When a community has been affected by a disaster, state and federal assistance may be necessary. In minor disasters, state assistance to local governments may be adequate; however, major or catastrophic disasters usually require federal assistance. The State of Florida's role is to provide resources to local governments and individuals for recovery purposes and to request a Presidential Disaster Declaration of an Emergency Declaration.

Damage Assessment Process

1. Damage assessment is conducted for public and private non-profit entities and individual homes and businesses.
2. Initial damage assessment by local governments is performed to collect rough estimates of type, extent, and probable costs.
3. Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) is a joint Local/State/Federal verification. They verify that affected communities have indeed suffered a disaster and quantifies the extent of the damage. This is used to justify pursuing federal assistance.
4. In catastrophic disasters, the quantitative damage assessment may be waived initially. Information from the Rapid Impact Assessment Team (RIAT) will be used to assess the immediate needs of the people and the communities. Additional assessment data will be compiled to plan for the recovery and for public information needs.

The State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan

The CEMP is divided into two elements: response and recovery. The information listed here focuses on the recovery element. The sequence of events leading to a Presidential Declaration and initiating the recovery programs are:

1. Local Declaration of an Emergency and Request for State Assistance
2. Initial Damage Assessment (Local)
3. State Emergency Declaration
4. Preliminary Joint State/Federal Damage Assessment
5. Request for Presidential Declaration
6. Declaration denied or declared
7. Declared declaration requires a FEMA/State Agreement
8. Federal Disaster Application Centers are established
9. Applicant's briefings are held for public assistance
10. Applicant's briefings are held for hazard mitigation

The Stafford Act

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988 (Public Law 100-707) amended the Disaster Relief Act of 1974. The Act changed the Federal Government's disaster relief efforts by broadening the scope of existing disaster relief programs which are outlined below.

Individual Assistance Plan

Immediate human needs (food, shelter, and clothing) are typically handled by the American Red Cross and other mass care agencies during the response phase. State and federal recovery assistance is available to individuals, families, and businesses by making application to FEMA and/or other appropriate agencies. Individual Assistance programs fall into several categories: Food, Housing and Property Loss, Employment, and Human Services Programs.

Food Programs

Regular Food Stamps, Expedited Food Stamps, Emergency Food Stamps (from the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services)

Housing and Property Losses

• Business Physical Damage and/or Economic Injury Loss Loans (from the Small Business Administration)
• Agriculture and Farm Loss Loans (from the Farmers Home Administration)
• Home Repair Loans (from the Small Business Administration)
• Mortgage and Rental Assistance Grant (from FEMA)
• Minimal Home Repair Grant (from FEMA)
• Personal Property Loss Loan (from Small Business Administration) and/or IFG Program Grant (from FEMA/HRS)

Employment

Unemployment Compensation, Disaster Unemployment Assistance, and Job Service Referrals (from the Department of Labor)

Human Services

Disaster Related Stress Management (from HRS service providers, by contract)

State of Florida's Post Declaration Individual Assistance Responsibilities

The State of Florida and FEMA will establish local or regional Disaster Application Centers (DACs) to which disaster victims are encouraged to go. FEMA registrants assist the applicant in completing the necessary information, and refer the applicant to the appropriate programs for additional information. Completion of the application automatically register the applicant for all FEMA programs for which he or she is eligible. The Small Business Administration and Farmers Home Administration typically will co-locate with other federal and state agencies in the DACs. To encourage registration, outreach teams and FEMA's National Teleregistration Centers will be activated. Once an individual or household had completed a FEMA application, inspectors will verify losses and eligible grants will be processed.

Public Assistance Plan

This assistance is available to the State and local governments, Indian Tribes, and certain private-non-profit entities in the following categories:

• Category A - Debris Clearance
• Category B - Emergency Protective Measures
• Category C - Road Systems
• Category D - Water Control Facilities
• Category E - Building and Equipment
• Category F - Public Utility System
• Category G - Other

Hazard Mitigation is considered for Categories C through G.

