The Disaster Declaration Process

1
The Disaster Declaration Process

2
Objectives

• Identify types of disaster declarations.
• Identify major relevant authorities.
• Describe the sequence of events for a typical
  declaration process.
• Describe and discuss the role of the Hazard
  Mitigation Officer.

3
Types of Declarations

• Major Disaster Declaration
• yields hazard mitigation funds
• Emergency
• Fire Suppression Assistance Grant
• Small Business Administration Declaration
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Declaration
• State Disaster Declaration

4
Declaration Authority

• Emergency Declaration
• Stafford Act, Section 501
• Fire Suppression Assistance Grant
• Section 420

5
Declaration Authority

• 44 Code of Federal Regulations
• 44 CFR Chapter 1, Subchapter D
• Disaster Assistance
• Subpart B, Section 206.35 and 206.36
• Requests for Emergency Major Disaster
  Declaration
• Subpart L
• Fire Suppression Assistance

6
State Declaration Authority

• At the state level, authority for state disaster
  declarations vary. Most authority would be
  through
• State Law
• Resolution
• Executive Order

7
Disaster Declaration Sequence of Events

• Simplified Flowchart

8
Disaster Declaration Process Governors Request

• The Governors request must
• Be submitted within 30 days after the incident
• Include a damage assessment
• Describe state and local resources committed
• Agree to cost sharing

9
Disaster Declaration RequestFEMA Will Consider.

• FEMA will consider
• Amount and type of damage
• Impact of the disaster
• Resources available without the declaration
• Availability of insurance
• Imminent threats to life and safety
• Disaster history

10
Disaster Declared FEMA/State Agreement

• The FEMA/State Agreement
• Identifies incident type and period
• Specifies types of assistance
• Lists eligible areas
• Outlines cost sharing provisions
• Includes special terms and conditions

11
Hazard Mitigation Officers Role

• At the Emergency Operations Center
• ensure request for Hazard Mitigation Assistance
  included with declaration request
• At the Disaster Field Office
• In the Field (at the incident area)

12
Summary

• Identified types of disaster declarations.
• Identified major relevant authorities.
• Described the sequence of events for a typical
  declaration process.
• Described and discussed the role of the Hazard
  Mitigation Officer.