Stafford Act and Selected Federal Recovery Programs for Civil Unrest: Historical Perspectives and Policy Observations

Stafford Act and Selected Federal Recovery Programs for Civil Unrest: Historical Perspectives and Policy Observations

Stafford Act and Selected Federal Recovery
January 5, 2023
Programs for Civil Unrest: Historical
Bruce R. Lindsay,
Perspectives and Policy Observations
Coordinator
Specialist in American
States and localities have looked to the federal government for help with civil unrest since the
National Government
formation of the United States in 1776. The federal response to incidents of civil unrest was

provided on an ad hoc basis until the 1960s, when states and localities began to request assistance
Diane P. Horn
pursuant to emergency management frameworks established by the Federal Disaster Relief Act
Specialist in Flood
of 1950 (P.L. 81-875) and the Small Business Act of 1953 (P.L. 83-163). In essence, the laws
Insurance and Emergency
formalized a method for states to request assistance from the federal government and authorized
Management
the President and the Administrator of Small Business Administration (SBA) to issue

declarations in response to gubernatorial requests for assistance. Since then, many types of
Joseph V. Jaroscak
federal recovery assistance has been provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce’s Economic
Analyst in Economic
Development Policy
Development Administration (EDA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD). These programs have provided grants, loans, and other forms of assistance to states and
localities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individuals and households.
Julie M. Lawhorn
Analyst in Economic
Though the frameworks establish an orderly process for requesting and receiving federal
Development Policy
assistance, many challenges remain. States have increasingly sought support for recovery from

incidents of civil unrest through major disaster assistance pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford
Erica A. Lee
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-288, the Stafford Act). To date, requests
Analyst in Emergency
for such assistance have largely been denied; one request was approved (in 1992, a major disaster
Management and Disaster
was requested and declared in California in response to civil unrest stemming from acquittal of
Recovery
police officers accused of criminal beating of Rodney King). Subsequent requests for federal

assistance under the Stafford Act for other civil unrest incidents have all been denied. The
Elizabeth M. Webster
explanations for these denials rest on two points: (1) the definition of a major disaster does not
include explicit language such as “protest” or “civil unrest”
Analyst in Emergency
; and (2) the nature and scope of the
Management and Disaster
damages caused by the civil unrest generally do not meet the cost threshold used to determine
Recovery
whether a major disaster declaration is warranted. Other considerations include whether the types

of assistance authorized under an emergency declaration are sufficient to meet the civil unrest
recovery needs of states, localities, nonprofit organizations, households, and businesses.

Some might question whether Stafford Act assistance is appropriate for civil unrest incidents. According to the Senate report
on the bill that would become the Stafford Act, Congress designed the law to “only respond to natural catastrophes” and was
not intended to “respond to the occasionally catastrophic consequences of social, economic, or political activity and
establishes no administrative or programmatic mechanisms to do so.” There are other federal programs, such as the SBA
Disaster Loan Program, that are designed to provide federal assistance in response to civil unrest and states and localities can
seek assistance through those programs in the absence of a major disaster declaration.
Others may argue that Stafford Act assistance is warranted because the damages caused by civil unrest are similar to those
caused by natural disasters. While existing federal programs provide some assistance for recovery from civil unrest, Stafford
Act assistance is generally more comprehensive: a major disaster declaration authorizes FEMA to provide both short-term
assistance (such as emergency food, medical assistance, and sheltering) and long-term assistance (such as reconstruction,
assistance to individuals and households, and hazard mitigation) through grants and loans.
This report provides context to the debate about the use of the Stafford Act to support recovery from incidents of civil unrest.
It also examines various policy options and considerations for Congress including:
 amending the definition of major disaster to include civil unrest;
 expanding assistance provided by major disaster declaration designations;
 revising the per capita indicator cost threshold used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to
evaluate state need and capacity;
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Stafford Act and Selected Federal Recovery Programs for Civil Unrest

 expanding the authorization of Individual Assistance;
 expanding Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for civil unrest incidents;
 expanding the types of assistance provided under emergency declarations;
 increasing assistance to businesses damaged by civil unrest that are also suffering economic injury as a
result of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; and
 oversight of Public Assistance for law enforcement activities.
The report concludes with policy observations that Congress could consider when contemplating laws and policies governing
federal assistance for civil unrest incidents.

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Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Recovery Authorities and Programs ................................................................................................ 2
Stafford Act Declarations .......................................................................................................... 2
Stafford Act Declaration Process ........................................................................................ 2
Major Disaster Declarations ............................................................................................... 4
Emergency Declarations ..................................................................................................... 8
Small Business Act Disaster Declarations ................................................................................ 9
Community and Economic Development Programs ............................................................... 10
EDA Programs .................................................................................................................. 10
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program ........................................ 12
Historical Overview of Federal Assistance ............................................................................. 13
Small Business Administration ......................................................................................... 13
Federal Emergency Management Agency ........................................................................ 15
Community and Economic Development Programs ......................................................... 17
Policy Options and Considerations for Congress .......................................................................... 18
Amending the Definition of a Major Disaster ......................................................................... 18
Major Disaster Declaration Designations ............................................................................... 20
Per Capita Indicator Cost Threshold ....................................................................................... 21
Individual Assistance Authorization........................................................................................ 22
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding ............................................................................ 23
Expanding Available Types of Assistance for Emergency Declarations ................................. 25
COVID-19 Considerations ...................................................................................................... 26
Public Assistance for Law Enforcement ................................................................................. 26
Concluding Policy Observations ................................................................................................... 27

Figures
Figure 1. Stafford Act Declaration Process ..................................................................................... 3
Figure 2. SBA Disaster Loans for Civil Unrest Incidents ............................................................. 15
Figure 3. FEMA Assistance as Authorized by the 1992 Major Disaster Declaration .................... 17
Figure 4. Major Disaster Definition .............................................................................................. 19

Figure D-1. FEMA Denial Letter: Civil Unrest in Baltimore, Maryland ...................................... 33
Figure E-1. FEMA Denial Letter: Flint Water Contamination Incident ........................................ 34

Tables
Table 1. Small Business Act Declarations Related to Civil Unrest ............................................... 13
Table 2. Stafford Act Declaration Requests Related to Civil Unrest ............................................. 16

Table A-1. FEMA Assistance Available Under Stafford Act Declarations .................................... 29
Table B-1. General Categories of Assistance ................................................................................ 30
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Table C-1. Factors Considered for a Governor’s Request for a Major Disaster Authorizing
Public Assistance ........................................................................................................................ 32
Table C-2. Factors Considered for a Governor’s Request for a Major Disaster Authorizing
Individual Assistance .................................................................................................................. 32

Appendixes
Appendix A. FEMA Assistance ..................................................................................................... 29
Appendix B. CDBG Eligible Activities ......................................................................................... 30
Appendix C. Public and Individual Assistance Factors ................................................................. 32
Appendix D. Maryland Major Disaster Denial ............................................................................. 33
Appendix E. Flint Major Disaster Denial ...................................................................................... 34

Contacts
Author Information ........................................................................................................................ 35

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Introduction
Since the founding of the nation, states and localities have sought assistance from the federal
government for incidents of civil unrest.1 Federal assistance was ad hoc and provided on a case-
by-case basis until the middle of the twentieth
century, when the Federal Disaster Relief Act
Report Terms
of 1950 (P.L. 81-875) and the Small Business
Civil Unrest
Act of 1953 (P.L. 83-163) established
frameworks and processes for providing
For the purposes of this report, the term “civil
unrest” is used to describe mass demonstrations or
disaster assistance to states and localities that
acts of civil disobedience, including but not limited to
are still in effect today.2
arson, violence, and damage to property.
Starting in the 1960s, state and local
State
governments began requesting supplemental
Under the Stafford Act the term “state” means any
federal assistance through the framework to
State of the United States, the District of Columbia,
help businesses, public and nonprofit
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern
organizations, and individuals and households
Mariana Islands (42 U.S.C. §5122(4)).
recover from the uninsured costs of civil unrest
incidents. The amount and type of assistance
Tribe or Tribal Government
provided has varied depending on the nature
The term “tribe” refers to Indian tribal governments.
Per the Stafford Act, “[t]he term ‘Indian tribal
and scope of the incident, as well as the
government’ means the governing body of any Indian
President and Administration officials’
or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, vil age, or
assessment of the damages caused by the
community that the Secretary of the Interior
incident. Of note, the federal government is
acknowledges to exist as an Indian tribe under the
neither the first responder, nor the primary
Federally Recognized Indian Tribe List Act of 1994”
(42 U.S.C. §5122(6)).
source of assistance to areas stricken by civil
unrest. Federal resources are intended to
Tribal Chief Executive
supplement those of state and local
The Stafford Act defines “Chief Executive” as the
governments, the private sector, and voluntary
“person who is the Chief, Chairman, Governor,
President, or similar executive official of an Indian
efforts.
tribal government” (42 U.S.C. §5122(12)).
This report is divided into four sections. The
first section of this report provides an overview of selected recovery authorities and federal
programs relevant to civil unrest recovery assistance. These sources include loan and grant
programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA), the
Small Business Administration (SBA), the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development
Administration (EDA), and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This
section also describes how states and localities can request federal assistance. The second section
of the report provides a historical overview of requests for federal assistance in response to civil
unrest incidents since 1965. The third section discusses policy options and considerations that
may be of interest to Congress. The final section concludes with policy observations.

