2002 A Busy Year For FEMA

Release Date: January 9, 2003 Release Number: HQ-03-007

Washington, D.C. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reported today that more than $1.15 billion in disaster funds were expended in 2002 to help people and communities overwhelmed by disasters, which included earthquakes, floods, winter storms, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms.

According to FEMA data, the expenditures were in response to 49 major disasters declared by President Bush involving 29 states and three U.S. territories in the Western Pacific. In addition, the agency authorized a near-record 70 fire management grants to help fight wildfires in 15 states, 11 of them in the western part of the nation that experienced one of the worst fire seasons in U.S. history.

FEMA funding obligated at year-end also showed the costliest 2002 disaster recoveries included the January ice storms that crippled Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma ($241.5 million); Hurricane Lili, which struck Louisiana in early October ($158.8 million); and Typhoons Chata'an and Pongsona, which devastated Guam in July and December, respectively ($119.6 million).

Among other major events that FEMA responded to in 2002 were:

• Floods - Spring and summer floods struck Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia in March; Alaska, Indiana, Michigan and West Virginia in April and May; and Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Vermont, Texas and Wisconsin in June and July;
  
  
• Wildfires - The massive Hayman fire in Colorado and the Rodeo-Chediski fire in Arizona resulted in major disasters being declared in June for wildfires in those two states;
  
  
• Tropical Weather - The U.S. Gulf Coast was lashed with Tropical Storm Isidore in September and Hurricane Lili in October, which led to major disaster declarations for Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi;
  
  
• Tornadoes - A swarm of Veterans Day tornadoes ravaged parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee; and,
  
  
• Winter Weather - An early December ice storm paralyzed North Carolina, causing extensive public property damage and prolonged power outages.

Reflecting on disaster activity in 2002, FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said, "This past year has shown us that disasters can strike often and with little or no warning in all areas of the country. Ensuring that the nation remains alert to natural and man-made disasters, FEMA will continue to educate all Americans on issues of safety and preparedness."

Statistically, Alaska and Texas led the nation in the need for federal aid, with each state requiring three major disaster declarations. Alabama, Guam, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Micronesia, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, the Northern Mariana Islands, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin each required two.

In addition to the numerous disasters that struck in 2002, FEMA continued its full support to the city and state of New York in their recovery efforts from the World Trade Center attacks, including the release of funding projections for how FEMA will distribute the $8.8 billion allotted by President Bush and Congress in the days after September 11, 2001.

Specifically, based on the projected commitments in New York, FEMA estimates that over $4.2 billion will go towards public assistance projects that include debris removal, emergency protective measures and the repair or restoration of damaged public facilities. An additional $2.75 billion has been approved to revamp Lower Manhattan's transportation infrastructure damaged during the attack. FEMA also estimates that approximately $500 million is being spent to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by the attack through such programs as FEMA's Mortgage and Rental Assistance, Individual and Family Grants, and Crisis Counseling.

Beyond the specific aid to New York, FEMA continued with preparing the nation for both natural and man-made disasters by successfully delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in firefighter grants. The funds will be used by the nation's firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, improve firefighter health and safety programs, purchase new fire apparatus, enhance Emergency Medical Services (EMS) programs, and support fire prevention and safety programs. In all, FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration announced nearly 5,500 fire grants in 2002. With the final grants being announced in early 2003, the total amount will represent a $360 million investment to enhance fire and EMS service delivery nationwide.

Another key component of FEMA's work throughout 2002 was transitioning the agency into the new Department of Homeland Security. Beginning on March 1, 2003, FEMA will become part of the new department, headed by Secretary-designate Thomas J. Ridge. FEMA's 2,400 employees will join the more than 170,000 federal workers who will make up the new department. Throughout the year many FEMA staffers were part of transition planning in 2002.

"I am proud of the hard work and the accomplishments of FEMA's staff and the progress the agency made over the past year," Allbaugh said. "I am confident the dedication of FEMA employees for helping others will be instrumental in helping Governor Ridge prepare the nation as FEMA transitions into the new Department of Homeland Security."