Bill Overview
Title: Preliminary Damage Assessment Improvement Act of 2021
Description: 21 This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to (1) submit to Congress a report describing the preliminary damage assessment process, as carried out by FEMA in the five years before this bill's enactment; and (2) convene an advisory panel to assist FEMA in improving critical components of that process.
Sponsors: Rep. Katko, John [R-NY-24]
Target Audience
Population: People in the United States potentially affected by natural disasters
Estimated Size: 329500000
- The bill involves FEMA, which is a federal agency responsible for disaster response and recovery in the United States.
- The improvement of damage assessment processes affects emergency response efficiency.
- Any U.S. resident in a region that might experience natural disasters could be affected, as accurate assessments impact the allocation of recovery resources.
Reasoning
- FEMA's improvement in assessments directly impacts individuals in disaster-prone areas by potentially speeding up aid distribution.
- The policy's limited budget means direct impact might be on pilot regions or areas prone to frequent disasters initially.
- The Cantril wellbeing scale can measure perceived differences in safety and recovery speed post-disaster, influenced by policy impact.
- It's important to include interviews from those in high-risk areas, those benefiting from indirect improvements, and those minimally affected due to regional differences.
- People outside high-risk areas likely won't see immediate changes, reflecting a commonness level respective to disaster likelihood.
Simulated Interviews
Owner of a small insurance company (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this bill is a good step. Quick and accurate damage assessments can help my clients and my business recover faster.
- I hope the improvements mean that FEMA services become more reliable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Logistics manager (Houston, Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improvements in damage assessments will streamline the supply chain during emergencies.
- Better data from FEMA can optimize disaster relief operations, which is crucial for my job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
NGO worker specializing in community aid (Miami, Florida)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The advisory panel could bridge gaps between FEMA and on-the-ground efforts.
- Community recovery depends on timely resource distribution, making accurate initial assessments crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Civil engineer (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While Seattle isn't hit by hurricanes, efficient assessment of infrastructure damage from earthquakes would be beneficial.
- It’s good to know improvements are being made, even if impacts here are less direct.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired school teacher (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve seen damage reports take too long, delaying help.
- If this speeds up help after hurricanes, it’d be a relief for many here.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
University student (San Francisco, California)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's comforting to see structural improvements in disaster management policies.
- Though I'm not directly affected, improving FEMA's processes is vital.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Farmer (Kansas City, Kansas)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Better assessments mean faster routes back to farming normalcy after disasters.
- Tornados cause abrupt damage, and this policy could enable quicker recovery times.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired social worker (Rochester, New York)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this policy might improve services overall, but it won't change much for me personally.
- It’s good for those affected by disasters, though I'll see little direct change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Owner of a construction company (Miami, Florida)
Age: 37 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlined damage assessment will allow my business to mobilize restoration efforts more efficiently.
- Quicker assessments lead to quicker payouts, which is beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Data Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increasing efficiency in federal disaster response is always a plus.
- The impact here may be more subtle compared to hurricane regions, given the earthquake focus.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 3: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $1000000 (Low: $500000, High: $2000000)
Year 100: $100000 (Low: $50000, High: $150000)
Key Considerations
- The cost of establishing and operating the advisory panel and associated processes.
- The effectiveness of the advisory panel and subsequent process improvements in achieving intended outcomes.
- The administrative burden on FEMA resources for report preparation and process implementation.
- Long-term savings potential from more efficient disaster response operations.