During a hearing held by the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Chair Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Ranking Member Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) both called for greater federal funding for long-term recovery efforts and the passage of the NLIHC-supported “Reforming Disaster Recovery Act.” The bill would permanently authorize HUD’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program and ensure that long-term federal recovery funds quickly reach those most in need of assistance following disasters. Senator Schatz is the primary sponsor of the bill. Senator Hyde-Smith is a co-sponsor, along with 13 other senators.
The hearing, “Communities in Crisis: What Happens When Disaster Recovery Funds are Delayed,” featured testimony from Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), whose state is still recovering from catastrophic floods earlier this year, as well as Shaun Donovan, the CEO of Enterprise Community Partners; Jennifer Gray Thompson of After the Fire USA; and Ran Reinhard of the South Carolina Office of Resilience.
In his opening statement, Chairman Schatz explained the need for Congress to approve significant long-term recovery funds, just as it approved additional FEMA funding for short-term recovery and disaster response efforts earlier this year. He also called for such funds to be accompanied by reforms improving the long-term recovery process. “By failing to authorize CDBG-DR, we force HUD to rewrite rules for funding every time we finally get around to providing funding, meaning communities are left waiting months or years for aid to arrive,” said Chair Schatz. “And without certainty about when and how much aid will come, local governments end up doing some things twice and other things not at all. From a governance standpoint, it’s wasteful and inefficient. And for survivors, the uncertainty and delays make the already-difficult task of recovery even harder.”
“Natural disasters are not partisan in their impact, and our response should not be either,” said Ranking Member Hyde-Smith. “We should work on a bipartisan basis to improve existing programs like CDBG-DR. This ad-hoc approach to CDBG-DR has meant that some grantees have had to administer multiple grants concurrently, applying slightly different rules and requirements for each grant. This approach has also had the unintended consequence of slowing the delivery of assistance to communities, sometimes by several years, making it more challenging for communities to proactively design effective disaster response programs.”
In addition to the witnesses who appeared in person, Chairman Schatz entered several letters advocating for long-term recovery funds into the record, including letters from NLIHC and from the NLIHC-led Disaster Housing Recovery Coalition. One letter – sent in conjunction with Enterprise Community Partners, National League of Cities, and the National Association of Counties, and cosigned by 90 different organizations across the country – called for the quick passage of the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. The other letter had 25 co-signers from areas of the country impacted by disasters in 2023 and called for additional recovery funding along with reforms to long-term recovery programs.
Congressional and National Updates
Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) told reporters that lawmakers will be turning their attention to domestic disaster relief after dealing with appropriations for fiscal year 2024.
The Government Accountability Office released a report on the need for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to include an assessment of lending criteria for both businesses and homeowners and an analysis of gaps in loan outcomes among program participants from underserved communities during its review of the Disaster Loan Program.
An article in Hakai Magazine on disaster assistance for renters discusses a recent report by Best that finds that even less powerful hurricanes reduce the affordability of rental housing.
An article in Politico explores the peculiar absence of tsunami threats in FEMA’s National Risk Index. The risk index, which provides ratings for communities across the country based on their risk of various hazards and their social vulnerability to disaster impacts, does not include any tsunami risk data, which could lead to problems for areas like the Pacific Northwest, where there is a one in four chance of a catastrophic earthquake and accompanying tsunami in the next 50 years.
An article by Energy News Network emphasizes the importance of resilient homes in preparing for climate disasters and cites the unpreparedness of Texans during Storm Uri. The article encourages the adoption of weatherization processes and heat pumps, particularly for renters living in poorly insulated homes, as well as use of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebates (HER) program, which funds energy efficiency and electrification projects. The article urges states and local governments to prioritize low-income renters and recommends actions to ensure tenant protections, center the expertise of environmental justice groups, compensate community-based organizations, and integrate HER rebates with other relevant policies.
Nearly 80 consumer, energy, housing, health, manufacturing, and environmental organizations sent a letter urging the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to update energy code requirements for new homes backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. The letter highlights FHFA’s role in addressing climate threats and creating consistent energy standards for federally backed mortgages. It also emphasizes the benefits of adopting the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) or ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1-2019 codes, including lower housing costs, increased climate resilience, improved health, emission reduction, and reduced default risk. Failure to update codes could result in prolonged energy waste, high utility bills, and reduced affordability for low-income households.
Hurricane Katrina and subsequent disasters have disproportionately affected older adults, with over two-thirds of casualties being among those aged 60 and above. Danielle Arigoni, managing director for policy and solutions at the National Housing Trust, emphasizes that age is an intersectional issue, which magnifies risks. In her book Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation, she explores the overlooked needs of this demographic in disaster planning. Arigoni discusses misconceptions, such as mobility challenges and assumptions about preparedness, and highlights the importance of age-focused preparedness plans for cities.
A new Fannie Mae survey of homeowners and renters in the U.S. finds that awareness of flood risk is lacking among consumers, particularly those in high-risk zones, and that consumers are increasingly worried about flood insurance affordability. Respondents continued to cite FEMA as the most trusted source for flood risk information, and some consumers are taking steps to learn about and minimize flood risks. The survey identifies the need for ongoing efforts to educate consumers, improve communication, and facilitate informed choices.
Black Americans are moving to disaster-prone states like Texas and Florida, which are vulnerable to hurricanes and extreme heat. This “Reverse Migration” trend leaves Black communities particularly exposed to climate disasters, leading to higher mortality rates, increased debt, and a lack of infrastructure for survival.
State and Local
Alaska
Highway clearing and relief efforts are ongoing after the deadly landslide that took place in Wrangell on November 20. Fundraising efforts have brought in over $43,000 to support families affected by the disaster. The Alaska Department of Transportation provided new measurements of the slide’s length and coverage, emphasizing the need for long-term monitoring and safety measures.
