WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, introduced bipartisan legislation to make permanent the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) – an online tool that utilizes data to identify communities that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. The bill would also require FEMA to use data from the NRI to establish community disaster resilience zones (CDRZs) to designate the communities across the nation that are most in need of mitigation projects – and help them access federal funding and support to plan for mitigation and resilience projects. As damage from extreme weather events continues to cause millions of dollars in damages that taxpayers must cover, Peters’ legislation will help at-risk communities make important investments that will limit the damage caused by natural disasters.
“Knowing exactly which communities in Michigan and across the nation need assistance to invest in resilient infrastructure will be critical to helping protect lives and livelihoods where disasters strike hardest,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will utilize a data driven approach with existing FEMA information to ensure communities that are most vulnerable to extreme weather events receive assistance. This will help drive public and private resources towards these areas to help them fund mitigation projects that will not only improve resiliency, but also save taxpayer dollars in the long run.”
Small, impoverished, rural and historically disadvantaged communities continue to face severe consequences from natural disasters – including loss of life and significant financial damage. Studies have shown that resilience and mitigation spending saves taxpayers an average of $6 for every $1 invested. By making permanent and utilizing data from the NRI – which factors in expected annual losses, social vulnerability and community resilience – Peters’ legislation would help allocate resources so at-risk communities can develop FEMA-approved hazard mitigation projects.
As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness and response. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters also convened a hearing with disaster preparedness and response experts to hear how worsening natural disasters, including flooding, severe storms, and wildfires, continue to harm lives and livelihoods in Michigan and across the nation. Peters’ bipartisan legislation to protect Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response has advanced in the Senate.
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