The Stafford Act was signed into law in 1988 to provide a framework for federal assistance when disasters strike and exceed the capabilities of local and state resources. The Stafford Act authorizes the delivery of federal technical, financial, logistical, and other assistance to states and localities during declared major disasters or emergencies ("ASTHO," 2013). Under the Stafford Act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the agency responsible for coordinating disaster relief efforts and resources. FEMA not only provides disaster response but also provides grants for long-term hazard mitigation efforts, individual assistance and public assistance ("ASTHO," 2013).
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (2013) …show more content…
While the Stafford Act does provide some very important assistance for states declaring disasters there is room for improvement. The act is highly dependent upon political boundaries and in some cases, may exclude areas needing assistance. For example, there is a statewide incident to impact Kentucky and negatively impacts the communities of Jefferson and Clarksville located in Indiana, just the other side of the Ohio River. FEMA renders aid for Kentucky but excludes the Indiana communities because the impact to Indiana is isolated to just two communities and not a statewide disaster. The response to any disaster is very chaotic, to expedite and streamline disaster responses, pre-incident negotiations and contracts should be established to streamline not only logistical needs but also leverage lower pricing from private sector contractor’s resources and goods. The lower pricing for goods and resources will not only expedite access but also stretch funds to provide more resources than what might otherwise be
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (2013) …show more content…
While the Stafford Act does provide some very important assistance for states declaring disasters there is room for improvement. The act is highly dependent upon political boundaries and in some cases, may exclude areas needing assistance. For example, there is a statewide incident to impact Kentucky and negatively impacts the communities of Jefferson and Clarksville located in Indiana, just the other side of the Ohio River. FEMA renders aid for Kentucky but excludes the Indiana communities because the impact to Indiana is isolated to just two communities and not a statewide disaster. The response to any disaster is very chaotic, to expedite and streamline disaster responses, pre-incident negotiations and contracts should be established to streamline not only logistical needs but also leverage lower pricing from private sector contractor’s resources and goods. The lower pricing for goods and resources will not only expedite access but also stretch funds to provide more resources than what might otherwise be