1 For example, in 1787 General Benjamin Lincoln mustered 4,400 soldiers to put down an insurgency known as
“Shays’ Rebellion.” See Leonard L. Richards, Shays’s Rebellion: The American Revolution’s Final Battle (University
of Pennsylvania Press, 2002), p. 25.
2 The Federal Disaster Relief Act of 1950 (P.L. 81-875) established a framework and process of providing orderly and
continuing means of assistance by the federal government to state and local governments. Much of the framework is
still in effect today. The Federal Disaster Relief Act made disaster assistance more immediately accessible by
authorizing the President to issue major disaster declarations in response to gubernatorial requests for assistance.
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Recovery Authorities and Programs
The following sections provide an overview of major disaster and emergency declarations
authorized under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 93-
288, the Stafford Act), followed by detailed descriptions of recovery programs authorized by the
Small Business Act (P.L 85-536), and recovery programs provided through EDA and HUD.
Stafford Act Declarations
The Stafford Act authorizes the President to issue declarations that provide states, tribes, and
localities, as well as individuals and nonprofit organizations, with a range of federal assistance in
response to natural and human-caused incidents.3
There are two potential declarations under the Stafford Act that could provide federal assistance
in response to a civil unrest incident: (1) a major disaster declaration, and (2) an emergency
declaration.
The following sections provide an overview of the Stafford Act declaration process and describe
major disaster and emergency declarations, including their respective definitions, and types of
assistance that could be authorized in response to civil unrest incidents.
Stafford Act Declaration Process
The federal government does not automatically provide assistance to local, state, territorial, and
Indian tribal governments when an incident occurs.4 In most cases, the governor or tribal chief
executive requests that the President declare an emergency or major disaster and authorize
various types of assistance (e.g., Public Assistance and Individual Assistance).5 This is because
federal assistance is intended to supplement—not supplant—local, state, territorial, or Indian
tribal government response and recovery efforts.6 In making such a request, the governor or tribal

3 For more information on Stafford Act declarations, see CRS Report R43784, FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process:
A Primer, by Bruce R. Lindsay; and CRS Report R42702, Stafford Act Declarations 1953-2016: Trends, Analyses, and
Implications for Congress, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
4 44 C.F.R. §206.32(e) defines an incident as “[a]ny condition which meets the definition of major disaster or
emergency as set forth in §206.2 which causes damage or hardship that may result in a Presidential declaration of a
major disaster or an emergency.”
5 44 C.F.R. §§206.35, 206.36, 206.40(a); FEMA, “The Disaster Declaration Process”; FEMA, “FAQs: Current Process
for Tribal Governments to Request a Presidential Declaration,” last updated May 24, 2019, https://www.fema.gov/
frequently-asked-questions-current-process-tribal-governments-request-presidential-declaration. For more information
about the disaster declaration process, see CRS Report R43784, FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process: A Primer, by
Bruce R. Lindsay. Presidential declarations of emergency and major disaster include the areas designated as being
eligible for federal assistance, as well as the types of assistance the designated areas are eligible to receive (44 C.F.R.
§206.2(a)(6)). Additional designated areas and available assistance are published in the Federal Register and listed on
FEMA’s “Disasters” website (FEMA, “Disasters,” https://www.fema.gov/disasters). A designated area is “[a]ny
emergency or major disaster-affected portion of a State which has been determined eligible for Federal assistance.” (44
C.F.R. §206.2(a)(6)).
6 The governor or tribal chief executive’s request must document that the “situation is of such severity and magnitude
that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments” and that supplemental
federal assistance is necessary (44 C.F.R. §§206.35 and 206.36). To justify a declaration of emergency, supplemental
federal assistance must be needed to “save lives and to protect property, public health and safety, or to lessen or avert
the threat of a disaster” (44 C.F.R. §206.3). To justify a declaration of major disaster, federal assistance must be needed
to “supplement the efforts and available resources of the State, local governments, disaster relief organizations, and
compensation by insurance for disaster-related losses” (44 C.F.R. §206.36).
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chief executive must demonstrate that they are unable to effectively respond to the incident
without federal assistance.7 Figure 1 depicts the Stafford Act Declaration Process.
Figure 1. Stafford Act Declaration Process

Source: Developed by CRS based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) webpage on “The
Disaster Declaration Process,” available at https://www.fema.gov/disaster-declaration-process.
The governor or tribal chief executive’s request for a presidential declaration of emergency or
major disaster must include information about the actions and resources that have been or will be
committed, and an estimate of the amount and severity of the disaster-caused damages.8 For all
but the most catastrophic events, this process is deliberative and involves accumulating
information from several sources during the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process.9
A key factor included in the PDA report to determine whether a major disaster declaration may be
warranted is the “per capita indicator.” Generally, FEMA recommends a major disaster be
declared only if assessments of public and nonprofit infrastructure damages in the state meet or
exceed $1.53 per capita statewide, or $3.84 per capita at the county level.10 The damage
assessments must also exceed $1 million across the state or territory, or $250,000 across a tribe.11

7 44 C.F.R. §§206.35 and 206.36.
8 For a list and description of information requirements to accompany a governor or tribal chief executive’s request for
an emergency declaration and a major disaster declaration, see 44 C.F.R. §206.35 and 44 C.F.R. §206.36, respectively.
9 For example, see FEMA, “Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration: Major Disaster or Emergency,” form, OMB
Control Number 1660-0009, expires 09/30/2019, available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/
1512409550714-752b7004a7c74c67a485a36551d7c889/FEMAForm010-0-13PresidentialDeclarationRequest.pdf (note
that the form expiration date has passed, but this is the form linked to on FEMA’s “Request for Presidential Disaster
Declaration Major or Emergency” webpage, available at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/
28122). For more information on the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process, see FEMA, “Preliminary
Damage Assessments,” last updated December 6, 2019, https://www.fema.gov/preliminary-damage-assessments; see
also CRS Report R44977, Preliminary Damage Assessments for Major Disasters: Overview, Analysis, and Policy
Observations, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
10 FEMA, “Per Capita Impact Indicator and Project Thresholds,” https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/applicants/
per-capita-impact-indicator.
11 44 C.F.R. §206.48(a)(1)-(2); and FEMA, Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance, January 2017, https://www.fema.gov/
media-library-data/1523033284358-20b86875d12843441a521a6141c15099/Pilot_Guidance.pdf (hereinafter FEMA,
Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance).
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A major disaster declaration does not trigger all forms of assistance authorized by the Stafford
Act. Rather, different programs are provided depending on the nature and scope of the incident.
The following sections describe the types of assistance provided by FEMA and the SBA that may
be authorized for a civil unrest incident under a major disaster declaration.
Major Disaster Declarations
Major disaster declarations authorize a wide range of federal assistance to states, local
governments, tribal governments, individuals and households, and certain nonprofit organizations
to aid recovery from a catastrophic incident. Major disaster declarations must be requested by the
state governor or tribal chief executive.
Section 102(2) of the Stafford Act defines a major disaster as:
any natural catastrophe (including any hurricane, tornado, storm, high water, wind-driven
water, tidal wave, tsunami, earthquake, volcanic eruption, landslide, mudslide, snowstorm,
or drought), or, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United
States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity
and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under this chapter to supplement the
efforts and available resources of states, local governments, and disaster relief
organizations in alleviating the damage, loss, hardship, or suffering caused thereby.12
Of note, the definition of a major disaster lists
PA-Only Major Disaster Declarations
natural disasters and, regardless of cause, any
Incidents without sufficient damages to households may
fire, flood or explosion but does not include
be limited to Public Assistance. Major disaster
the terms “civil unrest” or “riots” which may
declarations that only authorize the Public Assistance
pose a challenge to states and localities
program for the incident are referred to as “PA-only”
major disaster declarations. Though they are referred
seeking a major disaster declaration in
to as PA-only major disaster declarations, they may
response to an incident of civil unrest. The
authorize both FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and
potential implications of this definition are
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. PA-only major
addressed in the “Amending the Definition of
disaster declarations do not authorize FEMA’s
a Major Disaster” section of this report.
Individual Assistance program.

Major Disaster Assistance: FEMA
FEMA administers three principal emergency and disaster assistance programs under a major
disaster declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act: (1) Public Assistance (PA), (2) Individual
Assistance (IA), and (3) Hazard Mitigation Assistance.13
FEMA Assistance Programs at a Glance
FEMA provides three principal forms of assistance:
Public Assistance: provides grants on a cost-share basis to state, territorial, Indian tribal government, and local
governments and certain private nonprofit organizations (PA Applicants). PA reimburses Applicants for the costs
of emergency protective services, conducting debris removal operations, and repairing or replacing damaged
facilities.
Individual Assistance: provides financial and direct aid to affected individuals and households, and can take the
form of housing assistance, crisis counseling, case management services, legal services, disaster unemployment
assistance, and other needs assistance.

12 P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §5122.
13 FEMA is also responsible for coordinating state, local, and federal response efforts.
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Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): funds mitigation and resiliency projects and programs. The
state, territory, or tribal government can use HMGP funding for mitigation projects for any eligible activities that
reduce risk and build resilience.
Public Assistance
A major disaster declaration issued for civil unrest could authorize PA to provide reimbursement
for the following activities, grouped into emergency or permanent work categories:14
PA Emergency Work includes
 Debris Removal (PA Category A)—PA Applicants may receive direct assistance
and reimbursement for the costs of removing debris and wreckage from public
and private property when FEMA determines such work is in the public
interest.15
 Emergency Protective Measures (PA Category B)—PA Applicants may
receive direct assistance and reimbursement for work undertaken to save lives
and protect property (e.g., search and rescue, emergency medical care, the
distribution of food and first aid, law enforcement, and firefighting).16
 Mission Assignments—the President has the authority to direct any federal
agency to use its authorities and resources to support state and local response and
recovery efforts, primarily through Public Assistance Emergency Work, as
authorized in Sections 402, 403, and 502 of the Stafford Act. In these cases,
FEMA may “assign” missions to federal entities and organizations to address a
state’s request for assistance pursuant to, or in anticipation of, a Stafford Act
declaration.17 FEMA does not exclusively perform these federal disaster response
and recovery operations; however, activities carried out by other agencies
through these “Mission Assignments” are generally reimbursed by FEMA
through the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF).18 For example, the Army Corps of
Engineers may be tasked with debris removal activities following an incident,
including civil unrest.
PA Permanent Work—State, tribal, territorial, and local governments and eligible private
organizations may receive reimbursement for the costs incurred to repair, restore, reconstruct, or
replace the following types of disaster-damaged facilities:
 Roads and Bridges (Category C);19

