Senate Passes Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Help At-Risk Communities Invest in Disaster Mitigation Projects

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate has passed bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to make permanent the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) – an online tool that utilizes data to identify communities that are most vulnerable to natural disasters. The bill would also require FEMA to use data from the NRI to establish community disaster resilience zones (CDRZs) to designate the communities across the nation that are most in need of mitigation projects – and help them access federal funding and support to plan for mitigation and resilience projects. As damage from extreme weather events continues to cause millions of dollars in damages that taxpayers must cover, Peters’ legislation will help at-risk communities make important investments that will limit the damage caused by natural disasters. The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives.

“Identifying which areas in Michigan and across the country are most affected by disasters will help drive private and public sector investments toward those communities so they can build resilient infrastructure that can withstand extreme flooding, storms, wildfires and other disasters,” said Senator Peters. “This commonsense, bipartisan legislation – which has now passed the Senate – will help ensure there is a strategic and data-driven approach to our nation’s response to extreme weather events and other emergencies.”

Small, impoverished, rural and historically disadvantaged communities continue to face severe consequences from natural disasters – including loss of life and significant financial damage. Studies have shown that resilience and mitigation spending saves taxpayers an average of $6 for every $1 invested. By making permanent and utilizing data from the NRI – which factors in expected annual losses, social vulnerability and community resilience – Peters’ legislation would help allocate resources so at-risk communities can develop FEMA-approved hazard mitigation projects.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Peters has led several efforts to strengthen our federal disaster preparedness and response. Peters secured $500 million in funding as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill for a program he created to help states establish revolving loan programs for local governments to carry out mitigation projects that reduce the risk of shoreline erosion, extreme flooding, and other natural disasters. Peters also convened a hearing with disaster preparedness and response experts to hear how worsening natural disasters, including flooding, severe storms, and wildfires, continue to harm lives and livelihoods in Michigan and across the nation. Peters’ bipartisan legislation to protect Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reservists from losing their full-time employment when they are called up to assist communities with disaster response has passed the House and will now head to the president to be signed into law.

###