Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Vermont

Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Vermont

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Updated March 6, 2017
Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Vermont
Overview
Lamoille received aid for the highest number of
The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is managed by the Federal
declarations during this period, with 14.
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and is the
primary source of federal assistance following a major
Figure 1. DRF Actual and Projected Obligations for
disaster declaration. The authority to declare a major
Declared Major Disasters in Vermont, by Fiscal Year
disaster is provided to the President under the Robert T.
Figures are in millions of dol ars, truncated. The number of
Stafford Emergency Relief and Disaster Assistance Act
declarations per year is in parentheses.
(P.L. 93-288).
The information below includes only DRF funding
provided to Vermont 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. Vermont is part of Region I,
headquartered in Boston, MA.
Major Disaster Declarations: FY2000-
FY2015
A total of 24 major disaster declarations were made in the
state of Vermont between FY2000 and FY2015. During
that time, there was also one request for a major disaster
declaration that was denied. The approved declarations led
to $499 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.

Source: CRS analysis of FEMA DRF obligations data as of December
There was a high level of variation in the amount of actual
2015.
and projected funding obligated for major disasters each
Notes: Actual and projected obligations are recorded in the fiscal
year, with more than $427 million in actual and projected
year in which the major disaster was declared. Only obligations from
obligations for disasters in FY2011 alone. Figure 1
the FEMA DRF are included. Please consult the “Additional
displays the actual and projected obligations to Vermont
Resources” section for information on other federal assistance
each fiscal year. The highest number of declarations in a
programs.
single year was four, which occurred in FY2011.
Types of Assistance Provided for Major
Most Costly Declarations
Disasters
The declaration associated with the largest actual and
A major disaster declaration can authorize funding for
projected obligations from the DRF to the state of Vermont
different purposes, depending on the needs of the state.
was for Tropical Storm Irene in FY2011. This declaration
These purposes include:
resulted in more than $390 million in actual and projected
obligations to Vermont from the DRF.
 Public Assistance, which is used by tribal, state, or local
governments, or certain private nonprofit organizations
The next two most costly declarations were for two
to provide emergency protective services, conduct
incidents of severe storms and flooding in FY2011.
debris removal operations, and repair or replace
Local Impacts
damaged public infrastructure;
From FY2000 to FY2015, 14 local governments in
 Individual Assistance, which provides direct aid to
Vermont received aid under major disaster declarations.
impacted households;
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Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Vermont
 Hazard Mitigation Assistance, which funds mitigation
declarations, although there is significant variation across
and resiliency projects and programs, typically across
incidents.
the entire state;
 Emergency Declarations are often made at the time a
 FEMA administrative costs associated with each disaster
threat is recognized in order to assist tribal, state, and
declaration; and
local efforts prior to an incident.
 Mission Assignment, which tasks and reimburses other
 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAGs) provide
federal entities that provide direct disaster assistance.
aid for the control, management, and mitigation of fires.
The decision concerning which types of assistance to
FEMA Assistance Not Funded Through
provide is made either when the major disaster is declared
the DRF: National Flood Insurance
or when the declaration is amended. For many major
Program
disasters, all of the assistance types outlined above are
Floods represent a majority of all major disaster
authorized. For others, some assistance types are not
declarations nationwide. One of the primary sources of
authorized. Figure 2 compares the actual and projected
assistance for flooding events is the National Flood
obligations for different types of assistance provided to
Insurance Program (NFIP), which is not funded through the
Vermont as a result of a major disaster declaration from
DRF. For more information on the NFIP, please refer to
FY2000 to FY2015.
CRS Report R44593, Introduction to FEMA’s National
Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Figure 2. DRF Assistance for Vermont, by Type
(FY2000-FY2015)
Additional Resources
Many existing CRS products address issues related to the
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

Source: CRS analysis of FEMA DRF obligation data as of December
CRS Experts
2015.
FEMA Disaster Assistance:
Note: The specific assistance within each of the identified types may
Bruce R. Lindsay
have changed in the period FY2000 to FY2015.
Jared T. Brown
Other FEMA Assistance Funded
Shawn Reese
Through the DRF
National Flood Insurance Program:
In addition to the major disaster assistance described above,
Diane P. Horn
there are other forms of assistance that are funded through
the DRF. These include assistance associated with
Emergency Declarations and with Fire Management
Bruce R. Lindsay, Analyst in American National
Assistance Grants. The funding associated with these types
Government
of assistance typically results in lower obligation levels than
IF10103
assistance provided as a result of major disaster

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Major Disaster Assistance from the DRF: Vermont

Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
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