Collapse to view only § 5196. Detailed functions of administration

§ 5196. Detailed functions of administration
(a) In general
(b) Federal emergency response plans and programs
(c) Delegation of emergency preparedness responsibilities
(d) Communications and warnings
(e) Emergency preparedness measuresThe Administrator may study and develop emergency preparedness measures designed to afford adequate protection of life and property, including—
(1) research and studies as to the best methods of treating the effects of hazards;
(2) developing shelter designs and materials for protective covering or construction;
(3) developing equipment or facilities and effecting the standardization thereof to meet emergency preparedness requirements; and
(4) plans that take into account the needs of individuals with pets and service animals prior to, during, and following a major disaster or emergency.
(f) Training programs
(1) The Administrator may—
(A) conduct or arrange, by contract or otherwise, for training programs for the instruction of emergency preparedness officials and other persons in the organization, operation, and techniques of emergency preparedness;
(B) conduct or operate schools or including the payment of travel expenses, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5 and the Standardized Government Travel Regulations, and per diem allowances, in lieu of subsistence for trainees in attendance or the furnishing of subsistence and quarters for trainees and instructors on terms prescribed by the Administrator; and
(C) provide instructors and training aids as necessary.
(2) The terms prescribed by the Administrator for the payment of travel expenses and per diem allowances authorized by this subsection shall include a provision that such payment shall not exceed one-half of the total cost of such expenses.
(3) The Administrator may lease real property required for the purpose of carrying out this subsection, but may not acquire fee title to property unless specifically authorized by law.
(g) Public dissemination of emergency preparedness information
(h) Emergency preparedness compacts
(1) The Administrator shall establish a program supporting the development of emergency preparedness compacts for acts of terrorism, disasters, and emergencies throughout the Nation, by—
(A) identifying and cataloging existing emergency preparedness compacts for acts of terrorism, disasters, and emergencies at the State and local levels of government;
(B) disseminating to State and local governments examples of best practices in the development of emergency preparedness compacts and models of existing emergency preparedness compacts, including agreements involving interstate jurisdictions; and
(C) completing an inventory of Federal response capabilities for acts of terrorism, disasters, and emergencies, making such inventory available to appropriate Federal, State, and local government officials, and ensuring that such inventory is as current and accurate as practicable.
(2) The Administrator may—
(A) assist and encourage the States to negotiate and enter into interstate emergency preparedness compacts;
(B) review the terms and conditions of such proposed compacts in order to assist, to the extent feasible, in obtaining uniformity between such compacts and consistency with Federal emergency response plans and programs;
(C) assist and coordinate the activities under such compacts; and
(D) aid and assist in encouraging reciprocal emergency preparedness legislation by the States which will permit the furnishing of mutual aid for emergency preparedness purposes in the event of a hazard which cannot be adequately met or controlled by a State or political subdivision thereof threatened with or experiencing a hazard.
(3) A copy of each interstate emergency preparedness compact shall be transmitted promptly to the Senate and the House of Representatives. The consent of Congress is deemed to be granted to each such compact upon the expiration of the 60-day period beginning on the date on which the compact is transmitted to Congress.
(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as preventing Congress from disapproving, or withdrawing at any time its consent to, any interstate emergency preparedness compact.
(i) Materials and facilities
(1) The Administrator may procure by condemnation or otherwise, construct, lease, transport, store, maintain, renovate or distribute materials and facilities for emergency preparedness, with the right to take immediate possession thereof.
(2) Facilities acquired by purchase, donation, or other means of transfer may be occupied, used, and improved for the purposes of this subchapter before the approval of title by the Attorney General as required by sections 3111 and 3112 of title 40.
(3) The Administrator may lease real property required for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subsection, but shall not acquire fee title to property unless specifically authorized by law.
(4) The Administrator may procure and maintain under this subsection radiological, chemical, bacteriological, and biological agent monitoring and decontamination devices and distribute such devices by loan or grant to the States for emergency preparedness purposes, under such terms and conditions as the Administrator shall prescribe.
(j) Financial contributions