14 For more information on FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program, see CRS In Focus IF11529, A Brief Overview of
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, by Erica A. Lee.
15 For more information on PA for Debris Removal, see FEMA, Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
(PAPPG), effective June 1, 2020, pp. 99-109, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/fema_public-
assistance-program-and-policy-guide_v4_6-1-2020.pdf (hereinafter FEMA, PAPPG).
16 FEMA, PAPPG, pp. 110-137.
17 FEMA, FEMA Mission Assignment (MA) Policy, FP 104-010-2, November 6, 2015, p. 4, https://www.fema.gov/
media-library-data/1450099364660-fd855ba68f3189d974966ea259a2641a/Mission_Assignment_Policy.pdf.
18 The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is FEMA’s primary funding source for response and recovery projects. Funds from
the DRF are not available for activities undertaken under other authorities or agency missions, or for non-Stafford Act
incidents requiring a coordinated federal response. For more information about the DRF, see CRS Report R45484, The
Disaster Relief Fund: Overview and Issues, by William L. Painter.
19 Ibid., pp. 168-169.
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 Water Control Facilities (Category D);20
 Buildings and Equipment (Category E)—including eligible building contents;21
 Utilities (Category F);22 and
 Parks, Recreational, Other Facilities (Category G).23
Individual Assistance
Individual Assistance (IA) provides grants and direct assistance to individuals and families. The
forms of IA that may be provided pursuant to a major disaster declaration include
 Individuals and Households Program (IHP), which can take the form of
assistance for housing and for other needs (referred to as Other Needs Assistance
or ONA);
 Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program;
 Disaster Unemployment Assistance;
 Disaster Legal Services; and
 Disaster Case Management.24
All forms of IA may be available following a presidential major disaster declaration.25
Many major disasters provide IA, in addition to PA and Hazard Mitigation Assistance. In rare
cases, there have been major disasters that have only provided IA, as discussed later in “Major
Disaster Declaration Designations.” IA must be authorized in order for individuals and businesses
to qualify for assistance through the SBA’s Disaster Loan Program.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) assistance is triggered by a request from the governor
of an affected state or territory, or the chief executive of an affected Indian tribal government after
a major disaster declaration or the receipt of a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG).26 The
HMGP program is designed to ensure that the reconstruction process following a disaster
addresses opportunities to include mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and property
from future disasters. HMGP funding may be available for the entire state if requested and is not

20 Ibid., pp. 170-171.
21 Ibid., pp. 171-176
22 Ibid., pp. 176-178.
23 Ibid., pp. 179-182.
24 For more information on FEMA housing assistance, see CRS Report R47015, FEMA’s Individuals and Households
Program (IHP)—Implementation and Considerations for Congress, by Elizabeth M. Webster. For more information on
the Individual Assistance (IA) programs, see CRS Report R46014, FEMA Individual Assistance Programs: An
Overview, by Elizabeth M. Webster; see also FEMA, “Individual Disaster Assistance,” https://www.fema.gov/
individual-disaster-assistance. For additional information on disaster unemployment assistance, see CRS Report
RS22022, Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA), by Julie M. Whittaker.
25 FEMA, “How a Disaster Gets Declared,” https://www.fema.gov/disasters/how-declared.
26 An FMAG declaration authorizes various forms of federal assistance, such as equipment, personnel, and grants to
any state or local government for the control, management, and mitigation of any fire on public or private forest land or
grassland that might become a major disaster. The Fire Management Assistance declaration process is initiated when a
state submits a request for assistance to the FEMA Regional Director at the time a “threat of major disaster” exists. For
more information on the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, see CRS Insight IN11187, Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance, by Diane P. Horn.
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restricted to the areas included in the declaration.27 HMGP funding does not have to be used for
the incident that caused the major disaster. Rather, the state, territory, or tribal government can
use HMGP funds for any eligible activity and is not limited to addressing the hazard or area for
which the grant was awarded. For example, a state which received HMGP funding for a disaster
declaration for a coastal flood could choose to use the funding for mitigation activities related to
wildfires in inland counties. In the case of civil unrest, eligible mitigation funding could
potentially be used to build resilience, such as property acquisition and structure demolition;
purchase of generators; structural and nonstructural retrofitting of existing buildings and
facilities; infrastructure retrofit; post-disaster code enforcement; technical assistance; or
management costs.
HMGP funding is awarded as a formula grant to a state based on the estimated total federal
assistance per major disaster declaration or FMAG, subject to a sliding scale formula.28 HMGP
funding is up to 15% of the first $2 billion, up to 10% for amounts between $2 billion and $10
billion, and up to 7.5% for amounts between $10 billion and $35.333 billion. States with
enhanced mitigation plans29 receive 20%, not to exceed $35.333 billion.
Major Disaster Assistance: SBA
Major disaster declarations may also put the SBA Disaster Loan Program into effect.30 As
described below, the SBA Disaster Loan Program provides four categories of loans for disaster-
related losses. Because the PA-only major disaster designation plays a key role in determining
SBA loan eligibility, the implications of a PA-only designation are italicized below.
 Home Personal Property Disaster Loans—provide up to $40,000 to replace
personal items not covered by insurance such as furniture, vehicles, and clothing.
Individuals and households are ineligible for SBA Home Personal Property
Disaster Loans under PA-only major disaster declarations.
 Home Physical Disaster Loans—provide up to $200,000 to repair or replace
uninsured or underinsured disaster related damages. Home Physical Disaster
Loans can only be used to repair and rebuild primary residences. Individuals and
households are ineligible for SBA Home Physical Disaster Loans under PA-only
major disaster declarations.
 Business Physical Disaster Loans—provide up to $2 million to help businesses
and nonprofit organizations repair or replace disaster-damaged property,
including inventory and supplies. Only private nonprofit organizations are
eligible for SBA Business Physical Disaster Loans for PA-only major disaster
loans.
 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs)—provide up to $2 million to help
meet financial obligations and operating expenses that could have been met had
the disaster not occurred. Loan proceeds can only be used for working capital
necessary to enable the business or organization to alleviate the specific
economic injury and to resume normal operations. Loan amounts for EIDLs are

27 FEMA, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/
fy15_HMA_Guidance.pdf.
28 42 U.S.C. §5170c(a) and 44 C.F.R. §206.432(b)).
29 44 C.F.R. §201.5.
30 13 C.F.R. §123.3. For more information on the SBA Disaster Loan Program, see CRS Report R41309, The SBA
Disaster Loan Program: Overview and Possible Issues for Congress, by Bruce R. Lindsay; and CRS Report R44412,
SBA Disaster Loan Program: Frequently Asked Questions, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
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based on actual economic injury and financial needs, regardless of whether the
business suffered any property damage. Only private nonprofit organizations are
eligible for SBA EIDL for PA-only major disaster loans.
Emergency Declarations
Emergency declarations authorize a more limited range of federal assistance and are issued by the
President to protect property and public health and safety and to lessen or avert the threat of a
major disaster. Emergency declarations are generally requested by governors and tribal chief
executives. However, under Stafford Act Section 501(b), the President may issue a unilateral
declaration for certain emergencies when the federal government has the primary responsibility
for incident response (e.g., in the case of destruction of federal property, including the explosion
of the Federal Courthouse at Oklahoma City).31
Section 102(1) of the Stafford Act defines an emergency as
any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the President, federal assistance
is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and to protect
property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any
part of the United States.32
Emergency Assistance: FEMA
FEMA typically is the lead agency for providing federal assistance under an emergency
declaration. Similar to the major disaster declaration, FEMA may also coordinate other federal
entities and organizations involved in the incident and reimburse them through Mission
Assignments. In addition, emergency declarations often authorize Direct Federal Assistance,
whereby FEMA may task other federal personnel to perform emergency work on behalf of the
affected jurisdiction.33 For example, FEMA could task the Army Corps of Engineers to remove
debris pursuant to an emergency declaration for civil unrest if local governments are
overwhelmed.34
Emergency declarations typically only authorize PA “Emergency Work.” They may also, in rare
instances, authorize limited forms of IA: the Individuals and Households Program and the Crisis
Counseling Assistance and Training Program.35 Hazard Mitigation Assistance may not be
authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration.36
PA Emergency Work is not available to businesses, though FEMA may authorize debris removal
from private properties in limited circumstances when it is found to threaten public health and
safety.37

31 P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §5191. Examples of Section 501(b) declarations include the COVID-19 pandemic, the
explosion at the federal courthouse in Oklahoma City, and the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia.
32 P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §5122.
33 P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §§5170a-b, 5192.
34 For more information, see CRS Report R44941, Disaster Debris Management: Requirements, Challenges, and
Federal Agency Roles, by Linda Luther.
35 Stafford Act §502(a)(6), 42 U.S.C. §5192(a)(6), as amended by Section 7321 of the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263), which amended the Stafford Act to enable Crisis
Counseling to be authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration.
36 FEMA, “How a Disaster Gets Declared,” https://www.fema.gov/disasters/how-declared.
37 FEMA, PAPPG, pp. 107-109.
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Emergency Assistance: SBA
Emergency declarations also trigger the SBA Disaster Loan Program, but because emergency
declarations are almost exclusively designated as PA-only, SBA disaster loans are limited to
private, nonprofit organizations. Businesses are ineligible for SBA disaster loans under an
emergency declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act.
Small Business Act Disaster Declarations
Under the Small Business Act, the SBA Administrator has the authority to issue disaster
declarations in response to gubernatorial requests to activate the SBA Disaster Loan Program.
Governors often seek SBA disaster declarations when their requests for Stafford Act assistance
have been denied.
Riots and civil disorders are listed as a declarable incident under the Small Business Act, which
defines a disaster as
a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or
mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters (as
determined by the Secretary of Commerce under section 4107(b) of title 16), ocean
conditions resulting in the closure of customary fishing waters, riots, civil disorders or other
catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.38
In the context of civil unrest, there are two types of declarations that could be issued by the SBA
Administrator absent a presidential declaration under the Stafford Act: (1) a physical disaster
declaration in response to a gubernatorial request for assistance, or (2) an EIDL declaration.
SBA Physical Disaster Declaration
SBA physical disaster declarations make all loan types available to eligible individuals,
households, businesses, and private nonprofit organizations. The thresholds used to determine
whether to issue an SBA physical disaster declaration are significantly lower than those used for
major disaster declarations under the Stafford Act and include a minimum amount of uninsured
physical damage to buildings, machinery, inventory, homes, and other property. Generally, this
minimum is at least 25 homes or businesses (or some combination of the two) that have sustained
uninsured losses of 40% or more in any county or other smaller political subdivision of a state or
U.S. possession.39
SBA EIDL Declaration
SBA EIDL declarations make EIDL assistance available to eligible businesses and private
nonprofit organizations. The criterion used to determine whether to issue an EIDL declaration is
when the SBA Administrator receives a certification from a state governor that at least five small
businesses have suffered substantial economic injury as a result of a disaster. This declaration is
offered only when other viable forms of financial assistance are unavailable. Small agricultural
cooperatives and most private nonprofit organizations located within the disaster area or
contiguous counties and other political subdivisions are eligible for SBA disaster loans when the
SBA Administrator issues an EIDL declaration.

