Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Nebraska

Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Nebraska

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Updated March 6, 2017
Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Nebraska
Overview
Local Impacts
The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal
From FY2000 to FY2015, 92 county governments and one
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the
tribal government in Nebraska received aid under major
primary source of federal assistance following a major
disaster declarations. Nemaha County received aid for the
disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major
highest number of declarations during this period, with 12.
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 Nebraska, 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 Nebraska 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. Nebraska is part of Region VII,
headquartered in Kansas City, MO.
Major Disaster Declarations: FY2000-
FY2015
A total of 27 major disaster declarations were made in the
state of Nebraska between FY2000 and FY2015. During
that time, there were also three requests for major disaster
declarations that were denied. The approved declarations
led to $553 million 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 $157 million in actual and projected
2015.
obligations for disasters in FY2007 alone. Figure 1
Notes: Actual and projected obligations are recorded in the fiscal
displays the actual and projected obligations to Nebraska
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 FY2007, FY2008,
Resources” section for information on other federal assistance
FY2010, and FY2014.
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 Nebraska
A major disaster declaration can authorize funding for
was for severe winter storms in FY2007. This declaration
different purposes, depending on the needs of the state.
resulted in more than $145 million in actual and projected
These purposes include:
obligations to Nebraska from the DRF.
 Public Assistance, which is used by tribal, state, or local
The next two most costly declarations were for flooding in
governments, or certain private nonprofit organizations
FY2011 and severe storms, flooding, and tornadoes in
to provide emergency protective services, conduct
FY2010.
debris removal operations, and repair or replace
damaged public infrastructure;
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Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Nebraska
 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
Nebraska as a result of a major disaster declaration from
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
FY2000 to FY2015.
Additional Resources
Figure 2. DRF Assistance for Nebraska, 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

FEMA Disaster Assistance:
Source: CRS analysis of FEMA DRF obligation data as of December
Bruce R. Lindsay
2015.
Jared T. Brown
Note: The specific assistance within each of the identified types may
Shawn Reese
have changed in the period FY2000 to FY2015.
National Flood Insurance Program:
Other FEMA Assistance Funded
Diane P. Horn
Through the DRF
In addition to the major disaster assistance described above,
Bruce R. Lindsay, Analyst in American National
there are other forms of assistance that are funded through
Government
the DRF. These include assistance associated with
Emergency Declarations and with Fire Management
IF10085
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: Nebraska

Disclaimer
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