Bill Overview
Title: Disaster Management Costs Modernization Act
Description: This bill authorizes the use of excess funds for management costs for certain disaster recovery projects. Specifically, excess funds for management costs made available to a grantee or subgrantee may be used for activities associated with building capacity to respond to or recover from incidents. Such funds may also be used to provide such assistance, including for providing training and other activities associated with any major disaster or emergency declaration, or to otherwise prepare for such an incident.
Sponsors: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH]
Target Audience
Population: People in disaster-prone areas globally
Estimated Size: 100000000
- Governments and agencies involved in disaster management will directly utilize the funds, enabling more effective responses.
- The broader community in disaster-prone areas will indirectly benefit from more efficient and well-prepared disaster response systems.
- Training and capacity building funded by the act will affect emergency responders, thereby leading to improved responses to disasters.
- As disasters can strike globally, modernizing disaster management capacities impacts populations worldwide.
Reasoning
- The policy focuses on utilizing excess funds for better management of disaster recovery projects, which means that the direct beneficiaries are likely to be government agencies and emergency responders who would receive more training and resources. However, the indirect beneficiaries include populations living in disaster-prone areas who would potentially face fewer losses and quicker recovery times in the event of a disaster.
- Given the population estimate of 100 million people in the US, the policy impact will vary significantly based on geographical location, frequency of past disasters, occupation (such as emergency responders), and socio-economic factors.
- Some individuals will experience a noticeable impact on their wellbeing due to improved safety and response times in emergencies. Others, particularly those in areas less prone to disasters, may not notice a direct change in their immediate wellbeing.
- This simulation will include a mixture of people with high and low direct impacts based on their location and occupation, along with baseline data representing general population feedback.
Simulated Interviews
Firefighter (New Orleans, LA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The additional funds for training and resources could significantly improve our response time and safety measures.
- We often face resource challenges during hurricane season, so this policy could really make a difference.
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 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having more funds to manage disaster responses could mean better preparedness for wildfires.
- I hope the policy also brings more community-focused educational programs so everyone knows how to act during an emergency.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Hospital Administrator (Miami, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Increased funding for disaster recovery is crucial for hospitals like ours to better prepare for hurricane seasons.
- More training and resources could greatly improve our capacity to handle larger emergencies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
School Principal (Omaha, NE)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm supportive of any policy that enhances our preparedness for natural disasters, especially for our children.
- My concern is that funds often don't reach smaller rural communities like ours. I hope this policy ensures wider distribution of resources.
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 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Retired (Houston, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring that excess funds improve disaster response is a smart move, considering the unpredictability of storms here.
- As a community, we've had to rally together in past disasters, so any improvement in official preparedness is welcome.
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 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
City Planner (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could help cities like ours better manage heat waves through improved planning and resource allocation.
- The additional training could aid emergency response teams, which is critical during severe conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Software Engineer (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think disaster preparedness is essential, but I don't see how it affects my daily life.
- Hopefully, this policy will mean quicker tech solutions in managing incidents like earthquakes.
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 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Environmental Scientist (Portland, OR)
Age: 67 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Enhanced funding for disaster management could lead to more sustainable practices being adopted by response teams.
- I'm hopeful that part of this policy addresses long-term climate resilience.
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 | 7 | 6 |
Entrepreneur (Boulder, CO)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funds are critical for innovative approaches to disaster management and response.
- This policy could accelerate tech-based solutions that we are trying to develop for flood-prone areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Civil Engineer (Jackson, MS)
Age: 54 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Investing in management costs and recovery projects can significantly improve infrastructure resilience.
- The policy could promote better planning and architectural standards to withstand future disasters.
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 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $500000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $600000000)
Year 2: $550000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $650000000)
Year 3: $600000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $700000000)
Year 5: $700000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $800000000)
Year 10: $850000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $950000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- The variability and unpredictability of disasters make precise cost estimations challenging.
- Training and capacity building have the potential for compounding positive effects on disaster management systems.
- Equitable distribution of funds and resources is essential to avoid disparities in disaster readiness across different regions.
- Continuous assessment will be necessary to ensure funds are used effectively and adjust strategies as needed.