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CRS Report to Congress on Disaster Relief - August 2005
Title: CRS Report for Congress; Federal Disaster Relief Programs: Brief Summaries
Date: 29 August 2005
Author: Mary Jordan, Information Research Specialist, Knowledge Services Group
Institution: Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress
Bibliographic Entry: Congress, The Library of. 2005. CRS Report for Congress; Federal Disaster Relief Programs: Brief Summaries. Washington D.C. Accessed 29 September 2005. <http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL31734.pdf>.
Electronic Link: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL31734.pdf
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
"This report summarizes principal federal disaster assistance programs for
possible use by Members of Congress and staff in helping address the needs of
constituents. A number of federal agencies provide assistance to victims; to state,
territorial, and local governments; and to nongovernmental entities following a
disaster. Among other forms of assistance, federal programs can provide grants,
loans, loan guarantees, temporary housing, and counseling.
The programs summarized in this catalog fall into two broad categories. First
are programs specifically for disaster situations; most of these programs are
administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small
Business Administration (SBA). The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296)
transferred FEMA to the new Department of Homeland Security. Second are general
assistance programs that may be used in disaster situations, as well as to meet regular
service needs. Many federal agencies, including the Departments of Health and
Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice, administer programs
that may be brought to bear under certain circumstances.
The programs may also be classified by recipients: primarily individuals, state
and local governments, or businesses. They address such short-term needs as food
and shelter, and such long-term needs as repair of public utilities."
-Exerpt from report
Name of Researcher: Jennifer Davis
Institution: ICHS, Texas A&M
Date: September 18, 2007