CDRZ Act of 2022 (S. 3875)

Summary

Requires the President to find and help communities most at risk from natural disasters by using a national hazard assessment program.

What problem does this solve?

Some communities are much more likely to be harmed by natural disasters but don't have enough help to prepare. This law creates a system to find these high-risk areas and gives them extra federal support to build stronger defenses against disasters.

What does this law do?

Establishes community disaster resilience zones

Requires the President to identify and designate specific census tracts that have the highest risk of natural disasters, considering property damage, social vulnerability, and community resilience.

Increases federal funding for projects

Allows the federal government to pay for up to 90 percent of the cost for disaster resilience projects located within or primarily benefiting a designated zone.

Creates a national hazard risk assessment program

Directs the President to develop and maintain publicly available tools that show natural hazard risks across the country, including data on potential losses, social vulnerability, and community resilience.

Provides assistance for project planning

Authorizes the President to give financial and technical help to states, tribes, and local governments to help them plan resilience projects before construction begins.

Mandates regular reviews and updates

Requires the President to review the risk assessment methods and data every five years, take public input, and update the hazard maps and zone designations as needed.

Protects residents displaced by projects

Requires that any resident displaced by a resilience project must be offered comparable housing and that the acquired property cannot be used for purposes other than disaster mitigation in the future.

Who does this affect?

Residents in high-risk disaster areas
State, local, and Tribal governments
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

What is the real world impact?

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Focuses aid on the most vulnerable areas

Directs federal money and technical help to communities that are most likely to be hit by natural disasters and have the fewest resources to recover, aiming to save lives and property before a disaster happens.

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Increases efficiency of federal spending

Targets pre-disaster spending on high-risk zones, which could reduce the much larger costs of post-disaster recovery and rebuilding efforts.

When does this start?

This law applies to government funds approved on or after December 20, 2022, and sets several deadlines for action.

Initial Risk Assessment Review

Within 180 days of the law's passage, the President must review the methods used for assessing natural hazard risks and get public feedback.

First Zone Designations

No later than 30 days after the first risk assessment update, the President must officially name the first Community Disaster Resilience Zones.

Project Application Review

The President has 120 days to evaluate and approve or deny applications for resilience projects submitted for designated zones.

Ongoing Updates

The risk assessments and zone designations must be reviewed and updated at least once every five years.