disadvantaged urban communities.
If you live in an area affected by winter storms, local governments and eligible recipients may be able to use more federal disaster and mitigation funds for snow removal equipment and to repair public infrastructure. FEMA can waive some usual rules about how much snow or statewide damage is needed to get a major disaster declaration if certain conditions are met, which could make aid available in more places. Rural and lower-income (disadvantaged) areas could receive a larger federal share of eligible costs (up to 90 percent), lowering the local share they must pay.
The bill changes federal cost-share rules: a general minimum federal share of 75 percent and a minimum of 90 percent in areas the Census Bureau identifies as rural or with median household income below the U.S. median. It also allows up to 90 percent federal contribution for certain cost-effective hazard mitigation in disadvantaged urban communities and includes percentage caps for contributions for major disasters across different funding ranges. No publicly available information on the bill's total federal cost or an official budget estimate is included in the provided text.
The bill's text states its purpose is to help reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering from winter storms, and to expand eligible uses of assistance (including snow-removal equipment) and increase federal support for rural or disadvantaged areas.
No publicly available information.