Emergency Management Emergency Management Legal and Financial Frameworks Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under the Stafford Act, which federal agency is primarily responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts?
- FEMA (Correct answer)
- Department of Defense
- EPA
- Department of Homeland Security
Correct answer: FEMA
The Robert T. Stafford Act designates FEMA as the lead federal agency for coordinating disaster response and recovery assistance.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)?
- To fund long-term measures that reduce future disaster losses (Correct answer)
- To provide immediate emergency shelter
- To reimburse states for debris removal costs
- To fund emergency communication systems
Correct answer: To fund long-term measures that reduce future disaster losses
HMGP provides grants to states and communities to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration.
Question 3: Which legal doctrine allows government officials to take emergency actions that may temporarily override normal legal procedures during a declared emergency?
- Emergency powers doctrine (Correct answer)
- Sovereign immunity
- Police power
- Eminent domain
Correct answer: Emergency powers doctrine
The emergency powers doctrine grants executives expanded authority to take necessary protective actions during declared emergencies.
Question 4: What cost-sharing arrangement does FEMA typically require for Public Assistance grants under a major disaster declaration?
- 75% federal / 25% state and local (Correct answer)
- 50% federal / 50% state and local
- 90% federal / 10% state and local
- 100% federal funding
Correct answer: 75% federal / 25% state and local
The standard FEMA Public Assistance cost share is 75% federal and 25% non-federal (state, tribal, or local government).
Question 5: Which federal legislation established the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)?
- National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (Correct answer)
- Disaster Relief Act of 1974
- Flood Control Act of 1936
- Stafford Act of 1988
Correct answer: National Flood Insurance Act of 1968
The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 created the NFIP to provide affordable flood insurance to property owners in participating communities.
Question 6: What is a Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) primarily used for in the disaster declaration process?
- To document damage and justify a presidential disaster declaration request (Correct answer)
- To calculate insurance payouts for affected homeowners
- To determine criminal liability for infrastructure failures
- To establish evacuation zone boundaries
Correct answer: To document damage and justify a presidential disaster declaration request
PDAs are joint federal-state assessments that document the extent of damage to support a governor's request for a presidential disaster declaration.
Emergency Management Emergency Management Legal and Financial Frameworks Questions and Answers 2
Under the Stafford Act, which federal agency is primarily responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts?