Bill Overview
Title: Office of Disaster Recovery Act
Description: This bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish an Office of Disaster Recovery. The office must direct and implement the Economic Development Administration's post-disaster economic recovery responsibilities and economic recovery support function activities as directed under the National Disaster Recovery Framework. Additionally, the bill increases the federal share for a project for economic recovery in response to a major disaster or emergency declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
Sponsors: Rep. Carter, Troy [D-LA-2]
Target Audience
Population: people affected by major disasters worldwide
Estimated Size: 25000000
- The bill establishes an Office of Disaster Recovery intended to manage economic recovery efforts after disasters.
- People affected by major disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, and floods could benefit from improved economic recovery efforts.
- Businesses and workers in disaster-affected areas may see quicker or more effective recovery resources.
- The bill could particularly aid industries that are significant to local economies in disaster-prone regions.
- Given global climate patterns, people in areas frequently experiencing natural disasters would be most impacted.
Reasoning
- The target population includes people in areas affected by natural disasters who could benefit from increased federal resources allocated for economic recovery.
- The policy primarily assists communities that regularly experience hurricanes, earthquakes, wildfires, or floods. It offers quicker financial aid from the Economic Development Administration through new recovery strategies.
- Small business owners, local workers, agricultural communities, and infrastructure services in disaster-prone areas are among the most likely to be impacted.
- We must consider the policy's new funding limitations, as well as its potential long-term financial relief and economic stability boosts.
- The commonness score reflects how often individuals like the ones interviewed could be found within the disaster-prone regions of the US.
Simulated Interviews
Small Business Owner (Houston, Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could help my business get back on its feet more quickly after a disaster.
- Increased federal assistance would mean less personal debt when dealing with disaster recovery.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Firefighter (Paradise, California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Faster economic recovery means faster community recovery.
- Reduced stress if my home or community is financially supported post-disaster.
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 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Construction Worker (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased projects and funding will mean more consistent work opportunities for me.
- I can plan my finances better with more reliable job opportunities after disasters.
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 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Public School Teacher (Miami, Florida)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The school's recovery will be quicker and less bureaucratic.
- Children can return to normal school routines faster, improving educational stability.
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 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Retired (Garberville, California)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased federal assistance could make rebuilding homes more accessible.
- Reduced financial burden and increased personal safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Local Government Official (Biloxi, Mississippi)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More resources means more efficient and effective deployment of recovery efforts.
- Able to serve my community better with increased support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Tourism Business Operator (Naples, Florida)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Accelerated economic recovery would support our peak seasons better.
- Lower economic risk to tourism businesses during hurricane season.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Warehouse Manager (Joplin, Missouri)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More federal aid means quicker restocking and operational restart after disasters.
- Warehouse logistics can maintain jobs and regional supply chains post-disaster.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Agricultural Worker (Tallahassee, Florida)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced economic recovery would provide necessary support to agricultural sectors.
- Less worry about long-term job security post-disaster assistance.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Technical Repair Specialist (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Closer community federal aid means infrastructure repairs can happen more consistently.
- Less downtime and more work stability.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $660000000)
Year 3: $600000000 (Low: $480000000, High: $720000000)
Year 5: $680000000 (Low: $540000000, High: $820000000)
Year 10: $850000000 (Low: $680000000, High: $1020000000)
Year 100: $1500000000 (Low: $1200000000, High: $1800000000)
Key Considerations
- The establishment of a new federal office entails substantial start-up costs and recurring expenses.
- Balancing federal contribution increases for economic recovery projects may inflate federal disaster aid budgets but can be crucial for effective recovery.
- Long-term benefits of quicker recovery could surpass initial costs; however, this requires effective implementation and management.
- Potential overlap with existing emergency management offices must be managed to avoid redundancy.
- The economic impact of more frequent and severe natural disasters necessitates robust recovery infrastructure.