March 7, 2014
As National Severe Weather Preparedness Week concludes, it is important to note the role that states play in disaster response and emergency management. States can help constituents plan for, respond to, and recover from severe weather. This is accomplished through developing emergency plans, providing direct aid and assistance, and coordinating with the federal government, local governments, the military, non-profits, and the private sector.
Impact of Current Weather
The recent winter storms throughout much of the country, as well as the drought in California, have brought renewed attention to states’ efforts in responding to storms and natural disasters. States in the Midwest, South, and Northeast have been impacted by both prolonged extreme cold temperatures and higher than normal snow fall amounts. This has led to rising propane costs and salt shortages in a number of states. In response to the winter weather, states have taken such actions as adding funds to programs that help homeowners pay heating bills, providing short-term loans to propane distributors, deploying the National Guard to help with emergency response, and tapping set aside funds to help with the cost of snow removal. In California, the state is experiencing one of its driest years on record. The governor and legislative leaders recently agreed to a $687 million package to help provide relief from the drought that includes funding for water projects across the state, sets aside money for drinking water, and provides food and housing aid for impacted residents.
Funding and Aid
States provide funding for storm and disaster response through a variety of methods. For typical winter weather, states often make annual appropriations to their Department of Transportation for the purchase of salt and snow removal. For unexpected occurrences, 42 states have established a fund specifically designed to respond to natural or manmade disasters, according to NASBO’s 2008 Budget Processes in the States Report. Governors in a number of states also have the ability to transfer funds from other sources, and take other necessary actions, in response to a disaster. The federal government through its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other agencies also provides funding and other resources to help states mitigate the impact of a disaster. Finally, states can receive aid from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) and share information through organizations such as the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA).
Fiscal Lessons Learned
At NASBO conferences, state budget officers have discussed fiscal lessons learned in responding to storms, natural disasters, and man-made disasters. One important lesson is having the ability to modify budgets as necessary. This includes both making emergency appropriations, and being able to transfer funds from various sources towards disaster response. States that have not already done so may also want to consider creating a disaster fund for future needs. Budget officers also noted that it is important to estimate revenue losses after a disaster. States often see tax revenues decline immediately following a disaster, but then pick up as recovery efforts begin. Finally, during and after national disasters states work in conjunction with the federal government. In these instances it is important to work closely with FEMA liaisons and other federal contacts to provide all necessary documentation to ensure that federal funds are secured.
Planning and Preparations
One often overlooked aspect in responding to storms and natural disasters are efforts that can be taken to plan, prepare, and mitigate the impact of severe weather. At a recent National Journalhttps://www.nationaljournal.com/login Policy Summit, Gov. Pat Quinn (D-IL) discussed the need to invest in infrastructure now to help prevent bad things from happening again. This can include making infrastructure improvements in areas such as water, roads, and buildings. Additionally, Timothy Manning, Deputy Administration of Protection and National Preparedness at FEMA, discussed the need to take a holistic look at the lifecycle of a disaster including prevention, protections, mitigation, response, and recovery. In responding to storms and natural disasters, it is important that states’ efforts help communities become more resilient against future severe weather.