California
Ahead of the March 2024 elections, an interview-based survey of voters in Santa Cruz County indicated that disaster preparation was among the top priorities of residents, along with power reliability and housing affordability.
Disparate recoveries among three counties in California suggest that rebuilding after wildfires does not result in the same success rate for all communities. Survivors in Coffey Park, Paradise, and Greenville alike say their sense of community has been immeasurably strengthened since the fires, despite massive displacements, impacts on community mental health, and housing shortages in surrounding areas. Informed by the experiences of communities in Australia and Japan that rebuilt following significant natural disasters, leaders initiated focus groups, strategic planning sessions, open mic community forums, and an annual revival festival with performances, panel discussions, and opportunities for people to engage in conversations about the future.
Florida
The U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget is launching an investigation into the financial stability of Florida’s state-backed insurer, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. With rising concerns about the impact of climate change, the committee aims to assess whether the insurer has sufficient funds to withstand future disasters. As a last-resort insurer, Citizens covers properties that private insurers may reject, but its financial viability is under scrutiny, particularly after major hurricanes in 2022 and 2023. The investigation will examine the potential economic consequences of the hurricanes, including the impact on property values and the broader economy, amid fears of a federal bailout if Citizens faces insolvency.
Harmony Shores Mobile Home Park, a 12.5-acre waterfront property in East Naples that flooded during Hurricane Ian in 2022, is on the market for nearly $25 million. The property was owned by Cove Communities, which bought it in June 2021 for $18.5 million. Following Hurricane Ian, residents were told to “vacate” the flooded mobile home park by their landlord in violation of due process. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is not involved in the current sale and was not aware that the property was on the market.
Hawaii
Efforts to quickly convert vacation rentals into homes for Maui’s fire evacuees are leading to confusion and profiteering. Short-term rental operators are being offered financial incentives of up to $9,000 for long-term leases, which have led to reports of landlords evicting existing tenants in favor of the new program. Hawaii’s Department of Human Services spoke out against these actions and warned that such reports would bring about disqualification from the program and a referral to the Attorney General’s office. As 2,500 families leave hotels over the next two months, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement estimates that funding the short-term rental program for one year will cost $176 million, of which FEMA will pay $92 million. The remaining $83 million would be made up of a combination of private philanthropic contributions, state support, and evacuees’ personal funds. Governor Josh Green’s office said the state is prepared to cover one-third of the expenses, though it remains uncertain whether legislative approval is necessary. Both the complexity of existing housing programs and uncooperative rental owners continue to be significant barriers, though Maui County has threatened to impose higher taxes for uncooperative rental owners, and the governor is considering blocking short-term rentals if sufficient units are not secured. In the meantime, the council has set up a website so that rental owners and evacuees can access the program. For those ineligible to receive FEMA aid, like some migrants and undocumented immigrants, the state is sponsoring a $2.5 million program together with AirBnb and the nonprofit Global Empowerment Mission (GEM).
Kentucky
The Kentucky Department for Local Government (DLG) is facing criticism over its plan to allocate $300 million in federal flood relief. The funding, announced in March, aims to address flood-related damages. The DLG’s draft plan proposes creating safe housing options by incentivizing new construction or repairs outside flood plains. However, local leaders are expressing concerns that the plan appears to prioritize state-led high ground communities over severely affected counties and that the cut-off for aid for moderate-income households is too low. Public hearings are being held to gather input before the plan is submitted for federal review.
New York
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has formally requested a major disaster declaration from President Joe Biden to support the ongoing recovery of downstate communities impacted by the significant flooding that occurred during a two-day period in late September 2023. The declaration, if approved, would allow the state to receive federal reimbursement for recovery expenditures. The state, in collaboration with FEMA and local governments, is assessing the damage to determine eligibility for federal aid, with the threshold set at $35.7 million as of September. The funds would support debris removal, emergency measures, and infrastructure restoration in areas severely affected by the storm, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Nassau, and Westchester counties.
Tennessee
Catastrophic tornadoes in middle and west Tennessee left at least six people dead on the evening of December 9. The storms damaged numerous homes in the city of Clarksville and in the suburbs of Nashville. The state and federal governments have both issued Major Disaster Declarations for the impacted areas, and impacted residents can now apply for assistance via FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program.
Utah
Utah’s flood control crews are among the nominees for the Utahn of the Year award, which is chosen by editors and editorial board members at the Salt Lake Tribune. Record-breaking snowpack resulted in a stressful spring and summer for many Utahns who were put on flood watch. Behind the scenes, flood control teams, like Salt Lake City’s “Stream Team,” composed of engineers, hydrologists, administrators, communication specialists, and emergency management officials, worked diligently to safeguard homes and public properties from potential disasters.
Vermont
Construction on infrastructure for mobile homes intended to house Vermonters displaced by the July 2023 floods is set to begin in mid-December at the old Montpelier Elks Country Club. FEMA spokesperson Briana Summer Fenton stated that bidding for contractors is underway, and once selected, they will be able to bypass certain regulations to expedite the process. The trailers are expected to arrive 30 to 60 days after construction begins, possibly between mid-January and February 2024. FEMA has verified qualifying criteria for homeowners and renters interested in the housing solution. Of those who met the criteria, 64% had already found adequate housing or were able to return to their damaged homes. Still, 25 households remain interested in pursuing housing in a trailer. Those moving into the trailers will have 18 months to secure permanent housing, with FEMA covering essential expenses during that period. The city of Montpelier plans to convert the site into permanent housing once trailers are no longer