Bill Overview
Title: FIRE Act
Description: This act addresses the federal government's approach to wildfires. Specifically, the act requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to report to Congress regarding the use of relocation assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for wildfire risk. FEMA, in coordination with the National Weather Service, must study, develop recommendations for, and initiate a process for the use of forecasts and data, including information that supports Red Flag Warnings and similar weather alert and notification methods, to establish plans and actions that can be implemented prior to a wildfire event that can limit the impact, duration, or severity of the fire; and mechanisms to increase interagency collaboration to expedite the delivery of disaster assistance. The Government Accountability Office must report to Congress regarding wildfires, including the effectiveness of FEMA programs. Each state, local agency, or private mental health organization providing professional crisis counseling assistance must ensure that those providing case management services to victims of a major disaster have training to address impacts in communities and to individuals with socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. FEMA must conduct a study and develop a plan to address providing housing assistance to survivors of major disasters or emergencies when presented with challenges such as the presence of multiple families within a single household. The act allows Indian tribal governments to apply for grants for equipping, upgrading, and constructing state and local emergency operations centers.
Sponsors: Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
Target Audience
Population: People affected by wildfires and related disaster management programs
Estimated Size: 10000000
- The bill is tailored to enhance FEMA's operations and response specifically to wildfires, which are primarily a concern in the United States.
- It involves coordination with the National Weather Service to improve forecasting and planning for wildfires, indicating its focus on areas prone to such natural disasters.
- The FIRE Act includes provisions for training crisis counselors to assist communities and individuals, particularly those socioeconomically disadvantaged, which are common within the U.S.
- The legislation also addresses disaster housing assistance, a direct impact on those affected by major disasters who lose their homes or face housing challenges.
- The act facilitates grants to Indian tribal governments for emergency operation centers, pointing to a specific demographic, largely within the U.S.
- While wildfires occur worldwide, this legislation specifically targets FEMA and U.S. governmental agencies, suggesting its primary target population is within the U.S.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets areas prone to wildfires, especially in the western US. Therefore, the interviews will focus on individuals from these regions, considering demographics like age, occupation, and economic status to get a diverse perspective.
- The budget and target population numbers suggest a substantial investment in wildfire responses, though the focus is narrow. Interviews will reflect a mix of high, medium, low, and no impact scenarios, capturing the variability within the population.
- Given the emphasis on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals and tribal governments, interviews will include people from these groups to reflect how the policy might alter their wellbeing post-implementation.
Simulated Interviews
Firefighter (California)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The new FEMA policy could significantly help our community by providing better ground preparation and response ahead of wildfire seasons.
- Training for counselors as well could help families like mine who deal with the stress of constant relocation threats during fire season.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Retired (Alaska)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy is crucial, it likely won't affect my daily life here in Alaska directly.
- However, it's important for federal resources to be used effectively where they are most needed.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Community Leader (Oregon)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy addresses key issues we face during wildfire seasons.
- Better coordination with the National Weather Service could improve safety and response times in our community.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Tribal Government Official (New Mexico)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The grants available to tribal governments are a significant boost to our capacity and infrastructure.
- This policy will positively affect our ability to respond to emergencies efficiently.
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 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
College Student (Colorado)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While I'm not directly affected, I think improving FEMA's response to wildfires can alleviate national resources spent on disaster recovery, which eventually benefits everyone.
- It's good to have policies in place when the climate crisis worsens such a situation.
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 | 8 | 7 |
Psychologist (Florida)
Age: 51 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training for crisis counselors will certainly enhance the support system available to victims of wildfires, potentially improving mental health outcomes.
- This can bridge gaps in recovery support, which often see underfunding.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Small Business Owner (Nevada)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Upgrades in forecasting and FEMA assistance can save businesses like mine from total devastation.
- The effort to streamline disaster assistance is crucial for recovery.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Real Estate Agent (Texas)
Age: 33 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The measure for improved housing assistance could help stabilize affected populations, crucial for areas I've worked in when managing multiple family households.
- I hope it translates to smoother transitions post-disaster.
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 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Social Worker (Washington)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The training opportunities for case managers are a much-needed resource, given the challenges we face.
- It helps in providing more structured support to those in need.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Farmer (Montana)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Improving early warnings and inter-agency coordination is essential for protecting agricultural interests.
- This policy is a positive step but needs to be paired with local knowledge applications.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $196000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $230000000)
Year 2: $196000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $230000000)
Year 3: $196000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $230000000)
Year 5: $196000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $230000000)
Year 10: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- FEMA's coordination with the National Weather Service is crucial for improving wildfire warning systems.
- Training for crisis counselors is essential for supporting socioeconomically disadvantaged communities post-disaster.
- The bill's emphasis on interagency collaboration can facilitate quicker recovery post-disaster, which might mitigate costs in future wildfires.
- Investment in technology and infrastructure might yield long-term benefits in wildfire management.
- Grant provisions for tribal governments underline the commitment to inclusivity in national disaster preparedness.