HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11101987 - 1.38 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: J. MICHAEL WALFORD, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DATE : NOVEMBER 10, 1987
SUBJECT: FEMA DISASTER RELIEF LAW REFORM
Specific Request ( s ) or Recommendation ( s ) b Background 8
Justification
I . RECOMMENDATION
Support CSAC position on FEMA Disaster Relief Law Reform and
endorse the National Association of County' s recommendation ; and
Authorize the Chair to sign letters indicating our position of
support to all members of House Transportation and Public Works
Subcommittee on Water Resources and to Senators Alan Cranston and
Pete Wilson .
II . FINANCIAL IMPACT
Financially the Disaster Relief Law Reform Act as proposed by
FEMA could be far reaching and have a major impact on the County
General fund and Public Works Budget .
III . REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND
During the Congressional hearing for July 21 , 1987 on the
modifications to the FEMA Disaster Relief Act of 1974 and related
issues the National Association of Counties , the County
Supervisors Association of California and the County Engineer ' s
Association of California had. two concerns . Their first concern
stressed the following problems that all agencies are currently
experiencing with the federal disaster relief programs as
administered by the FEMA :
1 . Local governments are consistently short-changed by FEMA on
reimbursement levels for " eligible projects " through
apparent , deliberate under estimation of project costs and
blatant disregard of sound engineering practice .
Continued on attachment: X yes Signature :
Recommendation of County Administrator
Recommendation of Board Committee
Approve Other:
Signature (s ) :
Action of Board on : D 9
Approved as Recommended X Ot er
Vote of Supervisors I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS
A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN
X Unanimous (Absent-- ) ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON
Ayes : Noes : THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF
Absent : Abstain : SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN.
Attested /0,
Orig . Div . : Public Works ( RE ) PHII BATCHELOR,
cc : CLERK OF THE BOARD .
OF SUPERVISORS AND
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
RVF:ly
B0 10 . tll
By
DEPUTY CLERK
1
Board of Supervisors
November 10 , 1987
Page Two
2 . Many necessary and legitimate response and recovery expenses
are declared ineligible .
3 . Essential hazard mitigation measures required to protect
long- term federal and local investments in disaster
reconstruction projects are not currently eligible for
reimbursement .
The National Association of Counties has conducted a nationwide
survey of Counties since the July 21 hearing . The survey results
further confirm the experience of California in the fact the
Counties are consistently being short-changed on disaster relief
and assistance by FEMA.
Therefore , the County , CSAC and the National Association of
Cuunties are willing and ready to consider a federal / state and
local cost sharing formula which sets federal participation at 75
percent and the local match at 25 percent , if local government
could be guaranteed a true 75 percent federal share , not the 40
percent share now being provided through FEMA' s administration of
the law .
The second concern and possibly the most costly to all Cities and
Counties is the way the financial threshold limit is determined
in order to qualify for FEMA funding for any major disaster .
Once damages exceed the threshold limit , the City , County and
State can qualify for FEME reimbursement . Previously FEMA
recommended changes to the threshold limit which if enacted would
have eliminated a majority of California ' s past disaster from
FEMA participation .
Therefore , the County , CSAC and the National Association of
Counties support the current provisions of the law which trigger
federal disaster assistance only after a local government has
"exceeded its capability" to respond to a federal disaster . This
is a very high threshold for federal participation which should
be maintained .