Natural Disasters and Hazards: CRS Experts

Updated September 12, 2018 (R43519)

The following table provides the names and contact information for CRS experts on policy and legal issues relating to natural disasters and hazards in the United States. Policy areas identified include federal authorities related to natural disasters, specific consequences, federal disaster assistance, funding and financing, preparedness, and science.

Legislative Issues

Name/Title

Phone

Email

Federal Authorities Related to Natural Disasters

Stafford Act Declarations

Bruce R. Lindsay
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)

David M. Bearden
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA)

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA)

David M. Bearden
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Crop Insurance Act

Isabel Rosa
Analyst in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

Linda Luther
Analyst in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

National Flood Insurance Act

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Oil Pollution Act of 1990

Jonathan L. Ramseur
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Posse Comitatus Act

Jennifer K. Elsea
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Public Health Service Act, other public health authorities

Sarah A. Lister
Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Specific Consequences of Natural Hazards and Disasters

Debris Removal and Disposal

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Linda Luther
Analyst in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Debris removal—marine

Eva Lipiec
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Disaster Response

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Bruce R. Lindsay
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Public Facility Restoration

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Public Health

Sarah Lister
Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Temporary Housing and Rental Assistance

Shawn Reese
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Communications

 

 

 

First Responder

Jill C. Gallagher
Analyst in Telecommunications Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Social Media

Bruce R. Lindsay
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Warning Systems

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Environmental Consequences

 

 

Agriculture

Megan Stubbs
Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Drinking Water Quality

Mary Tiemann
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Ecosystems

Pervaze A. Sheikh
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Eva Lipiec
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Environmental Review/NEPA

Linda Luther
Analyst in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Fisheries

Harold F. Upton
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Wildlife

R. Eliot Crafton
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Infrastructure

 

 

 

Electric Power

Richard Campbell
Specialist in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Corrie A. Clark
Analyst in Energy Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Fuel Supply Interruptions

Paul Parfomak
Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Robert Pirog
Specialist in Energy Economics

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Ports and Railroads

John Frittelli
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Earthquakes and Transportation Infrastructure

William Mallett
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Highways and Transit

Robert S. Kirk
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Flood Control Systems

 

 

Flood Control, Dams and Levees—Legal Issues

Cynthia Brown
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Floodplain Mapping

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Levee Certification

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Levees, Dams, and Shore Protection

Nicole T. Carter
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Disaster Assistance

Stafford Act Assistance

 

 

Community Disaster Loan Program (CDL)

Jared Brown
Analyst in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Crisis Counseling

Sarah Lister
Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Julie M. Whittaker
Specialist in Income Security

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emergency Response

David M. Bearden
Specialist in Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Individual and Household Program (IHP)—Housing/Other Needs Assistance

Shawn Reese
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Public Assistance (PA)

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Homeland Security and Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Non-Stafford Act Assistance

 

 

U.S. Department of Agriculture Land Rehabilitation

Megan Stubbs
Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Bureau of Reclamation Assistance

Charles V. Stern
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-DR)

Eugene Boyd
Analyst in Federalism and Economic Development Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Department of Defense and National Guard Support

Lawrence Kapp
Specialist in Military Manpower Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Federal Highway and Transit

Robert S. Kirk
Specialist in Transportation Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

International Response to Domestic U.S. Disasters

Rhoda Margesson
Specialist in International Humanitarian Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Liability for Damages

Cynthia Brown
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

National Marine Fisheries Service

Harold F. Upton
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development

Tadlock Cowan
Analyst in Natural Resources and Rural Development

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Small Business Administration (SBA)

Bruce R. Lindsay
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Nicole T. Carter
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Programs

Megan Stubbs
Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

U.S. Department of Agriculture Disaster Assistance

Megan Stubbs
Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Funding and Financing

Disaster Relief Fund (DRF)

William L. Painter
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Crop Insurance

Isabel Rosa
Analyst in Agricultural Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Tax Relief

Molly F. Sherlock
Specialist in Public Finance

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Edward C. Liu
Legislative Attorney

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Catastrophic Risk Financing

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Preparedness

National Strategies and Policies

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Bruce R. Lindsay
Analyst in Emergency Management Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Preparedness Grant Programs

Shawn Reese
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM)

Jared T. Brown
Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Diane P. Horn
Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Science of Natural Hazards

Climate Variability

Jane Leggett
Specialist in Energy and Environmental Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Drought

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Earthquakes

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Flooding and Erosion

Nicole T. Carter
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Eva Lipiec
Analyst in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Hurricane

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Satellite Technology and Observations

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Tornadoes

Peter Folger
Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Wildfires

Katie Hoover
Specialist in Natural Resources Policy

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Author Contact Information

Kevin A. Borden, Section Research Manager ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])