Article Review - Reminder About Procedures During Presidentially Declared Disasters

The article TDHCA: Reminder about procedures during presidentially declared disasters, focuses on the safety procedures that authorities should take in case of a declared disaster. Dated August 28th, 2017, the article begins by stating that Housing Tax Credit properties must follow procedures in the provision of emergency housing to individuals displaced by Hurricane Harvey. Furthermore, the article stipulates that the Housing Tax Credit properties must have the approval of the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs in the provision of the emergency housing. Furthermore, the article goes further to highlight the types of relief and the requirements that are available to Housing Tax Credit properties that are in the areas for eligible benefits. They include a written approval from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). Furthermore, if one wants to provide the emergency relief they are required to complete a housing relief form accessible through the TDHCA website and upon approval are needed to use the Displaced Household Certification for each household. Another interesting thing to note from the article is that units that are leased as emergency housing are subject to program rent limits.

Given the procedure reminders above, it is necessary to note that it is the role and responsibility of every government both local and federal to protect its citizens from disasters and through the recovery phase. One way is through the provision of emergency housing to people who are in the risk areas. The article by FEMA stipulates various Acts are enacted to protect the citizens from a disaster (Bea 15). Additionally, the article covers the scope of the various disasters and factors that may lead to the presidential declaration. The president is requested by the governor of a particular state to make a declaration upon an existing disaster when that state is affected. When the president makes a statement, federal assistance bodies can also intervene through the president to recover from the disaster. FEMA have in their disaster management established Tribal Declarations Pilot Guidance which aims at protecting a particular tribe to be assisted by external bodies that are related by to the tribe. When assisting the particular affected area in response to the presidential declaration, the state through a FEMA Regional Office may request collaboration through Federal and state or tribal Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA). Also, local government stakeholders should be incorporated possible to recover from a decision. When all the bodies come together and agree that there is a disaster that is affecting a particular area, assessment should be conducted to determine the extent of the disaster, whether it affects the private life or community as a whole and what measures should be taken.

As part of the response, the local and federal governments should channel resources towards reducing and eliminating the impacts of the disaster declared as stipulated in the article on procedures to be followed in case of disasters. The federal government, through the president, after the assessment should direct the various organs to participate in the response or recovery programs (Smith 54). Only the relevant government organs that are involved in a particular disaster management program if they are related depending on the needs.

The next stage of disaster management is assisting in the affected area. Assistance in disaster management falls into three categories which include individual, Public and hazard mitigation. Individual assistance aims at providing aid to households and personal lives. Individual assistance is achieved through Individual and Households Program (IHP) which is a combination of FEMA/EPR and state program. The assistance offered to the individuals include temporary housing, repair services, replacement and permanent Housing construction is the disaster is shelter related. Also, through Small Business Administration Disaster Loans, the United States Small Business Administration may provide subsidized loans to the affected individuals. The loans given to the affected individuals include home disaster loans for home repair and construction needs, business physical disaster loans to assist individuals in restoring their states of business and finally economic injury disaster loans which aims at providing capital for the affected individuals to start businesses.

Furthermore, FEMA/EPR provides legal assistance to the government in collaboration with Young Lawyers Division which is a body of American Bar association. The legal aid offered in response to a disaster include assistance with insurance claims, providing counsel on landlord and tenant problems, assistance on consumer protection matters, and replacement of wills. Also, Special tax considerations are made to ensure that the affected individuals are alleviated from taxes for a period until they recover to their previous state where they can be in a position to pay taxes. The government through the Internal Revenue Service expedite refunds in a disaster-affected area. Also, the government through Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program(CPP) provides funds that are used in the delivery of short-term services on crisis counseling (Gerber 227). The government offers public assistance to government declared disasters.

In conclusion, every government is entitled to protect its citizens from disasters and help them through the recovery phase. One thing that makes this possible is the stipulation of procedures that need to be followed for those affected by disasters and the ones willing to help in the recovery process. An important aspect of disaster recovery is the provision of emergency housing and aid in the form of food for those affected which helps them through the recovery phase.

Works Cited

Bea, Keith. "Federal Stafford Act Disaster Assistance: Presidential Declarations, Eligible Activities, and Funding." Library of Congress Washington Dc Congressional Research Service, 2010.

Gerber, Brian J. "Disaster management in the United States: Examining key political and policy challenges." Policy Studies Journal 35.2 (2007): 227-238.

Smith, Gavin. Planning for post-disaster recovery: A review of the United States disaster assistance framework. Island Press, 2012.

"TDHCA: Reminder About Procedures During Presidentially Declared Disasters." Texas Apartment Association, 2017, https://www.taa.org/news/tdhca-reminder-about-procedures-during-presidentially-declared-disasters/