38 P.L. 85-536, 15 U.S.C. §632(k).
39 See 13 C.F.R. §123.3(3)(ii) and 13 C.F.R. §123.3(3)(iii).
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Community and Economic Development Programs
Community and economic development programs have provided assistance to state and local
stakeholders following instances of civil unrest. EDA and HUD administer programs that may
assist state and local stakeholders with economic recovery, neighborhood revitalization,
rebuilding, and other activities. However, community and economic development programs differ
from FEMA and SBA disaster assistance programs in several ways. For instance, several EDA
programs and HUD’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program have been
authorized by Congress to meet place-based or broad-based community and economic
development objectives, rather than civil unrest recovery objectives. Also, the method of
appropriating, allocating, and distributing funds is different from the process for FEMA and SBA
programs, and the time frame for implementation is generally focused on supporting long-term
economic recovery or resiliency plans and economic restructuring initiatives. Additionally, with
some exceptions, the eligible recipients of community and economic development programs are
public entities and institutions rather than individuals or businesses.
Following instances of civil unrest, funding from EDA programs and the CDBG program provide
assistance for the implementation of economic recovery plans and strategies that have been
developed by state and local stakeholders. The programs offer flexibility to state and local
stakeholders to address the unique development needs of their communities through a range of
construction and nonconstruction projects and activities with annually appropriated funds.
Eligible entities apply to the federal agency for project funds—generally through existing
procedures and processes—and are not required to apply for a formal emergency declaration from
EDA and HUD program administrators.
Additionally, in some cases, these programs receive supplemental appropriations. Congress
approves supplemental appropriations for EDA programs and HUD’s CDBG program in response
to national or local disasters (e.g., hurricanes, wildfires, flood events, public health pandemics) or
to address ongoing or episodic conditions of economic distress.
EDA Programs
EDA programs, including Technical Assistance, Public Works, Economic Adjustment Assistance
(EAA), and others, may support a variety of activities that facilitate economic recovery following
instances of civil unrest.40 EDA grants are awarded on a competitive basis to states, cities,
counties, tribal governments, economic development districts, and other political subdivisions of
states, as well as institutions of higher education or a consortium of such institutions, and not-for-
profit organizations acting in cooperation with officials of a political subdivision of a state.41
These grants may support both construction and nonconstruction projects.
Although EDA does not make grants directly to businesses, eligible recipients can use EDA
funding to support businesses through credit or technical assistance programs.42 For instance,
revolving loan fund (RLF) programs can be used to target assistance to specific neighborhoods,

40 EDA administers additional programs. See “EDA Programs,” https://www.eda.gov/programs/.
41 The term “state” includes the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of
Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. For-profit entities and individuals do not qualify for Technical Assistance,
Public Works, and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs. 42 U.S.C. §3122.
42 Approximately 400 organizations currently administer EDA-funded revolving loan funds (RLFs). For more
information about RLFs, see CRS Report Economic Development Revolving Loan Funds (ED-RLFs).
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regions, and types of businesses following instances of civil unrest. Businesses may also receive
direct technical assistance through projects funded by EDA grants or EDA-supported University
Center partners.43
Congress approves annual appropriations for EDA programs and occasionally approves
supplemental appropriations for the EAA program in response to certain natural disasters and
other events.44
Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs
EDA’s Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) programs help distressed
communities revitalize, expand, and upgrade their physical infrastructure as well as assist areas
experiencing long-term economic distress or sudden and substantial economic dislocation.45 By
example, in October 2015, EDA’s EAA funding helped establish a nonprofit entrepreneurial
center to assist small business owners and entrepreneurs who were financially affected by the
civil unrest in the Baltimore region.46 The EAA program also supports post-disaster economic
recovery efforts, providing assistance for places that have been declared areas of major disaster or
emergency under the Stafford Act.47 Projects are generally eligible for Public Works and EAA
funding if they are consistent with an EDA-approved economic development strategy and the
service areas meet the criteria for economic distress.48 Infrastructure—including water and sewer
systems improvements, industrial parks, business incubator facilities, and skill-training
facilities—is one of many eligible uses of Public Works and EAA funds. EAA funding may also
be used for nonconstruction activities, such as technical assistance, including feasibility studies;
strategic planning activities that include the creation of short-term action plans intended to
stabilize a distressed community and regionally-oriented, long-term development strategies; and
the capitalization of RLFs, which provide loans to qualifying businesses.49
In addition to the Public Works and EAA programs, EDA’s Technical Assistance program
supports economic development decisionmaking, such as impact analyses or feasibility studies. In
1968, EDA’s Technical Assistance funding helped launch the Economic Resources Corporation

43 For additional information about the EDA’s University Center program see https://www.eda.gov/programs/
university-centers/.
44 In FY2020, $37 million was allocated for the EAA grant program from EDA appropriations (P.L. 116-94). Since the
early 1990s, Congress has approved supplemental funding to “support long-term economic recovery and economic
resiliency in the aftermath of disasters.” By example, in FY2018 and FY2019, Congress appropriated an additional
$600 million per year to EDA for the EAA program for communities impacted by disasters that occurred in calendar
years 2017-2019. See EDA, “2020 Disaster Assistance Brochure: Leading Economic Recovery in Disaster-Impacted
Communities,” https://www.eda.gov/files/programs/disaster-recovery/EDA-Disaster-Brochure.pdf. Additionally, in
FY2020, Congress provided $1.5 billion of supplemental grant funding to the EAA program to address economic
dislocations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in P.L. 116-136.
45 42 U.S.C. §3141 and 42 U.S.C. §3149.
46 EDA, FY2015 Annual Report, pp. 30-31, https://www.eda.gov/files/annual-reports/fy2015/EDA-FY2015-Annual-
Report-full.pdf.
47 42 U.S.C. §3149. For additional information about EDA and Disaster Recovery, see https://www.eda.gov/disaster-
recovery/. For more information about Economic Adjustment Assistance, see https://www.eda.gov/programs/eda-
programs/; and CRS Insight IN11402, The Economic Development Administration’s Economic Recovery Assistance for
COVID-19 Impacted Communities, by Julie M. Lawhorn.
48 The criteria for economic distress is determined by the area’s unemployment rate, per capita income, or a special
need. 42 U.S.C. §3161.
49 For additional information about EDA programs, see https://www.eda.gov/programs/eda-programs/.
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(ERC) in South Los Angeles, California to assist with economic development projects in the
Watts community following the Watts Riots in 1965.50
The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program
The majority of CDBG funds are administered through two sub-programs: (1) an entitlement
cities program for principal cities of metropolitan statistical areas, or other cities with populations
of 50,000 or greater (or urban counties of 200,000 or greater); and (2) a state program, which
allows states to sub-award CDBG funds (usually competitively) to nonentitlement communities.51
The entitlement cities program receives approximately 70% of CDBG funds.52
Because it is a block grant program, CDBG funds are relatively flexible, and may be utilized for a
variety of purposes provided that the activities meet one of three national objectives.
CDBG National Objectives
The CDBG program has three national objectives:
1. principally benefit low- and moderate-income (LMI) persons;53
2. aid in the prevention or elimination of slums or blight;
3. or meet an urgent need for the purposes of health or safety.54
The CDBG program flexibilities enable grantees to deal with emergencies and unforeseen events.
Existing CDBG funds can be adapted for recovery and mitigation of damages from disasters or
civil unrest, through
 planning for and obligating future funds in service of these objectives; or
 reprogramming existing funds by amending grantees’ consolidated plans in
coordination with HUD.
Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. §§5301 et seq.)
identifies the categories of eligible activities that may be undertaken with CDBG funds.
Generally, program activities fall into six broad categories: (1) planning and administrative
activities; (2) public works and public facilities; (3) economic development; (4) public services;
(5) housing-related activities; and (6) acquisition, demolition, and disposition of real property.55
CDBG grantees may reprogram funds to meet any eligible need, including recovery. Budget
constraints and competing priorities within units of local government may limit the likelihood of
this option. In some cases, grantees may receive additional waivers or alternative requirements
for the use of CDBG funds in response to emerging issues. For instance, in response to the 1992

50 EDA, “Success Story: Rebuilding Watts California,” August 2015 Newsletter, https://www.eda.gov/archives/2016/
news/blogs/2015/08/01/success-story.htm. In 1969, EDA’s Public Works funding and other programs helped the ERC
build infrastructure to support economic recovery activities in the area. For more information, see EDA, Jobs Through
Economic Development (Washington, DC: 1979), pp. 30-31.
51 HUD, State Community Development Block Grant Program, accessed January 24, 2020,
https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg-state/.
52 There are other CDBG components for insular and tribal entities that are beyond the scope of this report.
53 The low- and moderate-income (LMI) benefit national objective is required to total 70% of a grantee’s projects under
the conventional CDBG program, although waivers may be obtained in extenuating circumstances.
54 42 U.S.C. §§5301 et seq. as interpreted by HUD at 24 C.F.R. §570.200 and the HUD Guide to National Objectives
and Eligible Activities for CDBG Entitlement Communities.
55 Table B-1 provides a sample of eligible activities within these categories.
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Los Angeles riots, Congress increased the ceiling on the use of the CDBG funds for public
service activities in Los Angeles from 15% to 25%.56
Historical Overview of Federal Assistance
Small Business Administration
The SBA has long been the main source federal assistance for civil unrest incidents in the United
States (see Table 1). Since 1953, the SBA has aided businesses, individuals, households, and
nonprofit organizations by providing direct loans to help repair, rebuild, and recover from natural
and human-caused disasters.57 The SBA also offers low-interest, long-term loans to businesses to
help recover from economic losses after a declared disaster.
Table 1. Small Business Act Declarations Related to Civil Unrest
1967-2020; Nominal Dollars
Incident Description and Declaration Number
Declaration Type and
Approved Loan
Approval Date
Amounta
Civil Unrest in Charleston, South Carolina
Economic Injury Disaster Loan
$332,300
(Death of George Floyd)
(EIDL) Declaration
SC-00074

08/17/2020
Civil Unrest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
SBA Administrative Physical
$373,300
(Death of George Floyd)
Disaster Declaration
PA-00106

EIDL Declaration

08/07/2020
Civil Unrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota
SBA Administrative Physical
$3,465,600
(Death of George Floyd)
Disaster Declaration
MN–00081
EIDL Declaration
08/03/2020
Civil Unrest in Chicago, Il inois
SBA Administrative Physical
$1,134,000b
(Death of George Floyd)
Disaster Declaration
IL–00060
EIDL Declaration
06/23/2020
Civil Unrest in San Francisco, California
SBA Administrative Physical
$4,350,000
(Death of George Floyd)
Disaster Declaration
CA–00319
06/17/2020
Civil Unrest in Baltimore, Maryland
SBA Administrative Physical
$165,400b
(Death of Freddie Gray)
Disaster Declaration
MD-00028
EIDL Declaration
05/11/2015

