Congressional Research Service Reports - 488 Matching Results
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- First Responder Grant Formulas: A Comparison of Formula Provisions in S.2845 and H.R. 10, 108th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Katrina Relief
- This CRS report summarizes federal disaster assistance funding legislation in the 109th Congress and presents some information on federal expenditures and obligations for disaster recovery activities.
- Elections in States Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- The aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita created staggering problems and challenging conditions for the people of Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, as well as for the state and local governments there. Many problems were immediately apparent, whereas others that involved ongoing government functions, such as elections, were less obvious at first. This report discusses the challenge of running elections in the many affected communities.
- Disaster Mitigation Assistance Bills in the 106th Congress: Comparison of Provisions
- The Administration initiative to shift federal emergency management policy away from a "response and recovery" emphasis has generated little congressional controversy, although some have raised concerns about the cost effectiveness of implementing a mitigation strategy. Greater attention, it is generally argued, should be given to mitigation (loss reduction) efforts before disasters occur in order to reduce future losses. Legislation (H.R. 707, S. 1691) pending before the 106th Congress would amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act) which authorizes federal assistance when the President declares that a catastrophe has overwhelmed state and local resources.
- FEMA's Mission: Policy Directives for the Federal Emergency Management Agency
- This report discusses policy directives for the federal emergency management agency related to FEMA's mission.
- Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces: Facts and Issues
- No Description Available.
- Hawaii Emergency Management and Homeland Security Authorities Summarized
- This report profiles Hawaii emergency management and Homeland Security authorities.
- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Hurricane Katrina Relief
- In response to the widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, the 109th Congress enacted two FY2005 emergency supplemental appropriations bills, which together provided $62.3 billion for emergency response and recovery needs. This CRS report summarizes federal disaster assistance funding legislation in the 109th Congress and presents some information on federal expenditures and obligations for disaster recovery activities.
- Legislative Initiatives to Temporarily Relocate Federal Courts Interrupted by Natural or Man-Made Disasters, 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Hurricanes and Disaster Risk Financing Through Insurance: Challenges and Policy Options
- The U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coastal states, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Island are exposed to relatively high levels of risk from hurricanes and tropical storms. The rapid expansion of the U.S. population into areas that are susceptible to hurricanes has placed millions of people and new areas of economic activity in harm’s way. To address the financial and economic effects of such risks, households and businesses have relied on private insurance, state-sponsored insurance pools, and/or federal emergency disaster assistance to manage their natural hazard risk.
- Disaster Evacuation and Displacement Policy: Issues for Congress
- The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina reaches beyond the borders of the states directly affected by the wind, rain, and floods. Before the storm reached the coast, thousands of residents of Louisiana and Mississippi evacuated to other states, including Texas and Oklahoma. Many people, for a variety of reasons, chose to disregard the mandatory evacuation orders issued by state and local officials. In general, evacuation policy is set and enforced by state and local officials. Federal policy provides for various aspects of civilian evacuation. As Members of Congress explore the challenges and losses in the states affected directly or indirectly by Hurricane Katrina, they may be called upon to consider federal policy options to more fully integrate federal and state authorities.
- Katrina's Wake: Restoring Financial Services
- In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, damage to the financial infrastructure appears to be largely confined to small depository institutions. Directives stemming from the 9/11 attacks require most banking and securities firms to maintain off-site redundancy for significant personnel and daily data backups. The damaged area is sufficiently wide, however, and the possibility of long-term loan delinquency sufficiently high, that greater harm may yet surface. To date, most depository institutions are functioning to some degree and, despite concerns over large
- The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparation Act (S. 3678): Provisions and Comparison with Current Law and Related Proposals
- No Description Available.
- Urban Search and Rescue Task Forces: Facts and Issues
- No Description Available.
- Earthquakes: Risk, Monitoring, Notification, and Research
- This report describes estimates of earthquake hazards and risk in the United States; the current federal programs that support earthquake monitoring and that provide notification after a seismic event; and the programs that support mitigation and research aimed at reducing U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes.
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts: History, Operations, and Current Issues
- This report summarizes the history, functionality, and current events of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO). The report's overview includes information on why the administration was founded by examining its origins and the role of it in contemporary court proceedings. Moreover, the report highlights how the AO has taken on roles in emergency management.
- Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security Organization: Historical Developments and Legislative Options
- This report provides background information on the establishment and evolution of federal emergency management organizational arrangements since the end of World War II and briefly summarizes the legislative proposals.
- Emergency Management Preparedness Standards: Overview and Options for Congress
- This report provides Emergency an Overview and Options for Congress on Emergency Management Preparedness Standards which includes major recommendations like adoption and use of emergency response standards, mutual aid provisions, private sector preparedness.
- Emergency Management Preparedness Standards: Overview and Options for Congress
- This report provides Emergency an Overview and Options for Congress on Emergency Management Preparedness Standards which includes major recommendations like adoption and use of emergency response standards, mutual aid provisions, private sector preparedness.
- Pandemic Flu and Medical Biodefense Countermeasure Liability Limitation
- This report analyzes Division C of the Department of Defense Emergency Supplemental Appropriations, P.L. 109-148, which was signed into law on December 30, 2005, and which limits liability with respect to pandemic flu and other public health countermeasures.
- FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues
- This report discusses the issues with the housing policies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), particularly as they relate to the Post-Katrina Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-295) and the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Plan (P.L. 93-288). It includes an overview of the Stafford Act sections 403 and 408 as well as a breakdown of issues for Congress and possible Congressional approaches to address the policies.
- FY2004 Appropriations for First Responder Preparedness: Fact Sheet
- This report provides an overview of FY2004 appropriations for state and local terrorism preparedness. Preparedness may be defined as enhancing a state or local government’s capability to respond effectively to a terrorist attack, particularly one involving a weapon of mass destruction (WMD).
- Disaster Debris Removal After Hurricane Katrina: Status and Associated Issues
- This report discusses issues associated with debris removal operations after a disaster on the scale of Katrina. In particular, it discusses why debris removal was an ongoing concern months after the hurricane, as well as factors that make debris removal such a costly, complex operation.
- Emergency Management Preparedness Standards: Overview and Options for Congress
- This report provides Emergency an Overview and Options for Congress on Emergency Management Preparedness Standards which includes major recommendations like adoption and use of emergency response standards, mutual aid provisions, private sector preparedness.
- Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries
- This report summarizes principal federal disaster assistance programs for possible use by Members of Congress and their staff in helping address the needs of constituents. A number of federal agencies provide assistance to individual victims; state, territorial, and local governments; and non-governmental entities, following a disaster.
- Would an Influenza Pandemic Qualify as a Major Disaster Under the Stafford Act?
- This report provides a legal analysis of the eligibility of an influenza pandemic to be declared by the President as a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
- Would an Influenza Pandemic Qualify as a Major Disaster Under the Stafford Act?
- This report provides a legal analysis of the eligibility of an influenza pandemic to be declared by the President as a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
- State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Policy Issues and Options
- No Description Available.
- FY2005 Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan, Tsunami Relief, and Other Activities
- This report presents Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq and Afghanistan, Tsunami Relief, and other activities for FY2005.
- Tsunamis and Earthquakes: Is Federal Disaster Insurance in Our Future?
- On December 26, 2004, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter Scale struck six miles below the surface of the Indian Ocean on the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The 2004 earthquake spawned a massive tsunami (and extensive flooding) that smashed the coastlines of 12 countries in South Asia and East Africa, resulting in over 175,000 fatalities, an additional 106,000 missing, and significant economic and non-economic damages. Insured losses are relatively low compared to the economic and non-economic costs. Few structures or facilities in the region were insured.
- Federal Hurricane Recovery Coordinator: Appointment and Oversight Issues
- No Description Available.
- Income Tax Relief in Times of Disaster
- In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, disaster areas have been designated in 64 parishes in Louisiana, 52 counties in Mississippi, six counties in Alabama, and three counties in Florida. Special provisions are available for taxpayers to help recover from the impact of a disaster.
- Bankruptcy Relief and Natural Disaster Victims
- In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many have questioned whether implementing the new procedures of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), P.L. 109-8, scheduled to go into effect on October 17, 2005, should be delayed. This report considers whether bankruptcy law in general, and the BAPCPA in particular, may present unique challenges to financial recovery for those whose life, livelihood, and/or home have been damaged or destroyed.
- The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA): A Summary
- This report summarizes the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to- Know Act (EPCRA) and the major regulatory programs that mandate reporting by industrial facilities of releases of hazardous chemicals to the environment, as well as local planning to respond in the event of significant, accidental releases.
- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data
- This report provides summary information on emergency supplemental appropriations enacted after major disasters since 1989. The report discusses the most recent and costly disasters occurred in the summer of 2005 when Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma made landfall in Gulf Coast states.
- Commercial Fishery Disaster Assistance
- This report discusses disaster relief for commercial fishery, which be provided by the federal government to assist the fishing industry when it is affected by a commercial fishery failure.
- Side-by-Side Comparison of Flood Insurance Reform Legislation in the 110th Congress
- This report discusses the key policy objectives of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that were threefold: (1) reduce the nation's flood risk through floodplain management; (2) improve flood hazard data and risk assessment by mapping the nation's floodplains; and (3) make affordable flood insurance widely available in communities that adopt and enforce measures to make future construction safer from flooding.
- United States Fire Administration: An Overview
- The report discusses the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), which is an entity within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Emergency Communications Legislation: Implications for the 110th Congress
- Since September 11, 2001, several bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have included provisions to assist emergency communications. Key provisions from a number of these bills have become law. This report summarizes progress in developing legislation, especially in the 109th Congress, in three areas of emergency communications: communications among first responders and other emergency personnel; emergency warnings and alerts; and 911 call centers and systems.
- Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems
- This report discusses proposals for international tsunami early warning systems and examines U.S. policy regarding tsunamis.
- Emergency Communications Legislation, 2002-2006: Implications for the 110th Congress
- Since September 11, 2001, several bills introduced in the U.S. Congress have included provisions to assist emergency communications. Key provisions from a number of these bills have become law. This report summarizes progress in developing legislation, especially in the 109th Congress, in three areas of emergency communications: communications among first responders and other emergency personnel; emergency warnings and alerts; and 911 call centers and systems. Each area could be the subject of further consideration in the 110th Congress, through oversight, additional legislation, or funding.
- Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems
- This report discusses proposals for international tsunami early warning systems and examines U.S. policy regarding tsunamis.
- Emergency Communications Legislation: Implications for the 110th Congress
- This report discusses the legislation addressing communications among first responders focused first on interoperability -- the capability of different systems to connect -- with provisions in the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296).
- FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues
- This report discusses the issues with the housing policies of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), particularly as they relate to the Post-Katrina Act of 2006 and the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Plan. It includes an overview of the Stafford Act sections 403 and 408 as well as a breakdown of issues for Congress and possible Congressional approaches to address the policies.
- Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Legislation for Disaster Assistance: Summary Data
- This report provides summary information on emergency supplemental appropriations legislation enacted since 1989 after significant catastrophes. It includes funds appropriated to the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as well as funds appropriated to other departments and agencies. This report uses a broad concept of what constitutes emergency disaster assistance. The funds cited in this report include appropriations for disaster relief, repair of federal facilities, and hazard mitigation activities directed at reducing the impact of future disasters.
- Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems
- This report discusses proposals for international tsunami early warning systems and examines U.S. policy regarding tsunamis.
- Fiscal Year 2005 Homeland Security Grant Program: State Allocations and Issues for Congressional Oversight
- This report summarizes key provisions of the FY2005 program guidance, with special attention to differences from the FY2003 and FY2004 editions. This report also discusses issues regarding methods used to allocate federal homeland security assistance and authorized expenditures of homeland security assistance programs, and it analyzes options Congress may wish to consider for resolving those issues.
- Side-by-Side Comparison of Flood Insurance Reform Legislation in the 110th Congress
- This report discusses the key policy objectives of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) that were threefold: (1) reduce the nation's flood risk through floodplain management; (2) improve flood hazard data and risk assessment by mapping the nation's floodplains; and (3) make affordable flood insurance widely available in communities that adopt and enforce measures to make future construction safer from flooding.
- 911 Call Center Legislation: S. 1250 and H.R. 2898
- This article discusses the 2003 Congress bipartisan E911 (Enhanced 911) legislation introduced in both chambers. Moreover, the article describes the difference in parallel provisions each bill contains that have significant implications for emergency communication policy. The article defines Enhanced 911 as the capability of identifying the phone number and location of a call to a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Points). This report characterizes the cost to PSAPs of upgrading systems and supporting expanded operations as an obstacle to this legislation.
- Tsunamis: Monitoring, Detection, and Early Warning Systems
- This report discusses proposals for international tsunami early warning systems and examines U.S. policy regarding tsunamis.