State managed disasters initiative

The State Managed Disasters (SMD) initiative allows a capable State to manage the Public Assistance Program operation, including project eligibility reviews, process control, and resource allocation on small disasters. The participating State enters into an Operational Agreement with FEMA, which devolves many aspects of program management. FEMA retains obligation authority, ensures compliance with environmental and historic laws, participates in quality control reviews with the State, and provides technical assistance as requested by the State.

Criteria for disasters to be considered for state managed, disasters that warrant a major disaster declaration by the President, but are limited in scope and size as defined by the following:

• Statewide infrastructure damage up to $2 per capita, or
• About $15 million dollars in damages, or
• Limited to debris removal and emergency protective measures, or
• Within an individual State's capability to manage.

For a State to be eligible to manage a disaster under this initiative, it must meet the following criteria:

• Recent disaster experience
• Adequate State staff
• SMD Addendum to the State Administrative Plan for Public Assistance
• Fiscal accounting system that can track specific projects, withstand audit, and be used to evaluate appeals
• Established record of having met deadlines for grant management activities

Arizona participated in the pilot SMD in October 2000 and has successfully state-managed: 1347, 1422, 1477, 1581, 1586, 3241 and 1660.

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For additional information regarding the Recovery Program, please contact us for your area of interest.