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Emergency Communications Legislation, 2002-2006: Implications for the 110th Congress

Description: 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 … more
Date: January 8, 2007
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FEMA's Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program: Overview and Issues

Description: This report discusses Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and "Project Impact," a FEMA pilot program. It provides an overview of PDM, legislative history, funding and mitigation studies related to Hurricane Katrina, issues for Congress, and overall observations.
Date: August 8, 2008
Creator: McCarthy, Francis X.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The 2009 Influenza Pandemic: Selected Legal Issues

Description: This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.
Date: October 8, 2009
Creator: Swendiman, Kathleen S. & Jones, Nancy Lee
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding

Description: This report discusses the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, also known as fire grants of the FIRE Act grant program, which provides federal grants directly to local fire departments and unaffiliated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations to help address a variety of equipment, training, and other firefighter-related and EMS needs. This report also discusses the possible reauthorization of AFG and the related Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (S… more
Date: May 8, 2009
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for Disaster Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Projects

Description: This report discusses the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) as it applies to projects for which federal funding to recover from or prepare for a disaster has been requested by local, tribal, or state grant applicants. Specifically, the report provides an overview of the NEPA process as it applies to such projects, identifies the types of projects (categorized by federal funding source) likely to require environmental review, and delineates the types of projects for which no or mi… more
Date: September 8, 2008
Creator: Luther, Linda
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Severe Thunderstorms and Tornadoes in the United States

Description: This report discusses the natural basis of severe thunderstorms and tornadoes and the risk associated with them. The report also examines several options Congress could consider to potentially reduce the costs these destructive natural events.
Date: September 8, 2009
Creator: Folger, Peter
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program

Description: This report discusses Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Act, which was enacted by the 108th Congress as Section 1057 of the FY2004 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 108-136). It includes background of the SAFER Act, appropriations from FY2005-FY2010, reauthorization of the program in the House and Senate, and information about program implementation.
Date: May 8, 2009
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues

Description: 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.
Date: August 8, 2008
Creator: McCarthy, Francis X.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FEMA Disaster Housing and Hurricane Katrina: Overview, Analysis, and Congressional Issues

Description: 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.
Date: August 8, 2008
Creator: McCarthy, Francis X.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities: A Summary and Issues for the 111th Congress

Description: This report summarizes several emergency management and homeland security programs, and identifies and analyzes potential issues for the 111th Congress. These issues include (1) the purpose and number of assistance programs; (2) the evaluation of the use of grant funding; (3) the determination of eligible grant recipients; (4) the programs' funding amounts; and (5) the programs; funding distribution methodologies.
Date: June 8, 2009
Creator: Reese, Shawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Avian Flu Pandemic: Potential Impact of Trade Disruptions

Description: Concerns about potential disruptions in U.S. trade flows due to a global health or security crisis are not new. The possibility of an avian flu pandemic with consequences for global trade is a concern that has received attention recently, although some experts believe there is little cause for alarm. This report considers possible trade disruptions, including possible impacts on trade between the United States and countries and regions that have reported avian influenza infections.
Date: May 8, 2008
Creator: Langton, Danielle
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Agricultural Disaster Assistance

Description: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several permanently authorized programs to help farmers recover financially from a natural disaster, including federal crop insurance, the noninsured assistance program, and emergency disaster loans. Since 1988, Congress regularly has made supplemental financial assistance available to farmers and ranchers, primarily in the form of crop disaster payments and emergency livestock assistance. The Senate-passed version of a pending FY2006 supplementa… more
Date: May 8, 2006
Creator: Chite, Ralph M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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New Orleans Levees and Floodwalls: Hurricane Damage Protection

Description: Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge breached floodwalls and levees surrounding New Orleans, causing widespread inundation and significant damage and hampering rescue and recovery efforts. Flooding from precipitation and storm surges flowing over levees and floodwalls was anticipated because the hurricane’s intensity
Date: September 8, 2005
Creator: Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami: Food Aid Needs and the U.S. Response

Description: This report discusses the implementation of United States global food aid in response to tsunamis in the Indian Ocean region, including the FY2005 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act. Funding and resources are compared based on affected country and previous congressional actions. This report was updated on April 8, 2005.
Date: April 8, 2005
Creator: Hanrahan, Charles E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Public Safety Communications: Policy, Proposals, Legislation and Progress

Description: Since September 11, 2001, the effectiveness of America’s communications capabilities in support of the information needs of first responders and other public safety workers have been a matter of concern to Congress. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458) included sections that responded to recommendations made by the 9/ll Commission, in its report of July 2004, and by others in recent years, regarding public safety communications. Nonetheless, there is much … more
Date: June 8, 2005
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Bioterrorism: Summary of a CRS/National Health Policy Forum Seminar on Federal, State, and Local Public Health Preparedness

Description: The September 11th attack and subsequent intentional release of anthrax spores via the U.S. postal system have focused policymakers’ attention on the preparedness and response capability of the nation’s public health system. The anthrax attacks put a tremendous strain on the U. S. public health infrastructure, an infrastructure that many experts argue has been weakened by years of neglect and under-funding. To better understand the preparedness gaps that exist, as well as the disparate function… more
Date: March 8, 2002
Creator: Strongin, Robin J. & Redhead, C. Stephen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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