Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Alabama

Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Alabama

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Updated March 6, 2017
Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Alabama
Overview
Local Impacts
The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal
From FY2000 to FY2015, 67 county governments in
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the
Alabama received aid under major disaster declarations.
primary source of federal assistance following a major
Jefferson County received aid for the highest number of
disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major
declarations during this period, with 14.
disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T.
Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act
Figure 1. DRF Actual and Projected Obligations for
(P.L. 93-288).
Declared Major Disasters in Alabama, by Fiscal Year
Figures are in millions of dol ars, truncated. The number of
The information below includes only DRF funding
declarations per year is in parentheses.
provided to Alabama as a result of assistance associated
with a major disaster declaration. This information does not
include other assistance provided through the DRF or
disaster assistance provided by other federal sources, such
as Small Business Administration disaster loans.
FEMA administers disaster relief through regional offices
around the country. Alabama is part of Region IV,
headquartered in Atlanta, GA.
Major Disaster Declarations: FY2000-
FY2015
A total of 24 major disaster declarations were made in the
state of Alabama between FY2000 and FY2015. During
that time, there were also three requests for major disaster
declarations that were denied. The approved declarations
led to $2.81 billion in actual and projected federal
obligations from the DRF. Actual and projected obligations
are used throughout this In Focus to account for the total
amount of federal assistance ultimately obligated. This
funding does not include the assistance that was provided
directly by the state, either as a cost-share for federal
assistance or through the state’s own authorities and
programs.
There was a high level of variation in the amount of actual

and projected funding obligated for major disasters each
Source: CRS analysis of FEMA DRF obligations data as of December
year, with more than $1.11 billion in actual and projected
2015.
obligations for disasters in FY2005 alone. Figure 1
Notes: Actual and projected obligations are recorded in the fiscal
displays the actual and projected obligations to Alabama
year in which the major disaster was declared. Only obligations from
each fiscal year. The highest number of declarations in a
the FEMA DRF are included. Please consult the “Additional
single year was three, which occurred in FY2003, FY2009,
Resources” section for information on other federal assistance
and FY2010.
programs.
Most Costly Declarations
Types of Assistance Provided for Major
The declaration associated with the largest actual and
Disasters
projected obligations from the DRF to the state of Alabama
A major disaster declaration can authorize funding for
was for Hurricane Katrina in FY2005. This declaration
different purposes, depending on the needs of the state.
resulted in more than $1.05 billion in actual and projected
These purposes include:
obligations to Alabama from the DRF.
 Public Assistance, which is used by tribal, state, or local
The next two most costly declarations were for severe
governments, or certain private nonprofit organizations
storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in
to provide emergency protective services, conduct
FY2011 and Hurricane Ivan in FY2004.
debris removal operations, and repair or replace
damaged public infrastructure;
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Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Alabama
 Individual Assistance, which provides direct aid to
assistance provided as a result of major disaster
impacted households;
declarations, although there is significant variation across
incidents.
 Hazard Mitigation Assistance, which funds mitigation
and resiliency projects and programs, typically across
 Emergency Declarations are often made at the time a
the entire state;
threat is recognized in order to assist tribal, state, and
local efforts prior to an incident.
 FEMA administrative costs associated with each disaster
declaration; and
 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) provide
aid for the control, management, and mitigation of fires.
 Mission Assignment, which tasks and reimburses other
federal entities that provide direct disaster assistance.
FEMA Assistance Not Funded Through
the DRF: National Flood Insurance
The decision concerning which types of assistance to
Program
provide is made either when the major disaster is declared
Floods represent a majority of all major disaster
or when the declaration is amended. For many major
declarations nationwide. One of the primary sources of
disasters, all of the assistance types outlined above are
assistance for flooding events is the National Flood
authorized. For others, some assistance types are not
Insurance Program (NFIP), which is not funded through the
authorized. Figure 2 compares the actual and projected
DRF. For more information on the NFIP, please refer to
obligations for different types of assistance provided to
CRS Report R44593, Introduction to FEMA’s National
Alabama as a result of a major disaster declaration from
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
FY2000 to FY2015.
Additional Resources
Figure 2. DRF Assistance for Alabama, by Type
Many existing CRS products address issues related to the
(FY2000-FY2015)
DRF, the disaster declaration process, and types of DRF
assistance. Below is a list of several of these resources:
 CRS Report R41981, Congressional Primer on
Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies
 CRS Report R43519, Natural Disasters and Hazards:
CRS Experts
 CRS Report R43784, FEMA’s Disaster Declaration
Process: A Primer
 CRS Report R43537, FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund:
Overview and Selected Issues
 CRS Report R44619, FEMA Disaster Housing: The
Individuals and Households Program—Implementation
and Potential Issues for Congress
 CRS Report R43990, FEMA’s Public Assistance Grant
Program: Background and Considerations for Congress
CRS Experts

Source: CRS analysis of FEMA DRF obligation data as of December
FEMA Disaster Assistance:
2015.
Bruce R. Lindsay
Jared T. Brown
Note: The specific assistance within each of the identified types may
Shawn Reese
have changed in the period FY2000 to FY2015.
Other FEMA Assistance Funded
National Flood Insurance Program:
Through the DRF
Diane P. Horn
In addition to the major disaster assistance described above,
there are other forms of assistance that are funded through
Bruce R. Lindsay, Analyst in American National
the DRF. These include assistance associated with
Government
Emergency Declarations and with Fire Management
IF10058
Assistance Grants. The funding associated with these types
of assistance typically results in lower obligation levels than

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Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Alabama

Disclaimer
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