The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking public comment on proposed changes to increase funding access and reduce disaster risk for vulnerable communities. Comments must be received no later than Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
FEMA is seeking public input to better understand the application and implementation of its methodology and data to designate Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZ). The topics include, but are not limited to, the following:
· Risk Assessment- General Questions
· Risk Assessment- Methodology
· Risk Assessment- Data
· Climate Change and Future Conditions Data
· Questions to Identify Community Disaster Resilience Zones
· Resilience or Mitigation Project Planning Assistance
· Community Disaster Resilience Zone Project Application and Certification Process and Other Investment Opportunities
A detailed description of FEMA’s questions can be found in “Section V. Questions for Commenters” on the Federal Register notice. While non-exhaustive, the list of questions provides guidelines for communities wishing to comment on the most effective ways to identify and apply risk assessment tools to mitigate natural hazards.
Comments can be submitted to FEMA via the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by emailing FEMA-CDRZ-RFI@fema.dhs.gov.
Download a brief from the National Special Districts Coalition, of which CSDA is a founding member, to learn more.
Background
On December 20, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Community Disaster Resilience (CDRZ) Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-255) into law. The law amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and Emergency Act by establishing a statutory structure to identify and designate Community Disaster Resilience Zones (CDRZ) most at risk to 18 natural hazards identified by FEMA.
CDRZ communities represent areas with the highest risk for natural hazards and lower ability to withstand their impacts. Understanding the impact and toll natural disasters take on special districts, NSDC was an early supporter of the CDRZ Act. Along with joining 26 other national organizations in pushing for the bill’s passage in both the House and Senate during the 118th Congress, NSDC held multiple briefings to special districts on the benefits of the legislation.
The CDRZ Act requires FEMA to maintain and update its National Risk Index (NRI) used to define and provide standardized natural hazard risk data in the United States. It authorizes the President to provide pre-disaster mitigation assistance and planning projects to CDRZ-designated communities. Additionally, the CDRZ Act helps prioritize and attract public and private sector funding for resilience projects. The law focuses on vulnerable communities which often have difficulty accessing disaster resilience funding. By identifying and prioritizing these communities, they will more easily receive federal and private investment funding to reduce the financial burden of resilience projects. These projects include building modern, resilient infrastructure, and nature-based infrastructure community-wide.
CDRZs are expected to be identified in the latter half of 2023 and will hold the designation for five years. FEMA will work with state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management teams to identify how the designation can benefit these government entities.
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