The information collected is required for the Public Assistance (PA) Program eligibility determinations, grants management, and compliance with other Federal laws and regulations. The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5121-5207 (the Stafford Act), authorizes grants to assist State, Tribal, and local governments and certain private non-profit entities with the response to and recovery from disasters following Presidentially declared major disasters and emergencies.
State, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments can request sheltering support services after receiving an emergency or major disaster declaration authorizing PA emergency protective
measures. FEMA provides PA funding to SLTT governments for costs related to emergency sheltering for disaster survivors. Typically, sheltering occurs in facilities with large open spaces,
such as schools, churches, community centers, or other similar facilities. However, there are situations when the need arises to support survivors in non-congregate shelters, which are
locations where each individual or household has living space that offers some level of privacy such as hotels, motels, or dormitories.
To ensure FEMA can track individuals and households transitioned into more permanent housing solutions and the successful reimbursement to the state for the cost of sheltering survivors,
additional information needs to be collected to support non-congregate sheltering in Hawaii. The following questions should be included into PAâs information collection 1660-0017:
Number of rooms
Check in date
Check out date
Person ID
Site ID for shelter
With the escalating demand for sheltering services and the recognition that sheltering periods are likely to extend in the face of mounting housing crises, FEMA should make this data collection change not only for Hawaii but as a standard practice for future disaster scenarios. This will better equip FEMA to meet the evolving needs of survivors and communities during these challenging times. It is vital that FEMA implement the revision to PAâs information collection as soon as possible.
PL:
Pub.L. 93 - 288 406-407
Name of Law: Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act
PL: Pub.L. 111 - 5 601 Name of Law: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
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.