The Center for American Progress released this new report: Disastrous Spending: Federal Disaster-Relief Expenditures Rise Amid More Extreme Weather.

Here isanother take on this report: Disasters Caused by Climate Change Cost Every American Household $400 per Year.

Related articles

• The government is spending way more on disaster relief than anybody thought (washingtonpost.com)
• The Next Government Spending Crisis: Disaster Relief (businessinsider.com)

A few days ago, I posted news about two new resources: (1) NFPA 1600 and (2) National Mitigation Framework from FEMA.  In reviewing the hit count for recent postings, I see that the first mentioned got 278 hits and the second one got 10. of 5/8.

That is quite a sizable difference and I would be interesting in knowing why (1) is of so much greater interest than (2).  The Diva keeps trying to guess what readers will find interesting and useful, but it is not an easy task!

Update: As Bill Cumming notes in his comments below, “NFPA 1600 is probably the best known voluntary standard in the EM and public safety and Fire Service community. It has evolved over time and now is a mandatory standard in some States and local government circles. Thus the wide interest in its coverage and evolution.”

Over the years, I sometimes have wondered what happens to disaster-impacted communities that are turned down for a declaration? That is an area that has received very little attention from researchers, as far as I know. Well, here is one account of how a community fared, and the results are surprisingly positive. See:

Region probably did OK without FEMA money

GLADE SPRING, Va. — Residents and community leaders were bitterly disappointed two years ago when Virginia was twice denied financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after tornadoes ripped through the state, killing four people in this area.

 But now, with the destruction in the rear-view mirror and recovery efforts forging ahead, local leaders say that perhaps not receiving FEMA assistance was a blessing in disguise.

 

 “We pretty much agree within the group that it’s good we didn’t qualify for FEMA,” said Barbara Farmer, chairwoman of the Washington County Long Term Recovery Group, which was formed to help manage the crisis. “[We got to] see how the community came together and churches sent work groups in.”

 

 About $653,000 came in from the state, through the governor’s disaster recovery fund, and the rest of the $1.5 million in recovery efforts spent locally was raised locally.

 

 “We were able to be a little more flexible with the spending,” said Pokey Harris, Washington County’s emergency management coordinator. “We were able to meet more particular, individual needs of people. I wouldn’t say that federal funds would not have helped, but we do know there are a lot of stipends, hurdles and regulations.”

Note: thanks to a reader, here is a direct link to a FEMA-issued  Non-Stafford Act Recovery Guide that I did not know about.

Two recent mentions of the role of EPA, no doubt in connection with the recent West Texas explosion.

(1) To Prevent Chemical Disasters, Empower the E.P.A.

The explosion this month at a fertilizer plant in West, Tex., should be another wake-up call to lawmakers. Rep. George Miller, the chairman of the House committee on the workforce, is calling for scrutiny of the 6,000 fertilizer plants similar to the one that exploded. The push for safer conditions should not end there.Disasters from chemical hazards can be avoided by reducing the volume of dangerous chemical used, switching to less dangerous chemicals and enforcing high-quality training. Congress should pass chemical safety legislation to make those steps happen.

Many agencies currently have some responsibility for hazardous chemical safety, but Congress should make clear that the Environmental Protection Agency is in charge. It is the nation’s leading environmental enforcer, with the most trained staff and expertise to address chemical safety.In fact, the E.P.A. already has some power to protect public health, under part of the Clean Air Act called the general duty clause.

The agency has successfully used it in enforcement cases, including against a fertilizer plant in Port Neal, Iowa, where a 1994 explosion of ammonium nitrate killed four workers and injured 18. The E.P.A. issued an enforcement alert in 1998 on the chemical safety hazards of ammonium nitrate, including six standards and practices intended to prevent accidental explosions. If Congress gave the agency more explicit powers, it could enforce these and other standards to prevent future disasters.

(2) New GAO report, titled:  EPA Has Increased Efforts to Assess and Control Chemicals but Could Strengthen Its Approach

UPDATE:  On May 1, this news clipping mentions a CRS memo on the topic of chemical plant safety, but no where does it mention how to obtain a copy.

Thanks to Bill Cumming for obtaining a copy of the memo, which is here: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/557127-crs-rmp-update-11-16-12.html