U.S. Government Affairs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is issuing this notice and request for information (RFI) to seek input from the public on implementation of the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022, including updates to the methodology and data used for the National Risk Index and any other hazard assessment products; potential improvements to FEMA's provision of hazard data; the process used to designate community disaster resilience zones; financial and technical assistance for resilience or mitigation projects primarily benefitting community disaster resilience zones; and the community disaster resilience zone project application and certification process.

IAEM endorsed the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, and it was subsequently signed into law in 2022 (see attached letter of support).

If you wish to submit comments, here is the link to the Notice and Request for Information published in the Federal Register.

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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Thanks for sharing Thad. The RFI asks: Is there potential to combine or integrate FEMA's hazard assessment products with other tools? If so, which tools and how?

One of the questions I've had for a long time is why the redundant effort to maintain both the National Risk Index and the Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT) (https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/resilience-analysis-and-planning-tool). Both are good tools but it would seem that there's an opportunity to streamline these two projects into one. I feel like NRI has a more intuitive user interface, while RAPT allows many more datasets and analysis tools.

Neither tool has simple functionality to look at future conditions. You need to go to other platforms to find out future projections for extreme precipitation, SLR, heat, etc.

I would be interested in what other members have thought about using NRI vs RAPT.

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Justin Kates
Advisor
Decision Aid LLC
Nashua NH
(603) 722-0288
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In addition to the notice in the Federal Register, I've also attached the Advisory from FEMA soliciting comments.

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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This is a WHOPPER of an RFI. So many questions, most of them compound questions. I personally would have advised them against going out with an RFI that is this detailed as it is almost impossible for a stakeholder to address every question, let alone every part of every question. 

That said, the questions in here are EXCEEDINGLY important. The ones related to the NRI are important, but the ones related to the implementation of CDRZA are essential for us. For example, there are a number of potential unintended consequences of the Act. How zones are defined, how zones are removed from the list, how data updates impact things, how geographic diversity is defined, etc., will all make a big impact. I believe it is likely that the only projects getting BRIC funding in the future could be those benefitting CDRZ, so it is important that they are chosen accurately. 

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Derrick Hiebert
Advisory Specialist Master - Crisis and Resilience
Deloitte
Olympia WA
(206) 724-7713
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FEMA has announced a series of listening sessions to provide input on the risk methodology, designation of zones, and post-designation support for each zone.  If you are interested in participating, you will need to register in advance.

I have attached the notice from FEMA that includes a link to register.

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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I've compiled an 8 page response from Denver I wanted to share. We have two big concerns with the methodology that NRI uses and proposed two simple solutions. Wanted to share it here before it's due incase anyone has feedback. 

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Stephen Decatur
Hazard Mitigation Specialist
City and County of Denver, CO
Bellvue CO
(970) 227-4221
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The Mitigation and Adaptation Caucus wrote, and IAEM Board Approved, the attached comments on CDRZ Implementation! Overall, we raise several concerns with how CDRZ are designated, the use of the National Risk Index, and recommend that FEMA make some adjustments in how they are designating zones (involving more state and local folks!). 

This Act is a BIG DEAL and will have a tremendous impact on who gets access to Direct Technical Assistance and future mitigation grant funding. We hope our perspectives will help FEMA move in the right direction. 

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Derrick Hiebert
Advisory Specialist Master - Crisis and Resilience
Deloitte
Olympia WA
(206) 724-7713
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Grateful for the caucus taking this on the support of IAEM. I appreciate your knowledge Derrick!

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Christa Lopez
Senior Advisor
CTEH
Wilmington NC
(409)270-7680
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-31-2023 12:23
From: Derrick Hiebert
Subject: Implementation of Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act - Request for Comment

The Mitigation and Adaptation Caucus wrote, and IAEM Board Approved, the attached comments on CDRZ Implementation! Overall, we raise several concerns with how CDRZ are designated, the use of the National Risk Index, and recommend that FEMA make some adjustments in how they are designating zones (involving more state and local folks!). 

This Act is a BIG DEAL and will have a tremendous impact on who gets access to Direct Technical Assistance and future mitigation grant funding. We hope our perspectives will help FEMA move in the right direction. 

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Derrick Hiebert
Advisory Specialist Master - Crisis and Resilience
Deloitte
Olympia WA
(206) 724-7713
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FEMA announced the first CDRZ designations today.  Please see the attached information sheet for more information and for the list of communities that will be designated.

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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Please see the attached CRDZ Updates presentation from FEMA

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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FEMA has announced two informational webinars about Community Disaster Resilience Zones.  The first one is on October 25 at 3:00 ET and the second is on October 31 at 1:00 ET.  See the attached information sheet for registration details.

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Thad Huguley
Government Affairs Director
IAEM
Falls Church VA
(615) 870-9316
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