56 GAO, Community Investment: Los Angeles CDBG Public Service Funds, GAO-02-726R, June 28, 2002,
https://www.gao.gov/assets/100/91341.pdf.
57 For more information on the SBA Disaster Loan Program, see CRS Report R44412, SBA Disaster Loan Program:
Frequently Asked Questions, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
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Civil Unrest in Ferguson, Missouri
EIDL Declaration
$7,800
(Death of Michael Brown)
09/03/2014
MO–00072
Civil Unrest in Cincinnati, Ohio
EIDL Declaration
$176,700
(Death of Timothy Thomas)
05/01/2001
#9L55
Civil Unrest in Seattle, Washington
EIDL Declaration
$19,000
(World Trade Organization Conference)
04/07/2000
#9H05
Civil Unrest in St. Petersburg, Florida
SBA Administrative Physical
$1,639,100
(Death of Tyron Lewis)
Disaster Declaration
#2916
12/03/1996
Civil Unrest in Washington DC.
EIDL Declaration
$809,200
(Death of Daniel Enrique Gomez)
July 25, 1991
#7356, #7357, #73581
Civil Disorder in Miami, Florida
SBA Administrative Physical
$22,641,858
(Death of Arthur McDuffie)
Disaster Declaration
#1843
06/02/1980
Civil Disorder in Newark, NJ
SBA Administrative Physical
$365,650
(Beating of John Wil iam Smith)
Disaster Declaration
#632
07/31/1967
Civil Disorder in Detroit, MI
SBA Administrative Physical
$3,979,500
(Police raid of a blind pigc)
Disaster Declaration
#631
07/31/1967
Sources: Compiled by CRS using SBA Disaster Loan Data Sets, Federal Register, and press accounts.
Notes: SBA Administrative Physical Disaster Declarations makes all SBA loan types available to eligible
individuals and households, businesses, and private, nonprofit organizations. Not all applicants accept approved
loans.
a. Loan amounts provided by SBA for select disasters are current as of November 18, 2020.
b. SBA agency total amount. Granular data on SBA business disaster loans (including EIDL) and home disaster
loans were not available.
c. A “blind pig” refers to an il icit drinking establishment.
Figure 2 provides SBA disaster loan amounts associated with civil unrest incidents since 1980.
As shown in the figure, the SBA provided over $336.2 million in loans to assist with recovery
from civil unrest following the 1992 acquittal of police officers on criminal charges of beating
Rodney King, the most assistance provided by the SBA for a civil unrest incident to date.
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Figure 2. SBA Disaster Loans for Civil Unrest Incidents
SBA Disaster Loan Amounts by Declaration Type

Source: Compiled by CRS using disaster loan datasets provided by SBA.
Notes: Figure 2 is not to scale due to the amount of assistance provided to individuals and businesses in Los
Angeles in 1992 fol owing the acquittal of police officers on criminal charges of beating Rodney King. Not all
applicants accept approved loans. The presidential declaration in Los Angeles in 1992 was authorized pursuant to
the Stafford Act and, therefore, is not included in Table 1.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
States and localities have also sought civil unrest assistance from FEMA by requesting a major
disaster declaration pursuant to the Stafford Act. As shown in Table 2, there have been four
separate gubernatorial requests for major disaster declarations in response to civil unrest
incidents. Only California’s request, in response to the civil unrest following the verdict of the
criminal trial of police officers in the beating of Rodney King, was approved and major disaster
requests for civil unrest incidents in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Maryland have all been
declined (see Table 2). According to the denial letters sent to the governors by FEMA, the
common rationale for denying the request in North Dakota and Maryland was based on the
“determination that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not appropriate for
this event.”58Another rationale provided is that the impact to public infrastructure is “within the
capabilities of the local and state governments to recover from.”59

58 FEMA, “North Dakota—Civil Unrest, Denial,” Preliminary Damage Assessment Report, May 18, 2017, p. 1,
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1500312452287-414eb975c508f46a05f0d2666a693320/
PDAReportDenialND.pdf; FEMA, “Maryland—Civil Unrest, Denial of Appeal,” Preliminary Damage Assessment
Report, July 29, 2015, p. 1, https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1441051207394-
f545e3fcbcc33e36b70031f9b6f26e02/PDAReportAppealDenialMD.pdf. See 44 C.F.R. §206.48 for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) factors for evaluating a governor’s request for a major disaster
declaration.
59 “Federal Government Denies Minnesota’s Request for Aid to Clean Up, Rebuild in Twin Cities,” Minnesota Public
Radio, July 11, 2020, at https://www.mprnews.org/story/2020/07/11/federal-government-denies-minnesotas-request-
for-aid-to-clean-up-rebuild-in-twin-cities.
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The specifics behind these denials are unclear. A review of the preliminary damage assessment
reports suggests that the damages caused by the civil unrest incidents in Maryland and Minnesota
met FEMA’s per capita indicator cost threshold, which is a major factor that is used by FEMA
when it makes its major disaster declaration recommendations to the President.
FEMA also considers other factors when evaluating declaration requests.60 Additionally, a request
for assistance could be denied if the incident did not meet the legal definition of a major
disaster.61 The President has ultimate discretion and decisionmaking authority to issue
declarations under the Stafford Act.
Table 2. Stafford Act Declaration Requests Related to Civil Unrest
Approved and Denied Declarations
Request
Declaration
Approval/Denial
Incident Description
Type
Decision
Date
California Fire During a Period of Civil Unrest (DR-942)
Major Disaster
Approved
05/02/1992
Criminal Trial Verdict in beating of Rodney King
Civil Unrest in Baltimore, Maryland
Major Disaster
Denied
07/29/2015
Death of Freddie Gray
Civil Unrest in North Dakota
Major Disaster
Denied
05/18/2017
Dakota Access Pipeline
Civil Unrest in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Major Disaster
Denied
07/10/2020
Death of George Floyd
Sources: Compiled by CRS using FEMA declaration and preliminary damage assessment reports, Federal Register
notices, and press accounts.
The major disaster issued to California provided $93 million in Public Assistance, $38 million for
various FEMA Individual Assistance programs, and $233,173 in hazard mitigation through
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (see Figure 3).62

60 Lists of the factors used to evaluate requests for Stafford Act assistance are located in Table C-1 and Table C-2.
61 See “Major Disaster Declarations,” above.
62 These amounts are in addition to the $336.2 million provided by SBA (see Figure 2).
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Figure 3. FEMA Assistance as Authorized by the 1992 Major Disaster Declaration
Civil Unrest After the Criminal Trial in the Beating of Rodney King

Source: Developed by CRS based on obligations data provided by FEMA.
Note: Figure 3 details grant assistance provided by FEMA. Section 206(c) of the Disaster Mitigation Act of
2000 (P.L. 106-390) amended the Stafford Act to remove the Individual Assistance—Individual and Family Grant
Programs.
Community and Economic Development Programs
As previously mentioned, EDA and HUD also administer programs that assist state and local
stakeholders with economic recovery, neighborhood revitalization, rebuilding, and other
activities. EDA and HUD funds have also been awarded to assist communities recovering from
instances of civil unrest.
For instance, in 1968 EDA’s Technical Assistance and Public Works programs helped launch the
Economic Resources Corporation (ERC) in South Los Angeles, CA, to assist with economic
development projects in the Watts community following the Watts Riots in 1965.63 In October
2015, EDA’s EAA funding helped establish a nonprofit entrepreneurial center to assist small
business owners and entrepreneurs who were financially affected by the civil unrest in the
Baltimore region.64

63 EDA, “Success Story: Rebuilding Watts California,” August 2015 Newsletter, https://www.eda.gov/archives/2016/
news/blogs/2015/08/01/success-story.htm.
64 EDA, FY2015 Annual Report, pp. 30-31, https://www.eda.gov/files/annual-reports/fy2015/EDA-FY2015-Annual-
Report-full.pdf.
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In response to some emergencies, Congress has also passed supplemental appropriations of
CDBG funds, typically, but not exclusively, in areas with federal emergency or disaster
declarations under the Stafford Act.65
Policy Options and Considerations for Congress
The following sections examine policy options and considerations that may be of interest to
Congress when contemplating federal assistance for civil unrest. These policy options and
considerations include
 amending the definition of major disaster to include civil unrest;
 expanding assistance provided by major disaster declaration designations;
 revising FEMA’s per capita indicator cost threshold, which FEMA uses to
evaluate state need and capacity;
 expanding the authorization of FEMA’s Individual Assistance program;
 expanding FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for civil unrest
incidents;
 expanding the types of assistance provided under an emergency declaration;
 increasing assistance to business damaged by civil unrest businesses that are also
suffering economic injury as a result of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19);
and
 withholding FEMA’s Public Assistance from law enforcement.
Amending the Definition of a Major Disaster
The Stafford Act does not explicitly mention civil unrest or civil disorder in its definition of a
major disaster. This omission may discourage FEMA from recommending declarations. As noted
above, according to the PDA reports for the episodes of civil unrest in North Dakota and
Maryland by FEMA, the rationale for denying both requests was based on the “determination that
supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not appropriate for this event.”66 Though
not specifically mentioned in the letter, not meeting the definition of a major disaster could play a
role in declaration decisions. For example, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder’s request for a major
disaster declaration for the Flint water contamination incident was denied based on the grounds
that it did not meet the definition of a major disaster. The denial letter sent from the FEMA
Administrator to the governor stated the incident did not meet the legal definition of a major
disaster because it was “not a result of a natural disaster, nor was it caused by fire, flood, or
explosion.”67

65 See CRS Report R46475, The Community Development Block Grant’s Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Component:
Background and Issues, by Michael H. Cecire and Joseph V. Jaroscak.
66 FEMA, “North Dakota—Civil Unrest, Denial,” Preliminary Damage Assessment Report, May 18, 2017, p. 1,
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1500312452287-414eb975c508f46a05f0d2666a693320/
PDAReportDenialND.pdf; FEMA, “Maryland—Civil Unrest, Denial of Appeal,” Preliminary Damage Assessment
Report, July 29, 2015, p. 1, https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1441051207394-
f545e3fcbcc33e36b70031f9b6f26e02/PDAReportAppealDenialMD.pdf.
67 Letter from W. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator, to Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan, January 16, 2016; see
Figure E-1 of this report. The President issued an emergency declaration for the incident on April 25, 2016 (EM-
3375); see https://www.fema.gov/disaster/3375.
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Amendments to disaster relief laws suggest that the difficulty of obtaining a major disaster
declaration for human-caused incidents is by design. As shown in Figure 4, Congress removed
“or other catastrophe” from the definition of a major disaster in the Disaster Relief Act (the
predecessor of the Stafford Act) and inserted “or, regardless of cause” in the Stafford Act’s
definition.
Figure 4. Major Disaster Definition
Comparison of Disaster Relief Act and the Stafford Act

