Declaration Process

Benjie AbbottRecovery Division Chief

Declaration Process

Standing Priorities

• Life Saving• Incident Stabilization• Protection of Property• Needs/Damage Assessment

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Declaration Process

EVENTLocal/State

governmentsassess and

verify

Governorrequests

PDALocal/State/

Federalconduct PDA

Local/State/ Federal

governmentsreview

findings

Governor requests

declarationPDA

results sent to

the region

Region makes a recommendatio

n to the President

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Request for Declaration – Emergency vs. Major Disaster

Type of Declaration Situation Request to Include

Emergency • Effective response is beyond the capability of government

• Requires Federal emergency assistance

• Confirmation that Governor has take appropriate action and executed State emergency plan

• Efforts and resources used or to be used• Type and extent of Federal aid required

Major Disaster • Disaster occurs• Effective response is

beyond the capability of government

• Requires Federal assistance for disaster-related losses

• Confirmation that Governor has taken appropriate action executed State emergency plan

• Efforts and resources used or to be used• Type and extent of Federal aid required• Estimate the damages and losses, including impact on

public and private sector• Governor certification to comply with cost sharing

requirements

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Joint PDA Process

State notifies FEMA

Joint Federal/State PDA is initiated

PDA Teams conduct damage assessments

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Basis of a Joint PDA

• A Governor’s request for a declaration by the President…

• “…shall be based upon a finding that the disaster is of such magnitude and severity that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and local governments.”

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Joint PDA

• Determine the magnitude and severity of the event

• Verify the need for disaster assistance• Identify immediate needs• Identify Special Considerations issues• Identify staffing and technical resource

requirements

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Joint PDA Team Member Responsibilities

FEMA State Potential Applicant

• Leads the PDA• Provides expertise in

FEMA eligibility• Documents Special

Considerations issues• Develops PDA

assessments• Reports to FEMA and

State

• Submits request for Joint PDA

• Provides State damage assessments, situation reports

• Coordinates and identifies damages with potential applicants

• Schedules site visits, recommends sequence

• Identifies damages• Describes impact• Leads team to sites• Provides population

and budget data• Provides insurance

information• Identifies Special

Considerations issues• Provides cost

information

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Joint PDA Process

Conduct Potential Applicant Interviews

• Impact• Priorities• Critical Facilities

Conduct Assessments

• Site assessments• Projected costs for

other sites• Impacts

Summarize Data

• Prepare • Summary • Forms

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IA PDA Field Team Composition

Core Team• FEMA IA• State• Local• SBA

Others Possible• FEMA Mitigation• FEMA External Affairs•American Red Cross•HUD

Regional Members•Bureau of Indian Affairs•Pacific Islands• Tribal Nations•Alaska Native Villages

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Collection of IA PDA Data

Previously, best judgment used to assign a degree of damage to each property

Mobile application now used

Each structural element (foundation, roof, wall) is evaluated on the percentage of damage and/or failure

Additional elements are also factored into the assessment category

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Hazard Mitigation

No formal process

IA PDA and PA PDA teams look for

mitigation opportunities when

conducting a PDA

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Hazard Mitigation Plans

Enhanced State Mitigation Plan

Local Mitigation Plan

Standard State Mitigation Plan

State Administrative

Plan

Hazard Mitigation Funds

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7.5 Percent Funding

• Funds shall not exceed 7.5 percent of estimated Federal Assistance if the State has an approved Standard State Mitigation plan

20 Percent Funding

• A State with an eligible and approved State Mitigation plan shall not receive funding that exceeds 20 percent of the total estimated Federal Assistance funds

Cost Sharing

• FEMA contributes up to 75 percent and State contributes 25 percent

Direct Federal Assistance

• When the State or local government lack the capability to perform or to contract for eligible emergency services and/or debris removal, the Grantee may request that the work be accomplished by a Federal agency

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Direct Federal Assistance (cont’d)

• State must submit a request for DFA

• Request must include:– Written agreement– Statement explaining why

State or local governments are unable to perform or contract for the work

• Include in the FEMA/State Agreement

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Mission Assignments

• Assigned to Federal Agencies • Completed within 60 days of

declaration• Federal Agencies• Limited to:

– Debris removal– Emergency protective measures– Emergency communications– Emergency public transportation

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Declaration Process

Questions?