While OIRA has granted an emergency approval based on the unexpected event of Hurricane Harvey, OIRA expects the agency to better maintain its disaster response forms and prevent them from expiring in the future. While the specific event may be unexpected, the likelihood of FEMA responding to an unexpected event at any given point in time is not given the agency's responsibilities under the Stafford Act.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2017
6 Months From Approved
07/31/2017
3,264,753
0
1,168,438
628,036
0
56,418
0
0
0
Disaster Assistance Registration is a program used to provide financial assistance and, if necessary, direct assistance to eligible individuals and households who, as a direct result of a disaster, have uninsured or under-insured, necessary expenses and serious needs and are unable to meet such expenses or needs through other financial means.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeks emergency approval for the reinstatement without change of OMB Collection 1660-0002 Disaster Assistance Registration.
It is vital this collection be reinstated and implemented by August 28, 2017, because, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and the Office of Management and Budgetâs (OMB) implementing regulations at 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13: (1) this information is necessary to the mission of the agency, (2) this information is necessary prior to the expiration of time periods established under PRA, (3) public harm is reasonably likely to result if normal clearance procedures are followed, and (4) an unanticipated event has occurred.
Hurricane Harvey is currently impacting Texas and Louisiana and is the first Category 4 hurricane to hit the United States in the past twelve years. The National Weather Service has issued a warning that âWidespread destructive winds of 115 to 145 mph will produce swaths of tornado-like damageâ for portions of the Texas coast. In addition, the National Hurricane Center said it expects âcatastrophic and life-threateningâ flash flooding along the middle and upper Texas coast. An incredible amount of rain, 15 to 30 inches with isolated amounts of up to 40 inches, is predicted because the storm is expected to stall and unload torrents for four to six straight days. As a result, President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Texas on August 25, 2017, permitting emergency aid to Texas. Without this emergency approval, FEMA will not be able to collect information from disaster survivors who are impacted by the unanticipated category 4 hurricane.
FEMA is requesting an emergency approval of this request so that it can accept disaster survivorsâ applications as quickly as possible after the hurricane has passed. Delay in approval of these information collections will disrupt FEMAâs ability to comply with other provisions of the law and its overall mission.
US Code:
42 USC 5174
Name of Law: Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
US Code:
8 USC 1601
Name of Law: Personnel Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
PL:
Pub.L. 93 - 288 0000
Name of Law: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Disaster Assistance Registration