Bill Overview
Title: Delivering Equity and Justice for Disaster Survivors Act of 2022
Description: This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish, as a subcommittee of the National Advisory Council, the Disaster Equity and Justice Subcommittee. The subcommittee must develop recommendations for improving equitable and just policy and program delivery before, during, and after disasters, including recommendations related to the accessibility, utilization, and receipt of FEMA grants and assistance by underserved, under resourced, and underrepresented populations and communities; strategies and policy recommendations to address the inequitable delivery of disaster assistance, grant programs, technical assistance, and training; and strategies to address any disparate impacts climate change will have on culturally, socially, or economically vulnerable communities.
Sponsors: Rep. Carter, Troy [D-LA-2]
Target Audience
Population: Underserved, underresourced, and vulnerable disaster survivors
Estimated Size: 50000000
- The bill aims to improve disaster response and recovery for underserved, underresourced, and underrepresented populations.
- These populations often face barriers in accessing disaster relief resources and this bill seeks to streamline processes to benefit them.
- Globally, there are billions of people who may be considered underserved or vulnerable to climate change, though the bill specifically targets the US population.
Reasoning
- The population size is millions within the US, but we'll focus on those most likely to be directly affected by disasters and FEMA assistance.
- Individuals across socioeconomic statuses will be varied to capture a wide array of potential policy effects.
- We anticipated that the impact of this policy will be more pronounced in underprivileged communities who have historically had limited access to FEMA resources.
Simulated Interviews
Community Organizer (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could directly impact our neighborhood by making FEMA resources more accessible after a disaster.
- Equity in disaster response is necessary, and I've seen enough bureaucracy stall aid reaching those who need it most.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Agricultural Worker (Fresno, CA)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If the policy can address barriers to getting assistance without a lot of paperwork, that would be great for our community.
- Many here don't get aid due to language barriers or complex application processes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improved access to FEMA resources would be a game-changer after a disaster.
- Right now, it's challenging to recover due to insufficient and slow aid.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new policy might make it easier to access grants for repairing schools damaged in storms.
- Equitable resources will help ensure the community bounces back quicker.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Retired (Naples, FL)
Age: 61 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hoping this policy will make sure retirees like me get help without hurdles.
- In previous storms, I saw how hard it was for some to get assistance promptly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Social Worker (New York, NY)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could ensure NYC's underserved communities are not forgotten post-disaster.
- The focus on justice and equity is much needed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Nurse (San Juan, PR)
Age: 32 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It sounds promising if the policy aims to ensure marginalized communities are prioritized during disaster response.
- Typically, there's a lot of red tape which slows down immediate aid that could be lifesaving.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Journalist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 26 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I might not be directly affected, the policy seems crucial for those at the frontline of climate impacts in underserved communities.
- Promoting equitable aid could greatly reshape public perception of disaster management.
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 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Hotel Manager (Gulfport, MS)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful this policy will prevent long delays for FEMA assistance, which affects tourism recovery.
- Streamlined processes could help my business return to normal sooner post-disaster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring equitable disaster response could truly support workers like me who can't afford extended downtime.
- Current systems are slow and not always thorough in reaching everyone who needs help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $8000000)
Year 3: $5500000 (Low: $3300000, High: $8800000)
Year 5: $6000000 (Low: $3600000, High: $9600000)
Year 10: $7000000 (Low: $4200000, High: $11200000)
Year 100: $14000000 (Low: $8400000, High: $22400000)
Key Considerations
- The initial setup and ongoing operation of the Subcommittee.
- Outreach and collaboration with affected communities are crucial for successful implementation.
- Continuous assessment of the impact of strategies proposed by the Subcommittee.
- Budget constraints and competing priorities in FEMA and other related agencies.