FEMA Seeks Comments on Improving Disaster Resiliency
Sometimes, lightning — or even hurricanes or forest fires — can strike twice in the same area. It’s with that in mind that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in a recently published request for information, sought public comments on how to apply new legislation that will designate areas where communities are most at risk to natural hazards. Comments submitted will help the agency better determine how to implement provisions in the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act (Pub. L. 117-255).
The agency aims to learn more about how communities identify, use and apply risk assessment tools to reduce natural hazard effects, and how to achieve equity and geographic balance when designating zones. The act, which became law in December 2022, amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and Emergency Act to use FEMA’s National Risk Index to designate community disaster zones (i.e., areas with the highest natural hazard risk and a relatively lower ability to withstand their impacts).
“As our nation continues to grapple with the impacts of climate change and the rising frequency of extreme weather events, it is imperative that we help equip the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities to face these challenges head-on,” said FEMA’s Assistant Administrator of Grants Pam Williams. “The designated zones can help FEMA, other federal agencies and our public and private partners prioritize resources and assistance to help build a culture of resilience by fostering partnerships and leveraging expertise. Together, we will build stronger, more resilient communities capable of weathering any storm.”
FEMA aims to provide vulnerable communities, which often face difficulties in accessing disaster resilience funding, with targeted support to plan for resilience projects that will help them reduce impacts caused by climate change and natural hazards. Such support includes increased federal cost-share for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, lessening the financial burden on communities to perform resilience-related activities.
In addition, the law enables communities to work across a range of federal and private sector partners to maximize funding and use technical assistance to strengthen their resilience. Among the questions FEMA seeks comments on include the following: (1) What would be the most useful and equitable way for FEMA to provide financial and technical assistance to benefit communities with Community Disaster Resilience Zones to plan, apply for, and evaluate resilience or mitigation projects? (2) How can FEMA support comprehensive community resilience planning to benefit community disaster resilience zones and the larger communities those census tracts lie within? and (3) How should FEMA engage with state, local, tribal, territorial and nongovernmental levels to provide technical assistance to benefit communities within Community Disaster Resilience Zones?
Comments under this request for information can be submitted to Regulations.gov by July 25 by referring to Docket ID: FEMA–2023–0009.
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