FEMA DESIGNATES FIRST COMMUNITIES TO RECEIVE TARGETED ASSISTANCE FOR
HAZARDS RESILIENCE
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20230906/fema-designates-first-communities-receive-targeted-assistance-hazards]


Release Date: 
9월 6, 2023 

WASHINGTON – Today, FEMA is announcing the initial designation of
483 census tracts that will be eligible for increased federal support
to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather
worsened by the climate crisis. Congress directed FEMA to make these
designations in the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022
and implement this bipartisan legislation to help build resilience to
natural hazards in communities most at-risk due to climate change. 

FEMA will use Community Disaster Resilience Zones
[https://www.fema.gov/partnerships/community-disaster-resilience-zones]
designations to direct and manage financial and technical assistance
for resilience projects. For example, for federal agencies, the
legislation provides additional federal cost-share for projects in
designated zones. The zone designations can also help the private
sector, nonprofits, philanthropies, and other non-federal partners
target investments in community resilience. 

The act aims to increase resilience efforts and preventative measures
designed to address underserved communities most at risk to natural
hazards. Consistent with legislative direction, FEMA considered
natural hazard risk from a national and state level while accounting
for factors that reflect disaster impacts felt by coastal, inland,
urban, suburban and rural communities. FEMA also ensured that each
state has at least one Community Disaster Resilience Zone in these
initial designations.

“These designations will help ensure that the most at-risk
communities are able to build resilience against natural hazards and
extreme weather events, which are becoming increasingly intense and
frequent due to climate change,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne
Criswell. “This aligns with Congress’ direction and other FEMA
initiatives to get federal support and resources to the communities
that need them most.”

This initial set of designations covers all 50 states and the District
of Columbia. These designations can be explored on an interactive map
on FEMA’s website
[https://www.fema.gov/partnerships/community-disaster-resilience-zones].
Additional information on the designation methodology and criteria is
available. More Community Disaster Resilience Zone designations,
including tribal lands and territories, are expected to be announced
in the fall of 2023.

An additional designation of zones will occur in 12-18 months based on
updates to the National Risk Index [http://www.fema.gov/nri], lessons
learned from these initial designations, and stakeholder input.
Examples of planned updates to the National Risk Index include
additional data on tsunami and riverine flood risk.

This new law amends the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and
Emergency Act
[https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/COMPS-2977/pdf/COMPS-2977.pdf] to
direct use of a natural hazard risk assessment index, like FEMA’s
National Risk Index [http://www.fema.gov/nri], to identify communities
which are most at risk of the effects of natural hazards and climate
change. For these designations, this methodology uses a tailored
version of the National Risk Index that includes socioeconomic status,
household characteristics, house type and transportation themes from
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Social
Vulnerability Index
[https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/placeandhealth/svi/index.html]. 

The designation methodology also advances the Biden-Harris
Administration’s whole-of-government commitment to environmental
justice by incorporating the White House Council on Environmental
Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool
[https://screeningtool.geoplatform.gov/en/#3/33.47/-97.5], which
identifies disadvantaged communities that are underserved and
overburdened by pollution and climate risk.

Designated zones will have prioritized access to federal funding for
resilience and mitigation projects. For example, this fall, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will make
awards for the Climate-Smart Communities Initiative program
[https://toolkit.climate.gov/content/climate-smart-communities-initiative]
funded by the Inflation Reduction Act
[https://www.noaa.gov/inflation-reduction-act] to accelerate the pace
and reduce the cost of climate resilience-building for communities
across the United States. NOAA will work with communities to
co-develop equitable climate resilience plans that can be readied for
funding and implementation. The priority is to assist communities that
are at the highest risk to climate impacts and have the most need for
assistance, such as the FEMA-identified Community Disaster Resilience
Zones.

The vision for the Community Disaster Resilience Zone Act, passed with
bipartisan support in December 2022, is to leverage collaboration and
cross-sector coordination across all levels of government,
philanthropic foundations, private non-profits, universities, the
insurance industry and private businesses. 

FEMA will continue to engage the public as it refines the natural
hazard risk assessment methodology to designate the zones, consults
with local jurisdictions and implements post-designation support from
a range of public and private resources.