1945.25—Relationship between FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 and FEMA.
(a) General.
When a major disaster or emergency declaration is made by the President, the FEMA is charged with the responsibility for seeing that disaster assistance is made available to disaster victims. Also, FEMA is responsible for coordinating the actions of other Federal agencies who have programs to provide disaster assistance. A Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) is appointed for each major disaster or emergency to coordinate Federal assistance in the disaster area.
(b) Before the declaration.
(1)
When a request for a major disaster or emergency declaration is made by the Governor of a State, the FEMA through its Regional Director is responsible for obtaining an assessment of the losses and damages to respond to the request.
(2)
If the FEMA makes a request for information from FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 on losses and damages caused by an unusual and adverse weather condition or natural phenomenon, the FEMA representative will be advised to contact the SFAC Vice Chairperson. The EOH provides that the SFAC will request the LFAC to prepare the DAR. State Directors and County Supervisors should cooperate with the SFAC Vice Chairpersons and LFAC Chairpersons in preparing the DARs.
(c) After the declaration.
When a major disaster has been declared by the President and the FEMA establishes a disaster application center(s) in the local disaster area(s):
(i)
Selecting qualified USDA employees to represent USDA at each center, after consulting with other council members in making the selection. FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 State Directors will cooperate with the SFAC in seeing that centers are properly staffed.
(ii)
Orienting the selected employees on all current USDA disaster programs. FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 State Directors will cooperate in this orientation to ensure that the USDA representatives at the center(s) are familiarized with the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 EM loan program and other FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 loan programs that could be of assistance to the disaster victims; and
(iii)
Informing the FEMA that USDA representatives are available to help at each of the disaster application centers.
(2)
The FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 State Director will be responsible for pursuing the following policy in working with the FEMA and the FCO by:
(i)
Authorizing receipt of EM loan applications in the counties named by the FEMA. However, no EM loans can be approved until the National Office has given such notification as prescribed in § 1945.20(a)(1) of this subpart;
(ii)
Attending or delegating a representative to attend any meeting(s) called by the FCO to discuss Federal assistance under the disaster declaration; and
(iii)
Advising the FCO to contact the SFAC Vice Chairperson, if a request is made by the FCO for FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 employees to help staff the FEMA's Disaster Application Centers; and
(iv)
Advising the FCO that FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354's “Report of Emergency Loans Made Pertaining to Disasters” will be provided quarterly to FEMA's National Office by the FmHA or its successor agency under Public Law 103-354 National Office.