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Attachment 19 FEMA Guide to the Disaster Declaration Process n s ,F "=r. A GUIDE TO THE DISASTER DECLARATION PROCESS AND FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE Local and State governments share the responsibility for protecting their citizens from disasters, and for helping them to recover when a disaster strikes. In some cases, a"disaster`is beyond the capabilities of the;State and local government to respond. In 1988,the Robert T. Stafford D salter Relief and Emergency Assistwwe Ac4 42 U.S.C. §§ 5121-5206,was enacted to support and local governments and their citizens when disasters overwhelm them.This law, as amended,establishes a process for requesting and obtaining a Presidential disaster declaration,defines the type and scope of assistance available from the Federal government,and sets the conditions for obtaining that assistance. The; Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA),now part of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security,is tasked with coordinating the response. This paper explains the declaration process and provides;an overview of the assistance available. THE DECLARATION PROCESS°= The Stafford Act(§401)requires that:"`All requests an obviouslysevere or catastrophic event occurs,the for a declaration by the President that a major disaster' Governor's request may be submitted prior to the PDA. exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected Nonetheless;the Governor must still'make the request. State"A State also includes the District:of Columbia, Puerto Rico,the Virgin Islands,Guam,American As part of the request,the Governor must take Samoa,and the Commonwealth of the Northern appropriate action under State law and direct execution Mariana Islands. The Marshall Islands and the of the State's emergency plan. The Governor shall Federated States of Micronesia are also eligible to furnish information on the nature and amount of State request a declaration and receive assistance. and local resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating the results of the disaster, The Governor's request is made through the provide an estimate of the amount and severity of regional-FEMAIEPR office. State and Federal officials damage and`the impact on the private and public conduct a preliminary damage assessment(PDA)to sector,and provide an estimate of the e and amount > P type estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact on of assistance needed under the Stafford Act. In individuals and public facilities. This information is addition,the Governor will need to certify'that,for the included in the Governor's request to show that the current disaster, State and local government obligations disaster is of such severity and magnitude that effective and expenditures (of which State commitments must be response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the a significant proportion)will comply with all local governments and that Federal assistance is applicable cost-sharing requirements. necessary.Normally,the PDA is completed prior to the submission of the Governor's request.However,when Based on the Governor's request,the President may declare that a major disaster or emergency exists,thus activating an array of Federal programs to,assist in the response and recovery effort. Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Annex IA- Page 50