Department Responsibilities: Improving our Readiness for, Response to and Recovery from Disasters

The Department plays a critical role in helping communities in all stages of a disaster - preparation, response and long-term recovery. Empowering and educating communities and businesses through Ready.gov is one important approach. Since January, we also have taken the lead on coordinating the government's response to the H1N1 virus, and worked in close coordination with local authorities to respond to severe storms in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri and flooding in North Dakota and Minnesota. And we've taken bold new steps to accelerate recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast region, streamlining decision-making and consolidating offices to eliminate redundancies.

Department Responsibilities
Preparedness, Response and Recovery Activities & Programs

Preparedness and Protection

• The Department has provided more than $2.7 billion in grants for increased security and preparedness, including over $1.6 billion under the State Homeland Security Program and Urban Areas Security Initiative.
• The Department announced $210M in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding to local fire departments around the country for fire station construction, and an additional $300M for transit and port security.
• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its 2009 Disaster Housing Plan, which will first maximize available housing resources then utilize manufactured, alternative and innovative forms of interim housing, and finally, authorize permanent housing construction.
• FEMA has built seven different prototype housing units to evaluate unit quality and durability across four seasons for potential use as improved emergency housing.

Response

• Since January, FEMA has supported 24 Major Disaster, five Emergency, and 24 Fire Management Assistance Declarations.
• In response to major ice storms in Arkansas, Kentucky, and Missouri, the Department provided more than 2,300,000 prepackaged meals, 198 trucks of water, 80,000 gallons of fuel, more than 480 generators and thousands of blankets and cots.
• In response to record flooding on the Red River in North Dakota and Minnesota, the Department provided more than 345,000 prepackaged meals, 42,000 cots, 105,000 blankets, 366,000 liters of water, 105 generators, and five industrial generators to power critical facilities. The Coast Guard deployed over 100 personnel and rescued over 100 citizens.
• We continue to coordinate the national response to the H1N1 flu outbreak, working closely with federal partners, distributing information to travelers about symptoms and treatment, and conducting extensive outreach to state and local elected officials, health professionals, school administrators, and the private sector.

Recovery

• The Department has continued to accelerate its recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, providing over $594 million in assistance, including $243 million for education projects, $85 million for public works projects, $36 million for public safety and protection, $38 million for health care, $159 million for public infrastructure, and $34 million for debris removal.
• We are also providing additional support to 3,000 families still in temporary Katrina housing through $50 million in new housing voucher rental assistance.
• Two new joint review teams, comprised of FEMA and State of Louisiana personnel, have been tasked with quickly and fairly resolving disputes under the Public Assistance program. Our Gulf Coast Recovery offices also have been realigned to expedite decision-making and improve efficiency.