(1) The Administrator may make financial contributions, on the basis of programs or projects approved by the Administrator, to the States for emergency preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or renovating of materials and facilities. Such contributions shall be made on such terms or conditions as the Administrator shall prescribe, including the method of purchase, the quantity, quality, or specifications of the materials or facilities, and such other factors or care or treatment to assure the uniformity, availability, and good condition of such materials or facilities.
(2) The Administrator may make financial contributions, on the basis of programs or projects approved by the Administrator, to the States and local authorities for animal emergency preparedness purposes, including the procurement, construction, leasing, or renovating of emergency shelter facilities and materials that will accommodate people with pets and service animals.
(3) No contribution may be made under this subsection for the procurement of land or for the purchase of personal equipment for State or local emergency preparedness workers.
(4) The amounts authorized to be contributed by the Administrator to each State for organizational equipment shall be equally matched by such State from any source it determines is consistent with its laws.
(5) Financial contributions to the States for shelters and other protective facilities shall be determined by taking the amount of funds appropriated or available to the Administrator for such facilities in each fiscal year and apportioning such funds among the States in the ratio which the urban population of the critical target areas (as determined by the Administrator) in each State, at the time of the determination, bears to the total urban population of the critical target areas of all of the States.
(6) The amounts authorized to be contributed by the Administrator to each State for such shelters and protective facilities shall be equally matched by such State from any source it determines is consistent with its laws and, if not matched within a reasonable time, the Administrator may reallocate such amounts to other States under the formula described in paragraph (4).1
1 See References in Text note below.
The value of any land contributed by any State or political subdivision thereof shall be excluded from the computation of the State share under this subsection.
(7) The amounts paid to any State under this subsection shall be expended solely in carrying out the purposes set forth herein and in accordance with State emergency preparedness programs or projects approved by the Administrator. The Administrator shall make no contribution toward the cost of any program or project for the procurement, construction, or leasing of any facility which (A) is intended for use, in whole or in part, for any purpose other than emergency preparedness, and (B) is of such kind that upon completion it will, in the judgment of the Administrator, be capable of producing sufficient revenue to provide reasonable assurance of the retirement or repayment of such cost; except that (subject to the preceding provisions of this subsection) the Administrator may make a contribution to any State toward that portion of the cost of the construction, reconstruction, or enlargement of any facility which the Administrator determines to be directly attributable to the incorporation in such facility of any feature of construction or design not necessary for the principal intended purpose thereof but which is, in the judgment of the Administrator necessary for the use of such facility for emergency preparedness purposes.
(8) The Administrator shall submit to Congress a report, at least annually, regarding all contributions made pursuant to this subsection.
(9) All laborers and mechanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the performance of construction work financed with the assistance of any contribution of Federal funds made by the Administrator under this subsection shall be paid wages at rates not less than those prevailing on similar construction in the locality as determined by the Secretary of Labor in accordance with sections 3141–3144, 3146, and 3147 of title 40, and every such employee shall receive compensation at a rate not less than one and ½ times the basic rate of pay of the employee for all hours worked in any workweek in excess of eight hours in any workday or 40 hours in the workweek, as the case may be. The Administrator shall make no contribution of Federal funds without first obtaining adequate assurance that these labor standards will be maintained upon the construction work. The Secretary of Labor shall have, with respect to the labor standards specified in this subsection, the authority and functions set forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (5 U.S.C. App.) and
(k) Sale or disposal of certain materials and facilities
(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 611, as added Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3102; amended Pub. L. 104–66, title II, § 2071, Dec. 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 108–458, title VII, § 7406, Dec. 17, 2004, 118 Stat. 3851; Pub. L. 109–308, § 3, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1725; Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.)
§ 5196a. Mutual aid pacts between States and neighboring countries

