Bill Overview
Title: Disaster Contract Improvement Act
Description: This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish an advisory working group to encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities engaged in disaster recovery relating to debris removal. The bill requires (1) FEMA to conduct outreach to states, tribal governments, and local governments with respect to any guidance or support materials developed; and (2) the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study that, among other things, examines the use and adoption rate of advance contracts for debris removal by states, tribal governments, and local governments.
Sponsors: Rep. Rice, Tom [R-SC-7]
Target Audience
Population: People living in disaster-prone areas
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill addresses the process of disaster recovery relating to debris removal, which is crucial post-disaster for returning communities to normality.
- FEMA's role in coordinating disaster recovery means the bill will predominantly impact the United States.
- Given that the bill involves debris removal, it targets populations frequently affected by natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods.
- The bill requires coordination with state, tribal, and local governments, directly impacting these entities in disaster-prone areas.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on areas frequently impacted by natural disasters, so we will simulate interviews from various demographic groups within these areas.
- States like Florida, Texas, and California are frequently hit by hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires, so we'll include individuals from these states.
- The policy's impact could vary from low to high depending on the frequency and severity of disasters in specific regions, and the effectiveness of the coordinated debris removal efforts.
- We have to consider the efficient budget allocation, which suggests that the policy may offer substantial initial support but could taper in influence over time, explaining differing scores over 20 years.
- Not everyone will be directly impacted, such as individuals in less frequently affected areas, like new urban developments with advanced infrastructure or people who primarily work remotely.
Simulated Interviews
Public school teacher (Miami, Florida)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think more coordinated efforts for disaster debris removal can help speed up recovery after hurricanes, which seem to get worse each year.
- I hope this means less disruption to the school year and fewer cleanup days volunteering at the school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Firefighter (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 35 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved debris removal will make my job easier and could prevent further fires from igniting due to cleared areas.
- The study component can really help us prepare better upfront with advanced contracts.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Civil engineer (Houston, Texas)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding advance contracts can aid in preparing better infrastructure plans with state governments.
- This bill seems to address a critical gap in our disaster response system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Farmer (Rural Kansas)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's great to have more organized debris removal, but I doubt it will change much in my day-to-day life.
- State and local cooperation might mean faster road clearances, which are essential for my business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Retired (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any policy that helps streamline disaster recovery is welcome in our community, given our history.
- I appreciate the study on contracts because it can reduce inefficiencies and delays.
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 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 3 |
Software developer (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I suppose it's good that there are better plans for disaster recovery, but I live outside these risk zones.
- I'm more concerned with tech regulations and remote work policies.
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 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Property developer (Tampa, Florida)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Advance contracts and removal systems can make redevelopment faster and more efficient.
- This might be beneficial to my business by cutting downtime.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local government official (Mobile, Alabama)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The act's focus on collaboration and contracts could lighten the administrative load during post-disaster chaos.
- With better federal guidance, we might see improvements in recovery timelines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Nurse (San Antonio, Texas)
Age: 31 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Floods can heavily impact public health services, so anything that expedites recovery is crucial.
- I see this benefiting both the hospital and the communities we serve in the aftermath of major floods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Insurance agent (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Streamlined debris removal processes could reduce the volume of claims I handle, easing workload.
- The policy might encourage policyholders to expect quicker recovery times, which is a double-edged sword.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $9000000)
Year 3: $6000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $8000000)
Year 5: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Year 10: $4000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $2000000 (Low: $1000000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination among multiple government levels and agencies is crucial for the success of the advisory group.
- The effectiveness depends on the willingness and capability of local, state, and tribal governments to engage with guidelines and advance contracts.
- Potential cost savings and efficiencies in debris management processes need thorough assessment and monitoring.