The Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act of 2022 was signed
into law by President Joseph R. Biden on Dec. 20, 2022. The act builds disaster
resilience across the nation by creating and designating resilience zones that
can focus assistance and support to areas that need it most.
These zones are
disadvantaged communities that have high natural hazard risks based on combined
risks of annualized estimated losses to buildings, people and agriculture from
natural hazards; social vulnerability; and community resilience.
The designations
will also enable jurisdictions to strengthen their community resilience by
working with a range of federal agencies, private sector, nonprofit and
philanthropic organizations, and private equity partners.
Community Disaster Resilience Zones
Designations
On Sept. 6, FEMA
is announcing 483 census tracts in communities that will receive targeted
federal support to become more resilient to natural hazards and extreme weather
worsened by the climate crisis. FEMA will use these zones to focus resilience
activities as well as to encourage other federal agencies, the private sector,
nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, and private equity to invest in
resilience projects.
FEMA is
authorized to provide additional assistance for mitigation projects that reduce
natural hazard risk in, or primarily benefiting, a designated zone, including a
cost share adjustment under certain FEMA mitigation grant programs.
Designation Requirements and Process
FEMA consulted
with other federal agencies, supporters and contributors from the public and private
sectors, and the general public to refine the methodology for designating these
initial resilience zones.
With the
legislation as guidance, individual census tracts with the highest natural
hazard risk assessment as determined by components of the National Risk Index
are eligible for designation. The law requires the following:
- Include
the 50 census tracts assigned the highest individual hazard risk rating.
- Within each state, include at least 1% of the census
tracts with the highest individual risk rating.
- Achieve
geographic balance and consider designations in coastal, inland, urban,
suburban, rural areas.
- Include census tracts in territories and on tribal
lands.
The White House
Council on Environmental Quality Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool was used for these designations as well. This
tool is a geospatial platform that identifies areas across the nation that face
especially acute climate and other resilience burdens. FEMA’s use of this tool
further focused the designations on underserved communities.
Designations
will focus resilience building activities as well as to encourage other federal
agencies, the private sector, nonprofits, philanthropic and private equity to
invest in projects to make identified communities more resilient.
For example, the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
plans to use these newly designated zones to focus a number of its climate
resilience programs. NOAA will make an award this fall for the Climate-Smart Communities Initiative program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act to accelerate the pace of and reduce the cost of climate
resilience-building for communities across the United States. The program will
work with communities to co-develop equitable climate resilience plans that can
be readied for funding and implementation. NOAA’s priority is to assist
communities that are at the highest risk to climate impacts and have the most
need for assistance, such as the FEMA identified Community Disaster Resilience
Zones.
The Initial Designations Announcement on
September 6
The initial
announcement of designations is for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
FEMA will make a second announcement in the fall of 2023 for tribal lands. For
the tribal land designations, FEMA will consider input received through a
Tribal Consultation conducted on Aug.2, 2023. The open comment period for the Tribal Consultation
closed on Sept. 5, 2023.
A third
designation of zones will occur in 12-18 months based on updates to the
National Risk Index, lessons learned from this initial experience, and
stakeholder input. Examples of planned updates to the National Risk Index include
additional data on tsunami and riverine flood risk.
FEMA will
continue to engage the public as it refines the natural hazard risk assessment
methodology to designate the zones, consults with local jurisdictions, and
implements post-designation support from a range of public and private
resources.
The agency
ensured that each state has at least one Community Disaster Resilience Zone and
considered geographical balance among coastal, inland, urban, suburban, and
rural areas when designating the zones. Future designations will continue to
build upon the geographic diversity.
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