Draft National Disaster Housing Strategy Released For Public Comment
Release Date: July 21, 2008
Release Number: HQ-08-142
National Disaster Housing Strategy (PDF 1.2MB, TXT 283KB)
Outreach Slides (PDF 1.6MB, TXT 5KB)
National Disaster Housing Strategy Comment Form (PDF 71KB, TXT 1KB)
Draft National Disaster Housing Strategy Factsheet
Disaster Housing Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today released the draft National Disaster Housing Strategy for a 60-day public comment period. The Strategy summarizes, for the first time in a single document, the many sheltering and housing capabilities, principles, and policies that guide and inform the disaster housing process. The Strategy also charts the new direction that our disaster housing efforts must take to better meet the disaster housing needs of individuals and communities moving forward.
The Strategy promotes a national housing effort that engages all levels of government, the nonprofit and private sectors, and individuals to collectively meet the urgent housing needs of disaster victims and enable individuals, households and communities to rebuild and restore their way of life when a disaster threatens or strikes.
"The National Disaster Housing Strategy recognizes that effective housing solutions are those that go beyond simply providing a housing unit to also address the complex needs of disaster victims," FEMA Deputy Administrator Harvey E. Johnson, Jr. said. "The Strategy clarifies roles at the local, state and federal levels to match the responsibilities at each level and, importantly, includes the responsibilities of individuals, non-government organizations and the private sector."
The Strategy calls for a National Disaster Housing Task Force, which is jointly led by FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the National American Red Cross and includes experts from all levels of government, the private sector and non-governmental organizations. The Task Force will focus full time attention on disaster housing, developing operational plans, building disaster housing capabilities, and achieving the vision and goals of the Strategy.
Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback to the draft Strategy during the 60-day comment period. A comment form has been circulated to various departments, agencies and key stakeholders. Individuals who wish to submit comments can obtain a comment form and instructions for submission online at www.regulations.gov, in Docket ID: FEMA-2008-0009. Comments should be submitted by one of the following four methods:
- to www.regulations.gov;
- e-mail to FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov;
- fax to 866-466-5370; or
- deliver to Office of Chief Counsel, FEMA, 500 C Street, SW Room 835, Washington, DC 20472.
All comments must reference Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information provided. The comment period will close September 22, 2008.
During this comment period, the 2008 Disaster Housing Plan will continue to serve as the operational guide for disaster related housing needs.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
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