Source: 42 U.S.C. §5122.
Note: Highlights added to demonstrate definition differences. “Above and beyond emergency services by the
federal government” was removed altogether from the definition.
According to the Senate report accompanying the bill, Congress removed “other catastrophe”
because it had been broadly interpreted to justify federal assistance to “humanly caused”
incidents. According to the Senate report
Congress intended the [the Disaster Relief Act of 1974] to alleviate state and local
conditions caused by natural catastrophes. Although non-natural catastrophes are not
specifically enumerated by Section 102 of the act, the phrase “other catastrophes” has been
broadly interpreted to justify federal assistance in response to humanly caused traumatic
events. The expansion of legislative intent in the administration of the Disaster Relief Act
has provoked recent congressional concern.68
The report further states that
Broadening the scope of the act to cover both natural and non-natural catastrophes has
strained the capacity of programs designed to respond only to natural catastrophes. Within
its intended context the act has functioned relatively well. It is comprehensive and flexible
legislation, well-suited to handle the full range of natural disasters for which it was
designed. It was not written, however, to respond to the occasionally catastrophic

68 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Disaster Relief Act Amendments of 1988, 100th
Cong., 2nd sess., September 22, 1988, S.Rept. 100-524, p. 2.
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consequences of social, economic, or political activity and establishes no administrative or
programmatic mechanisms to do so.69
Thus, Congress amended the definition to prevent the Stafford Act from being used to address an
array of social issues. In general, human-caused incidents have been classified as “fires and
explosions” which are specifically listed in the major disaster definition.70 This could have
implications for requests for assistance related to civil unrest incidents depending on the nature of
the damages. It is conceivable that civil unrest could cause significant damage and loss of life
without fires or explosions.
The major disaster declaration for the 1992 civil unrest in Los Angeles was framed in the context
of a “California Fire During a Period of Civil Unrest.” In a letter to the Los Angeles Times, the
FEMA Region IX Director stated that “FEMA made an exceptional effort to qualify the Los
Angeles riots as a disaster under the Stafford Act, which does not include riot in its definition of
‘disaster.’”71
If Congress is concerned that the definition of a major disaster could potentially prevent civil
unrest incidents from receiving federal assistance, it might consider amending the Stafford Act to
include civil unrest. As mentioned, the Small Business Act includes the terms “civil disorders”
and “riots.” Congress could consider amending the Stafford Act to include similar language:
... a sudden event which causes severe damage including, but not limited to, floods,
hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, fires, explosions, volcanoes, windstorms, landslides or
mudslides, tidal waves, commercial fishery failures or fishery resource disasters ... riots,
civil disorders or other catastrophes, except it does not include economic dislocations.72
Some may disagree, arguing that amending the definition of a major disaster is not necessary
because the major disaster declared in response to the 1992 criminal case verdict in the beating of
Rodney King created a legal precedent for future major disaster requests. They may further argue
that major disasters have been declared for other incidents that are not explicitly listed in the
major disaster definition, such as for the COVID-19 pandemic. Others may disagree and assert
that listing civil unrest in the definition is needed to eliminate ambiguity.
Major Disaster Declaration Designations
As mentioned previously, there are two potential challenges to states and localities seeking major
disaster assistance: (1) the definition of a major disaster does not include explicit language such
as “protest” or “civil unrest”; and (2) the nature and scope of the damages caused by civil unrest
generally do not meet the per capita indicator cost threshold used to determine whether a major
disaster declaration is warranted. If Congress wants to increase the likelihood a civil unrest
incident receives a major disaster declaration, it could be argued that policy changes are needed to
address one or both of these challenges.
Arguably, states and localities prefer major disaster declarations that designate IA and PA over
other types of assistance because they authorize both short-term assistance (e.g., emergency food,
medical assistance, and sheltering) and long-term assistance (e.g., reconstruction, assistance to
individuals and households, and HMGP). In the case of civil unrest, funding for reconstruction

69 Ibid.
70 For example, human-caused incidents such as the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were classified as “fires and
explosions,” rather than terrorism.
71 William Medigovich, “Federal Aid for Riot Victims,” Los Angeles Times, January 27, 1993,
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-01-27-me-1695-story.html.
72 P.L. 100-590, 15 U.S.C. §632(k). Language in bold added.
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projects and IA programs, such as crisis counseling, may be very useful to recovering
communities.
The IA designation also makes the SBA Disaster Loan Program available to individuals and
households, businesses, and nonprofit organizations. This may be particularly important to states
and localities seeking federal assistance for damaged businesses. In addition to long-term
recovery projects and assistance to individuals and households, major disaster declarations also
authorize immediate, temporary assistance measures, including emergency medical assistance,
food, and shelter.
PA-only major disaster declarations also authorize emergency measures but reconstruction is
limited to public sector damages and HMGP. As described earlier in this report, only private
nonprofit organizations are eligible for SBA disaster loans under a PA-only major disaster
declaration. A PA-only major disaster may therefore be of limited value to communities with
significant private sector damages.
Per Capita Indicator Cost Threshold
The governor or tribal chief executive’s request for a presidential declaration of emergency or
major disaster must include information about the actions and resources that have been or will be
committed, and an estimate of the amount and severity of the disaster-caused damages.73 For all
but the most catastrophic events, this process is deliberative and involves accumulating
information from several sources during the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process,
where state, local, and federal officials estimate damages caused by an incident.74
Once the PDA has been completed, the governor/tribal chief executive may submit a request for
an emergency or major disaster declaration.75 Specific “factors” are considered by FEMA when
evaluating the need for supplemental federal assistance under the PA and IA programs.76 The
factors are initially used by FEMA to make recommendations to the President as to whether the
incident warrants a Stafford Act declaration. Though FEMA uses the PDA findings to provide
declaration recommendations, the President has the sole authority to issue a declaration or deny a
request for federal assistance under the Stafford Act.77 If declared, the factors are used to
determine which assistance programs should be provided.
Historically, the key factor used for major disaster recommendations has been the “per capita
indicator.” FEMA will generally recommend a major disaster authorizing PA if public and
nonprofit infrastructure damages exceeds a minimum per capita indicator at the state and local

73 For a list and description of information requirements to accompany a governor or tribal chief executive’s request for
an emergency declaration and a major disaster declaration, see 44 C.F.R. §206.35 and 44 C.F.R. §206.36, respectively.
74 For example, see the FEMA, “Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration: Major Disaster or Emergency,” form,
OMB Control Number 1660-0009, expires 09/30/2019, https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1512409550714-
752b7004a7c74c67a485a36551d7c889/FEMAForm010-0-13PresidentialDeclarationRequest.pdf (note that the form
expiration date has passed, but this is the form linked to on FEMA’s “Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration
Major or Emergency” webpage, https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/28122). For more information
on the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) process, see FEMA, “Preliminary Damage Assessments,” last updated
December 6, 2019, https://www.fema.gov/preliminary-damage-assessments; see also CRS Report R44977, Preliminary
Damage Assessments for Major Disasters: Overview, Analysis, and Policy Observations, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
75 For a more detailed description of the PDA process, see CRS Report R41981, Congressional Primer on Responding
to and Recovering from Major Disasters and Emergencies, by Bruce R. Lindsay and Elizabeth M. Webster.
76 44 C.F.R. §206.48.
77 See 44 C.F.R. §206.48 and, for example, see FEMA, “Factors Considered When Evaluating a Request for IA,” 84
Federal Register 10633.
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level. The per capita is based on the latest U.S. census data. In FY2020, the statewide per capita
indicator is $1.53 and the countywide per capita indicator is $3.84.78 Public infrastructure
damages must also exceed $1 million across the state or territory, or $250,000 across a tribe.79
As noted above, although FEMA uses the PDA findings to provide declaration recommendations,
the President has the sole authority to issue a declaration or deny a request for federal assistance
under the Stafford Act.80 Research of PDA reports, however, suggests that FEMA’s
recommendation is influential in declaration decisions81 and, in general, civil unrest incidents
primarily damage businesses and cause comparatively little damage to public infrastructure.82
Consequently, they may not meet or exceed the per capita indicator.
Though research indicates the per capita indicator cost threshold influences declaration decisions,
the role it plays in requests for civil unrest assistance is unclear. If the application of the per capita
indicator cost threshold to civil unrest incidents is a concern, Congress could require FEMA to
develop additional metrics to evaluate the impact of civil unrest incidents to mitigate the role the
per capita indicator cost threshold plays in declaration decisions.
Individual Assistance Authorization
As mentioned, major disasters that authorize IA trigger FEMA programs that can help
communities and individuals to recover after an incident and also make the SBA Disaster Loan
Program available to eligible businesses and nonprofit organizations. FEMA evaluates IA
“factors” to assess the disaster’s severity, magnitude, and impact, as well as whether the incident
has overwhelmed the affected jurisdictions’ capabilities, when making IA recommendations to the
President.83
When considering the need for Individual Assistance pursuant to a governor’s request, and in
particular the Individuals and Households Program,84 the principal factors considered are (1)
Fiscal Capacity, which evaluates the state’s ability to raise revenue for disaster response and
recovery; and (2) Uninsured Home and Personal Property Losses, which considers the results of
the PDA process to evaluate the extent of damage and estimated cost of assistance.85 Uninsured
Home and Personal Property Losses are also significant considerations when evaluating requests
from tribal chief executives.86 There is no set threshold used to determine whether FEMA will
recommend that the President declare a major disaster authorizing IA.

