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October 2008                                                                                                   Volume 15 - Number 1

Congressional Updates...

Annotated bibliography of the CRS reports published between April to June

By Hanmin Kim

Congressional Research Service. (updated June 26, 2008). FEMA's Pre-disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and issues (Order Code RL34537).

‘Project Impact’ started as a Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program to test if the vulnerability of communities to future disasters could be reduced. As its level of appropriated resources and the scope of participation nationwide grow, the issues emerge such as awarding grant funds, the eligibility of certain applicants, the eligibility of certain projects, the degree of commitment by state and local government, etc. Upon program’s expiration on September 30, 2008, it was attempted to gain re-authorization for an additional three years and to remove the sunset provision, but it was only half-successful. PDM program has now extended for another five years, but the sunset provision is still in place.

Congressional Research Service. (updated June 25, 2008). Assistance to firefighters program (Order Code RS21302).

Although firefighting activities are traditionally the domain of the states and local communities, due to shortfalls in state and local budgets and the increased responsibilities of local fire departments, federal government accepted the call for additional financial support. Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act of 1999 authorized the Director of the FEMA to “make grants to fire departments for the purpose of protecting the public and firefighting personnel against fire and fire-related hazards.” Upon the re-authorization of the fire grant program in 2004, the U.S. Fire Administration was newly designated as the administering authority, but the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006 transferred the authority back to an enhanced FEMA.

Congressional Research Service. (updated June 24, 2008). Side-by-side comparison of flood insurance reform legislation in the 110th Congress (Order Code RL34367).

2005 hurricanes posed challenge to the financial feasibility of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). H.R. 1682 (earlier version of H.R. 3121) and S. 2284 were introduced to address the financial solvency and other issues that the NFIP faced. Concerning FEMA, H.R. 3121 required FEMA for the first time to map the nation’s 500-year floodplain and areas that would be flooded if a dam or levee failed while S. 2284 established an “ombudsman” or consumer advocate within FEMA to ensure that the Write Your Own companies pay claims in an appropriate manner.

Congressional Research Service. (updated June 19, 2008). Earthquakes: Risk, monitoring, notification, and research (Order Code RL33861).

Compared to other countries, the United States has relatively few casualties from the earthquakes, but faces the possibility of large economic losses from earthquake-damaged buildings and infrastructure. FEMA, along with other three federal agencies (NIST, USGS, and NSF), leads the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), focusing on assisting other agencies and private-sector groups to prepare and disseminate building codes and practices for structures and lifelines, and aid development of performance-based codes for building and other structures. Also, with the National Institute of Building Sciences, FEMA developed a methodology and software program called the Hazards U.S. Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH) which gives pre-disaster damage estimates. The loss estimates include economic loss and social impacts as well as physical damage.

Congressional Research Service. (May 28, 2008). Tsunami detection and warnings for the United States (Order Code RL34506).

In December 2005, in responding to the concerns about the possible vulnerability of U.S. coastal areas to tsunamis, and the adequacy of early warning for coastal areas, President Bush released an action plan for expanding the U.S. tsunami detection and early warning network. FEMA, in conjunction with the NOAA Weather Radio (NWR), established the National All Hazards Weather Radio Network (NAHWR) that would broadcast disaster warnings and information and subsume the NWR communications spectrum as part of the U.S. Public Alert Network. FEMA believe NAHWR serves to disseminate warnings for earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, floods, and other natural disasters, as well as terrorist or accidental industrial-related disasters.

Congressional Research Service. (May 21, 2008). Unauthorized aliens' access to federal benefits: Policy and issues (Order Code 34500).

A noteworthy portion of the households headed by unauthorized aliens are likely to have U.S. citizen children, as well as spouses who may be legal permanent residents. Issues on how to treat mixed-immigration status families and unintended consequences of tightening up the identification requirements, in effect denying benefits to U.S. citizens cause dilemma during major disasters. According to PRWORA, unauthorized aliens are eligible for short-term, in-kind emergency disaster relief and services or assistance that deliver in-kind services at the community level, provide assistance without individual determinations of each recipient’s needs, and are necessary for the protection of life and safety. However, Stafford Act, under which the FEMA conducts disaster assistance efforts, requires nondiscrimination and equitable treatment in disaster assistance.

Congressional Research Service. (updated May 6, 2008). Community Development Block Grant funds in disaster relief and recovery (Order Code 33330).

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are made available for short-term relief efforts, mitigation actions, and long-term recovery, and to provide housing and business assistance, infrastructure reconstruction, and public services. CDBG funds are to fill gaps in FEMA and Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency relief activities and not to be used for activities that are reimbursable by FEMA or SBA.

Congressional Research Service. (updated May 1, 2008). FEMA Flood Map Modernization funding (Order Code RS22698).

FEMA introduced the Flood Map Modernization Initiative (FMMI) as a strategic plan to convert paper flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs) to digital electronic format (DFIRMs). DFIRMs contain more accurate spatial measurements and digital data associated with flood hazards, facilitates mandatory periodic updating of flood maps, and helps to determine flood insurance risk.

Congressional Research Service. (updated May 1, 2008). Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects: Authorization and appropriations (Order Code RL32064).

This report explains how the congressional authorization and appropriations process overlays the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) development process one of which includes the emergency response activities. Corps’ involvement with the emergency and natural disaster response is twofold: first, under the National Response Plan, the Corps is the coordinator for emergency support for public works and engineering whose activities are funded by FEMA appropriation, and second, the Corps is independently authorized to engage in the emergency response and disaster assistance to save lives and protect improved property. The latter is funded in part by Energy and Waster Development Appropriations and by emergency appropriations concerning the emergency being addressed.

Congressional Research Service. (updated Apr. 2, 2008). Critical infrastructures: Background, policy, and implementation (Order Code RL30153).

The nation’s health,, wealth, and security rely on the production and distribution of certain goods and services. The array of physical assets, functions, and systems across which these goods and services move are called critical infrastructures. The national security community has been concerned for the vulnerability of critical infrastructure to both physical and cyber attack. At first, with President Clinton’s Directive No. 63, cyber protection against man-made cyber events was emphasized. However, after the September 11 attacks, physical protections of critical infrastructures have received increased attention. This report discusses in more detail the evolution of a national critical infrastructure policy and the institutional structures established to implement it (e.g. how FEMA was created, reorganized, and enhanced through Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006).

Congressional Research Service. (updated Apr. 2, 2008). Disaster debris removal after Hurricane Katrina: Status and associated issues (Order Code RL33477).

Hurricane Katrina is estimated to generate more than 100 million cubic yards of disaster debris. Removal of debris is necessary to facilitate the recovery of the region. On the other hand, these wastes must be properly managed to ensure that they would not pose a future threat to human health or the environment. This report finds why cleanup activities are still incomplete and additional funding of debris removal activities may be needed and what makes debris removal costly, complex, and lengthy. Debris removal missions under Public Works and Engineering and Oil and Hazardous Materials Response involve, among many, FEMA, the Corps, Environmental Protection Agency, the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, local Parishes and counties and the American Red Cross. FEMA’s role in this operation is to provide assistance to respond to the disaster, including funding debris removal and the demolition of unsafe structures which endanger the public, to receive requests for assistance from state representatives, and to assign missions to the Corps to perform specific tasks that are deemed eligible.

ce. (http://opencrs.com/document/RS22945)