State of Florida's Post Declaration Public Assistance Responsibilities

State and federal representatives will conduct an Applicant's Briefing to have potential eligible applicants file a Notice of Interest (NOI). Information gathered from the NOI is used to determine the size of recovery efforts necessary. Information as to eligible cost, project management, and reimbursement is presented. Upon (NOI) approval, the process of inspections and Damage Survey Report (DSR) writing begins.

• DSRs are completed by federal/state/local inspection teams and become the scope of work for an eligible project. After being reviewed, funds are allocated, suspended, or denied.
• Hazard mitigation measures may be recommended for damaged sites or facilities on the DSR and funded through the Public Assistance Program.
• A contractual agreement is signed between FEMA and the State, who becomes the grantee. Then the local applicants sign an agreement, as the sub grantee, with the Department of Community Affairs.
• Project management involves a joint state/local effort toward cost reimbursement of DSRs through completion of the scope of work which is detailed on each DSR.

State Hazard Mitigation And Recovery Team (SHMART)

When a disaster is declared, and simultaneous with activation of the Response Team, the State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO)) convenes the State Hazard Mitigation and Recovery Team (SHMART) under the direction of the State Coordinating Officer and in conjunction what the federal Interagency Hazard Mitigation Team (IHMT). The SHMART is made up of representatives from state agencies and the impacted local governments. The IHMT is made up of representatives from federal agencies The teams survey and review the disaster impacts to recommend mitigative measures that can reduce future losses to life and property.

The joint teams formulate recommendation which are used in the "15-day" report of the IHMT and update/revision of the State of Florida Hard Mitigation Plan. These recommendations to federal agencies, state agencies, or local government may be implemented immediately through the Public Assistance Program or certain Individual Assistance programs. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available to implement those recommendations that can have a community-wide effect on reducing future losses.

During the initial recovery period, and as the recovery period lengthens into the post-disaster redevelopment period, the SHMART remains available as liaisons between local interests and state agencies. New issues and problems may emerge during recovery that were not addressed in the immediate post-disaster period and some difficult issues may require a longer time for resolution. The SHMART provides continuity during the recovery process because agency representatives are already familiar with disaster area and there is local representation on the team. As new issues emerge, agency representatives can facilitate local access to programs in order to implement creative solutions.

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HGMP)

The Purpose of he HMGP is to provide matching funds (75%) to state and local communities to enable immediate and long-term hazard mitigation measures to be implemented following a major disaster declaration. The overall goal of the Program is to effectively reduce a state or community's vulnerability to natural hazards. The program is administered by the state, with technical support provided by the FEMA Regional office.

Program Objectives

• To prevent future loss of lives and property due to disasters
• To implement state and local Hazard Mitigation Plans
• To enable mitigation measures to be implemented during immediate recovery from disaster
• To provide funding for previously identified mitigation measures that benefits the disaster area

Eligibility is the same for the HMGP as it is for the Public Assistance Program, although it does not duplicate mitigation measures eligible under the Public Assistance Program. Mitigation funded under Public Assistance is only for public mitigation measures to protect public or private property, so long as these measures fit within the overall mitigation strategy for the disaster area, and comply with program guidelines.

Eligible Applicants

• State and local governments
• Certain private non-profit organization and institutions
• Indian tribes or authorized tribal organizations

Key Players

Local

Mayor or County Executive: Activates the local emergency operations center and declares a local state of emergency.
Local Emergency Management Official: Coordinates all local disaster relief activity. This individual will be in constant contact with the State Division of Emergency Management.

State

Governor: Declares a state of emergency and writes a letter to the President requesting a federal disaster declaration.
Director of Emergency Management: Coordinates disaster relief activities within the state and acts as the Governor's Authorized Representative.
Area Coordinator: Acts as liaison between the local government and the state.
State Coordinating Officer: Acts as state representative in the disaster field office and coordinates state response and recovery efforts.
SHMART: Recommends mitigation and recovery actions and facilitates implementation.

Federal

President of the United States: Declares an area a federal disaster or emergency.
FEMA Director: Is responsible for the overall coordination of federal disaster response and recovery activities.
Federal Coordinating Officer: Serves as the President's representative in the disaster field office and coordinates federal response and recovery efforts into the disaster area.