78 FEMA, “Per Capita Impact Indicator and Project Thresholds,” https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/applicants/
per-capita-impact-indicator.
79 44 C.F.R. §206.48(a)(1)-(2).
80 See 44 C.F.R. §206.48 and, for example, see FEMA, “Factors Considered When Evaluating a Request for IA,” 84
Federal Register 10633.
81 See CRS Report R44977, Preliminary Damage Assessments for Major Disasters: Overview, Analysis, and Policy
Observations, by Bruce R. Lindsay.
82 Public infrastructure is infrastructure owned or available for use by the public such as bridges, roads, and government
buildings.
83 FEMA, “Factors Considered When Evaluating a Request for IA,” 84 Federal Register 10632; see also FEMA,
“Factors Considered When Evaluating a Governor’s Request for Individual Assistance for a Major Disaster;
Correction,” 84 Federal Register 25685, June 4, 2019, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-06-04/pdf/2019-
11656.pdf; 44 C.F.R. §206.48(b); and FEMA, Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance, pp. 34 and 36.
84 The Individuals and Households Program (IHP) may provide housing assistance and other needs assistance.
85 44 C.F.R. §206.48(b).
86 FEMA, Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance, p. 8.
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The nature and scope of damages associated with civil unrest pose potential challenges to states,
territories, and tribes seeking assistance because they generally cause damage to businesses and
public buildings rather than to residences. There are, however, IA programs that could be
beneficial for civil unrest incidents, including in situations where there is not significant damage.
For example, the Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) can support the
delivery of services in individual or group settings, which are “designed to help alleviate the
mental and emotional crises and their subsequent psychological and behavioral conditions
resulting from a major disaster or its aftermath.”87
Congress amended the Stafford Act in December 2022 to allow CCP to be authorized pursuant to
emergency declarations and could consider whether the Stafford Act should be further amended
to allow additional forms of IA to be authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration (i.e., in
addition to the IHP and CCP).88 If Congress wishes to make IA programs such as CCP available
to incidents without IA designations, it could consider making such assistance available to PA-
only major disaster declarations. Further, Congress could consider making SBA disaster loans
available to individuals and households, and businesses under a PA-only declaration.89
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funding
Unlike IA and PA, there are no indicators, factors, or cost thresholds for determining whether or
not HMGP funding is awarded following a major disaster declaration or the receipt of an Fire
Management Assistance Grant (FMAG). Section 404(a) of the Stafford Act provides that
The President may contribute up to 75 percent of the cost of hazard mitigation measures
which the President has determined are cost effective and which substantially reduce the
risk of, or increase resilience to, future damage, hardship, loss, or suffering in any area
affected by a major disaster, or any area affected by a fire for which assistance was
provided under section 420.90
State governors or tribal chief executives must submit a letter of intent to FEMA within 30 days
of the major disaster declaration or receipt of an FMAG that notifies FEMA whether or not they
will participate in the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.91 Generally, the request to participate in
HMGP is included as part of a request for a major disaster declaration or receipt of an FMAG;
however, state and tribal chief executives are not required to provide any information to support
their intention to participate in HMGP. For example, the template for a request for a major
disaster declaration merely requires the state or tribal chief executive to indicate whether HMGP
will be statewide or for particular areas, and to provide information about the date of the hazard
mitigation plan.92 State agencies and federally recognized tribes must have a FEMA-approved

87 FEMA, Individual Assistance Program and Policy Guide (IAPPG), FP 104-009-03, v. 1.1, May 2021, p. 203,
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_iappg-1.1.pdf (hereinafter FEMA, IAPPG).
88 Stafford Act §502(a)(6), 42 U.S.C. §5192(a)(6), as amended by Section 7321 of the James M. Inhofe National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263), which amended the Stafford Act to enable Crisis
Counseling to be authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration.
89 For a discussion about how designations determine what SBA disaster loans become available, see “Major Disaster
Assistance: SBA.”
90 P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §5170c. Section 420 is fire management assistance.
91 FEMA, Hazard Mitigation Grants for Governments, https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation/
governments.
92 See FEMA, Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration Form, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/
presidential-declaration-request_fema-form_010-0-13.pdf, and FEMA, Request for Presidential Disaster Declaration
Cover Letter, https://www.fema.gov/disasters/request-for-presidential-disaster-declaration.
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state or tribal mitigation plan by the application deadline and at the time that HMGP funding is
obligated.93
An FMAG declaration is initiated when a state submits a request for assistance to the FEMA
Regional Director at the time that a threat of major disaster exists. The entire process is intended
to be accomplished on an expedited basis, with a FEMA decision within a matter of hours.94
Unlike traditional HMGP funding, the availability of post-fire HMGP funding is not contingent
on the presidential declaration of a major disaster.95 Before FEMA can approve a state FMAG
application, the grantee must have an approved state hazard mitigation plan that addresses
wildfire risks and mitigation measures.96
HMGP was made available for two major disaster declarations that were not associated with
natural disasters: the 1992 Los Angeles riots97 and the 2001 terrorist attack on New York.98
California was eligible for $777,004 for the disaster declaration for Los Angeles following the
1992 verdict in the criminal trial of the beating of Rodney King. FEMA obligated $239,935 of
this amount.99 This could be considered as establishing precedent for HMGP funding for disasters
unrelated to natural hazards. The fact that FEMA also committed $306.95 million to New York
for HMGP after 9/11, and obligated $236.3 million, could be considered to reinforce the
precedent of the 1992 Los Angeles civil unrest HMGP funding.100 According to the Government
Accountability Office (GAO), officials from New York requested less HMGP funds than they
were eligible for so that they could use HMGP funding to reimburse other associated costs (for
example, the cost of increased security that could not otherwise have been funded within
provisions of the Stafford Act).101 In addition, former President George W. Bush reduced the
percentage of the HMGP formula to 5% rather than 15% after the 9/11 attacks. According to
FEMA officials, the agency recommended reducing the percentage of HMGP funds available to
New York initially because it was unclear how much the disaster would cost.102
Historically, FEMA has approved all applications for grants and other assistance if the
applications meet the program requirements under the Stafford Act.103 Between the introduction
of HMGP in 1989 and the COVID-19 declarations in 2020,104 there are no instances of a major
disaster declaration where HMGP funding was not awarded.105 In 2020, every state, territory,
Washington DC, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida requested and received a major disaster

93 FEMA, Hazard Mitigation Assistance Guidance, February 27, 2015, p. 45, https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/
2020-07/fy15_HMA_Guidance.pdf.
94 FEMA, Fire Management Assistance Grants, https://www.fema.gov/assistance/public/fire-management-assistance.
95 FEMA, FEMA Policy: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program—Post Fire Policy #207-088-2, https://www.fema.gov/
media-library-data/1557348381120-5dfb0abf4452a894721e6d7a9305ae1a/SignedPolicyFEMA_HMGP_Post-
Fire_policy_207-088-2_508.pdf.
96 FEMA, Fire Management Assistance Grant Program Guide, FEMA P-954, February 2014, p. 26,
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/FMAG-guide-feb-2014_02-28-2014.pdf.
97 DR-942, https://www.fema.gov/disaster/942.
98 DR-1391, https://www.fema.gov/disaster/1391.
99 Data provided by FEMA Congressional Affairs staff, September 22, 2020.
100 Ibid.
101 GAO, September 11: Overview of Federal Assistance to the New York City Area, GAO-04-72, October 2003, p. 11
and p. 41, https://www.gao.gov/new.items/d0472.pdf.
102 Ibid., p. 41.
103 Ibid., p. 85.
104 FEMA, COVID-19 Disaster Declarations, https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/disaster-declarations.
105 Email from FEMA Congressional Affairs staff, November 10, 2020.
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declaration for COVID-19. All but a few state requests for COVID-19 support included a request
for HMGP assistance. All requests for COVID-19-related HMGP are still under review,106 and no
HMGP funding has been awarded for the COVID-19 declarations.
Congress may wish to consider establishing clear criteria to determine whether HMGP funding
should be awarded, or to establish circumstances for which mitigation is not needed, or to require
an explanation of why HMGP assistance is refused.
Expanding Available Types of Assistance for Emergency
Declarations
If the objective of Congress is to ensure civil
Emergency Definition
unrest incidents receive certain forms of
“Any occasion or instance for which, in the
assistance, then another potential policy option,
determination of the President, federal assistance is
in addition to those described above, is to expand
needed to supplement State and local efforts and
the forms of assistance available under an
capabilities to save lives and to protect property and
public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the
emergency declaration.
threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United
In contrast to the definition of a major disaster
States” (P.L. 93-288, 42 U.S.C. §5122).
declaration, which is narrowly defined, the
definition of an emergency declaration is broad enough to not pose a definitional challenge to
states and localities seeking assistance for civil unrest incidents. As mentioned previously, the
assistance authorized by an emergency declaration may be considered by some as too limited.
Following emergency declarations, the FEMA assistance provided is primarily PA emergency
work (see Table A-1). When the President authorizes IA pursuant to an emergency declaration,
until recently, the Individuals and Housing Program (IHP) was the only form of IA that could be
authorized; however, this is uncommon. (Recently, the Stafford Act was amended to also allow
CCP to be authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration).107 Should the President declare an
emergency under the Stafford Act for a civil unrest incident, it is more likely PA would be
authorized due, in part, to the nature and scope of damages associated with civil unrest, which are
generally to businesses and public buildings, rather than residences.
Congress could consider making FEMA reevaluate its considerations for recommending the
authorization of IA pursuant to an emergency declaration for civil unrest. IHP authorized pursuant
to an emergency declaration for civil unrest could make housing assistance, such as Home Repair
Assistance, and forms of ONA, such as Personal Property, Transportation, Funeral, and Medical
and Dental Assistance, available, which may be of particular help to individuals recovering from
civil unrest.108

106 Ibid.
107 According to FEMA, the IHP has been authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration three times since 1985
(email correspondence from FEMA Congressional Affairs staff, December 6, 2021), and in December 2022, Stafford
Act Section 502(a)(6) was amended by Section 7321 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2023 (P.L. 117-263) to enable Crisis Counseling to be authorized pursuant to an emergency declaration.
108 Some types of FEMA assistance first require the applicant to apply for a disaster loan from the SBA. FEMA and the
SBA collaborate in determining applicant eligibility for SBA-Dependent Other Needs Assistance (ONA). SBA-
Dependent ONA is only available to individuals or households who do not qualify for an SBA disaster loan or whose
SBA disaster loan amount is insufficient. The forms of SBA-dependent ONA are Personal Property Assistance, which
provides funding to repair or replace eligible items damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster, Transportation
Assistance, which provides funding to repair or replace a vehicle damaged by a disaster, and a Group Flood Insurance
Policy certificate (FEMA, IAPPG, p. 166). For more information on the process of determining whether an applicant
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In addition, there are IA programs that could benefit recovery efforts following civil unrest
incidents, such as CCP, which is available pursuant to either an emergency or major disaster
declaration authorizing IA.109 Congress could consider amending the Stafford Act to allow
additional forms of Individual Assistance—in addition to the IHP and CCP—to be authorized
pursuant to emergency declarations. Congress may also wish to make such forms of assistance
available following PA-only major disaster declarations. Congress could also consider expanding
disaster loan eligibility under an emergency declaration to include businesses, individuals, and
households.
COVID-19 Considerations
The adverse economic impact of civil unrest combined with the COVID-19 pandemic has placed
a tremendous economic burden on some businesses.110 The problem may be compounded as
business interruption insurance claims are denied.111 To address this issue, Congress could
consider measures that allow noninsured costs from civil unrest to be an eligible and forgivable
expense in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program.112 Examples of these measures include H.R.
7451 and S. 4135 introduced in the 116th Congress. Congress could also consider providing
additional relief to businesses damaged by both civil unrest and COVID-19. For example,
Congress could introduce measures similar to those provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief,
and Economic Security Act (P.L. 116-136, the CARES Act) for struggling business such as loan
deferrals and loan forgiveness, and expanded eligibility.
Public Assistance for Law Enforcement
Congress may wish to address current federal assistance for law enforcement pursuant to a
declaration of emergency or major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act.
The Stafford Act currently authorizes FEMA to direct Department of Defense resources at the
request of a state or tribe for “any emergency work which is made necessary by such incident and
which is essential for the preservation of life and property.”113 Additionally, FEMA guidance
interprets emergency protective measures authorized to receive federal assistance in Sections 402,
403, and 502 of the Stafford Act to include “security, barricades, and law enforcement” pursuant
to Stafford Act emergency or major disaster declarations, including the activation of National
Guard troops to State Active Duty.114 As a result, a Stafford Act declaration authorizing PA for
emergency protective measures for episodes of civil unrest may provide assistance for state,

