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Disaster Recovery Reform Act is Signed into Law
President Donald Trump signed the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA) into law last week, which will allow for increased spending on mitigation projects to help increase resilience and reduce costs following extreme weather events. This follows a NIBS study sponsored by FEMA, HUD, EDA, ICC, IBHS, NFPA and the AIA, that "found mitigation funding can save the nation $6 in future disaster costs, for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation." DRRA was attached to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that passed the Senate on October 3 with a 93 to 6 vote and the House of Representatives on September 26 by a vote of 398 to 23.
The DRRA provisions allocate funds for adopting and enforcing the "latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards" and amends the Stafford Act so that communities can build back stronger following a natural disaster. The new law will also utilize the expertise of licensed architects and engineers to assist with developing "guidance, including best practices, for post disaster assessment of buildings" so that they can "properly analyze the structural integrity and livability of buildings and structures."
Click here to read the full bill.