FEMA Eyes Disaster Deductible

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in the January 20, 2016, Federal Register. This proposal would establish a disaster deductible for recipients of assistance under FEMA’s Public Assistance Program. It comes in response to a recommendation by the Government Accountability Office and the Office of the Inspector General at the Department of Homeland Security to substantially increase the threshold for disaster declarations, a move that could make it difficult for some states—especially large ones—to receive a disaster declaration for anything short of a catastrophic event. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by March 21, 2016.