may qualify for an SBA disaster loan and how FEMA ONA assistance and SBA disaster loans intersect, see CRS
Report R45238, FEMA and SBA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Households: Application Processes,
Determinations, and Appeals, by Bruce R. Lindsay and Elizabeth M. Webster.
109 Stafford Act §502(a)(6), 42 U.S.C. §5192(a)(6).
110 Katherine Chiglinsk, Michael Sasso, and Steven Church, “Businesses Hurt First by Coronavirus Then by Looting
Have New Insurance Questions,” Insurance Journal, June 5, 2020, at https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/
2020/06/05/571116.htm.
111 Several disputes for denied claims are currently being litigated. Thus far, it appears that the courts are generally
siding with the insurance companies
112 For more information on SBA’s Payroll Protection Program, see CRS Report R46284, COVID-19 Relief Assistance
to Small Businesses: Issues and Policy Options, by Robert Jay Dilger, Bruce R. Lindsay, and Sean Lowry.
113 P.L. 93-288, U.S.C. §5170b(c).
114 FEMA, PAPPG, 110-111; 87.
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tribal, territorial, and local law enforcement—along with emergency medical care, emergency
food and water, and other essential services.
Some Members of Congress have raised concern regarding the actions of state, local, and federal
law enforcement agencies in response to protests and civil unrest.115 Given this interest, Congress
may wish to exercise its oversight authority and solicit additional information from FEMA on
agency approval of assistance for law enforcement or the deployment of federal personnel for law
enforcement activities. Congress may also wish to review and amend the Stafford Act to specify
the eligible law enforcement activities or entities eligible for federal assistance.116 Congress may
also consider separating authorization of PA for law enforcement activities from assistance for
other emergency protective measures, or limiting authorization for law enforcement assistance to
particular types of incidents (e.g., environmental hazards) exclusive of episodes of civil unrest.
Concluding Policy Observations
As Congress contemplates federal assistance for civil unrest, it could consider whether the
Stafford Act meets the recovery needs for civil unrest incidents, or if it should be amended to
make federal assistance more readily available. Some might argue the existing framework is
inadequate to meet civil unrest recovery needs, makes assistance too difficult to obtain, or both. If
Congress believes this to be the case, it could explore policy options that may help make Stafford
Act assistance more accessible to states and localities.
In contrast, others might argue that the existing framework meets state and local recovery needs
for incidents of civil unrest. To support this position they may argue that
 The definition of a major disaster under the Stafford Act was designed to keep
federal assistance limited to natural disasters and prevent its use for the
consequences of social, economic, or political activity. According to this view,
civil unrest incidents are social and often political, and federal assistance under
the Stafford Act is therefore inappropriate for these types of incidents.
 Current cost thresholds and other factors that are used to determine if federal
assistance is warranted appropriately prevents marginal incidents from receiving
federal assistance. According to this view, assistance for marginal incidents
should be provided by states and localities rather than the federal government.
 Individuals, households, nonprofit organizations, and businesses have a
responsibility to obtain and maintain adequate insurance coverage. In this view,
providing federal assistance in these circumstances creates a moral hazard
because some may forgo insurance, or reduce their insurance coverage, if they
believe that federal assistance is a viable replacement.
 The existing framework is consistent with the intent of the Stafford Act which is
to provide assistance to human-caused incidents only in rare circumstances. This
approach is consistent with the view that the federal government is not the first
responder, nor is it the primary source of assistance to areas stricken by civil
unrest. Federal resources, in this view, are intended to supplement those of state
and local governments, the private sector, and voluntary efforts.

115 See, for example, U.S. Congress, House Armed Services Committee, Department of Defense Authorities and Roles
Related to Civilian Law Enforcement, 116th Cong., 2nd sess., July 9, 2020.
116 For a current list of eligible activities in statute, see Stafford Act §§402, 403, and 502, 42 U.S.C. §§5170a-5170b,
5192.
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If Congress believes some or all of the above arguments to be the case, it may decide to keep the
existing framework in place with few (if any) modifications or amendments.
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Appendix A. FEMA Assistance
Table A-1. FEMA Assistance Available Under Stafford Act Declarations

Emergency Declaration
Major Disaster Declaration
Public Assistance (PA)
Emergency Work
Emergency Work
Category A–Debris Removal
Category A–Debris Removal
Category B–Emergency
Category B–Emergency Protective Measures
Protective Measures
Permanent Work
Category C–Roads and Bridges
Category D–Water Control Facilities
Category E–Buildings and Equipment
Category F–Utilities
Category G–Parks, Recreational, Other
Individual Assistance (IA)
Individuals and Households
IHP
Program (IHP)
Crisis Counseling Program
Crisis Counseling Program
Disaster Case Management
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
Disaster Legal Services
Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
Program
Hazard Mitigation
Not Available
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
Assistance (HMA)
Source: Developed by CRS based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) webpage on “How
a Disaster Gets Declared,” https://www.fema.gov/disasters/how-declared.

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Appendix B. CDBG Eligible Activities
Table B-1. General Categories of Assistance
General Categories
Eligible Activities
Planning, administrative and technical assistance

comprehensive planning and related activities;

administrative costs associated with carrying out
the program’s requirements, as well as other HUD
programs;

provision of technical assistance to public or
nonprofit entities;

payment of the nonfederal share of other federal
grant programs; and

development and implementation of energy
conservation and use strategies.
Public works and public facilities

acquisition and rehabilitation of real property that
may be used for public works, open space
acquisition, historic preservation, or other public
purposes;

acquisition, construction, reconstruction, or
installation of public works, public facilities,
neighborhood facilities, senior centers, centers for
the handicapped, recreation facilities, and street
lights; and

removal of architectural barriers to the elderly and
handicapped.
Economic development and neighborhood revitalization 
payment to for-profit entities in support of
economic development;

assistance to neighborhood-based organizations,
including community development corporations, in
support of economic development, housing
assistance; or neighborhood revitalization
activities;

assistance, including loans and grants, to nonprofit
entities in acquiring real property, or acquiring or
rehabilitating public facilities, site improvements,
utilities, or commercial and industrial facilities and
improvements;

micro-lending;

brownfield redevelopment; and

creation of revolving loan funds.
Public services

public services (limited to no more that 15% of an
entitlement community or state’s annual
allocation).
Housing-related activities

rehabilitation of housing owned and occupied by
low- and moderate-income persons;

repair of housing units acquired through tax
foreclosures;

assistance to facilitate homeownership among low-
and moderate-income persons;
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General Categories
Eligible Activities

housing services, including counseling, in
connection with the HOME program; and

lead-based paint abatement.
Acquisition, demolition, and disposition of real property 
acquisition of real property;

disposal of real property;

code enforcement in deteriorated or blighted
areas; and

clearance, demolition, and rehabilitation and
renovation of privately and publicly owned
buildings, including closed public schools.
Source: 42 U.S.C. §5305.
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Appendix C. Public and Individual Assistance
Factors
Table C-1. Factors Considered for a Governor’s Request for a Major Disaster
Authorizing Public Assistance
Estimated Cost of Assistance
The Local Impacts of the Incident
The Extent and Type of Insurance in Effect to Cover
the Losses
Hazard Mitigation Measures Taken by the State and/or
Local Governments
Recent Disaster History in the State
Assistance Available from Other Federal Programs and
Other Sources
Sources: Based on CRS interpretation of 44 C.F.R. §206.48(a); and Federal Emergency Management Agency,
Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide, Version 4, (FP 104-009-2), June 1, 2020, p. 22.
Notes: These factors are also used to evaluate the need for assistance under FEMA’s Public Assistance program.
Table C-2. Factors Considered for a Governor’s Request for a Major Disaster
Authorizing Individual Assistance
State Fiscal Capacity and Resource Availability
Uninsured Home and Personal Property Losses
Disaster Impacted Population Profile
Impact to Community Infrastructure
Casualties
Disaster Related Unemployment
Sources: Based on CRS interpretation of 44 C.F.R. §206.48(b); Federal Emergency Management Agency, “Factors
Considered,” 84 Federal Register 10633; and FEMA, Individual Assistance Declarations Factors Guidance, June 2019, p.
3, https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=FEMA-2014-0005.
Note: Different factors are used to evaluate tribal requests. See FEMA’s Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance,
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-04/tribal-declaration-pilot-guidance.pdf.
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Appendix D. Maryland Major Disaster Denial
Figure D-1. FEMA Denial Letter: Civil Unrest in Baltimore, Maryland
June 12, 2015

Source: Letter from W. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator, to Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland, June 12,
2015.
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Appendix E. Flint Major Disaster Denial
Figure E-1. FEMA Denial Letter: Flint Water Contamination Incident
January 16, 2016

Source: Letter from W. Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator, to Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan,
January 16, 2016.
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Author Information

Bruce R. Lindsay, Coordinator
Julie M. Lawhorn
Specialist in American National Government
Analyst in Economic Development Policy

Diane P. Horn
Erica A. Lee
Specialist in Flood Insurance and Emergency
Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster
Management
Recovery

Joseph V. Jaroscak
Elizabeth M. Webster
Analyst in Economic Development Policy
Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster

Recovery

Acknowledgments
Robert Dilger, Senior Specialist in American National Government, Government and Finance Division,
provided editorial assistance; Maria Kreiser, Senior Research Librarian, assisted with information and data
collection; Jamie L. Hutchinson, Visual Information Specialist, and Brion Long, Visual Information
Specialist, provided assistance with graphics.

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 reproduced and distributed in
its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or
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copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

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