The Administrator shall give all practicable assistance to States in arranging, through the Department of State, mutual emergency preparedness aid between the States and neighboring countries.

(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 612, as added Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3105; amended Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.)
§ 5196b. Contributions for personnel and administrative expenses
(a) General authority
(b) Plan requirements
A plan submitted under this section shall—
(1) provide, pursuant to State law, that the plan shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State and be mandatory on them and be administered or supervised by a single State agency;
(2) provide that the State shall share the financial assistance with that provided by the Federal Government under this section from any source determined by it to be consistent with State law;
(3) provide for the development of State and local emergency preparedness operational plans, including a catastrophic incident annex, pursuant to standards approved by the Administrator;
(4) provide for the employment of a full-time emergency preparedness director, or deputy director, by the State;
(5) provide that the State shall make such reports in such form and span as the Administrator may require;
(6) make available to duly authorized representatives of the Administrator and the Comptroller General, books, records, and papers necessary to conduct audits for the purposes of this section; and
(7) include a plan for providing information to the public in a coordinated manner.
(c) Catastrophic incident annex
(1) Consistency
A catastrophic incident annex submitted under subsection (b)(3) shall be—
(A) modeled after the catastrophic incident annex of the National Response Plan; and
(B) consistent with the national preparedness goal established under section 743 of title 6, the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan, and other related plans and strategies.
(2) Consultation
(d) Terms and conditions
(e) Application of other provisions
(f) Allocation of funds
(g) Standards for State and local emergency preparedness operational plans
(h)2
2 So in original. Two subsecs. (h) have been enacted.
Submission of plan
(h)2 Annual reports
(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 613, as added Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3106; amended Pub. L. 107–188, title I, § 151, June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 630; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 631, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1420; Pub. L. 109–308, § 2, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1725; Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.)
§ 5196c. Grants for construction of emergency operations centers
(a) Grants
(b) Federal share
(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 614, as added Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3107; amended Pub. L. 110–53, title II, § 202, Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 295; Pub. L. 117–251, § 11(a), Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2358.)
§ 5196d. Use of funds to prepare for and respond to hazards

Funds made available to the States under this subchapter may be used by the States for the purposes of preparing for hazards and providing emergency assistance in response to hazards. Regulations prescribed to carry out this section shall authorize the use of emergency preparedness personnel, materials, and facilities supported in whole or in part through contributions under this subchapter for emergency preparedness activities and measures related to hazards.

(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 615, as added Pub. L. 103–337, div. C, title XXXIV, § 3411(a)(3), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 3107.)
§ 5196e. Radiological Emergency Preparedness Fund

There is hereby established in the Treasury a Radiological Emergency Preparedness Fund, which shall be available under the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 [42 U.S.C. 2011 et seq.], as amended, and Executive Order 12657, for offsite radiological emergency planning, preparedness, and response. Beginning in fiscal year 1999 and thereafter, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) shall promulgate through rulemaking fees to be assessed and collected, applicable to persons subject to FEMA’s radiological emergency preparedness regulations. The aggregate charges assessed pursuant to this section during fiscal year 1999 shall not be less than 100 percent of the amounts anticipated by FEMA necessary for its radiological emergency preparedness program for such fiscal year. The methodology for assessment and collection of fees shall be fair and equitable; and shall reflect costs of providing such services, including administrative costs of collecting such fees. Fees received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the Fund as offsetting collections and will become available for authorized purposes on October 1, 1999, and remain available until expended.

(Pub. L. 105–276, title III, Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2502; Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 612(c), Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1410.)
§ 5196f. Disaster related information services
(a) In generalConsistent with section 5151(a) of this title, the Administrator of Federal 1
1 So in original. The word “the” probably should appear before “Federal”.
Emergency Management Agency shall—
(1) identify, in coordination with State and local governments, population groups with limited English proficiency and take into account such groups in planning for an emergency or major disaster;
(2) ensure that information made available to individuals affected by a major disaster or emergency is made available in formats that can be understood by—
(A) population groups identified under paragraph (1); and
(B) individuals with disabilities or other special needs; and
(3) develop and maintain an informational clearinghouse of model language assistance programs and best practices for State and local governments in providing services related to a major disaster or emergency.
(b) Group size
(Pub. L. 93–288, title VI, § 616, as added Pub. L. 109–295, title VI, § 689e, Oct. 4, 2006, 120 Stat. 1452; amended Pub. L. 111–351, § 3(c)(2), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 3864.)
§ 5196g. Guidance and training by FEMA on coordination of emergency response plans
(a) Training requirement
The Administrator, in coordination with other relevant agencies, shall provide guidance and training on an annual basis to State, local, and Indian tribal governments, first responders, and facilities that store hazardous materials on coordination of emergency response plans in the event of a major disaster or emergency, including severe weather events. The guidance and training shall include the following:
(1) Providing a list of equipment required in the event a hazardous substance is released into the environment.
(2) Outlining the health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances to improve treatment response.
(3) Publishing best practices for mitigating further danger to communities from hazardous substances.
(b) Implementation
(Pub. L. 115–254, div. D, § 1236, Oct. 5, 2018, 132 Stat. 3464.)