[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 143 (Thursday, July 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43250-43251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-17004]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Federal Emergency Management Agency
[Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009]
National Disaster Housing Strategy
AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting
comments on the National Disaster Housing Strategy (NDHS). The NDHS is
intended to serve two purposes. It describes how we as a Nation
currently provide housing to those affected by disasters, and charts
the new direction that our disaster housing efforts must take if we are
to better meet the emergent needs of disaster victims and communities.
DATES: Comments must be received by September 22, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The NDHS is available online at http://www.regulations.gov.
You may also view a hard copy of the NDHS at the Office of Chief
Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20472. You may submit comments on the NDHS,
identified by Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009, by one of the following
methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: [email protected]. Include Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009 in
the subject line of the message.
Fax: 866-466-5370.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulation & Policy Team, Office of
Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
Instructions: All Submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or
material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will
include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting
this information makes it public. You may wish to read
[[Page 43251]]
the Privacy Act notice that is available on the Privacy and Use Notice
link on the Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov. Due to the large number of comments expected, FEMA
urges commenters to use the form provided in the docket when submitting
their comments. To comment using the form provided, please open the
form in Word, enter your comments to the form and save it as a new file
on your computer. When submitting your comment on http://www.regulations.gov, below the box provided for written comments is a
link for ``Attachments''. Browse for the file saved to your computer
then upload the form.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA,
Office of Chief Counsel, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC
20472.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura McClure, Federal Emergency
Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-
4389.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Disaster Housing Strategy
(NDHS), serves as a guide to how the Nation currently provides housing
after a disaster, and sets a course for improving the methods in which
we can provide housing to meet the emergent needs of disaster victims
and communities. As requested by Congress in Section 683 of the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, Public Law 109-295,
the NDHS is intended to begin a long-term effort to build on current
strengths and encourage all involved to work collaboratively and seek
innovative housing solutions. It intends to establish a strong
foundation based on clear roles and responsibilities, key principles to
guide national efforts, a joint planning process to build baseline
capabilities, and additional resources to better prepare for an
impending or emergent event.
The NDHS promotes a national housing effort that engages all levels
of government and the private sector to collectively meet the urgent
housing needs of disaster victims and to enable individuals, households
and communities to rebuild and restore their way of life following a
disaster. A key concept introduced in the NDHS is the National Disaster
Housing Task Force to bring together experts and policymakers whose
efforts would be dedicated exclusively to the disaster housing issue.
The NDHS draws on best practices and lessons learned over the years to
identify actions that can be taken to improve disaster housing
assistance. This effort began with realigning roles and
responsibilities, renewing our focus on planning, building baseline
capabilities, and providing a broader range of flexible disaster
housing options. The NDHS outlines a vision, supported by specific
goals, that will point the Nation in a new direction to meet the
disaster housing needs of individuals and communities going forward.
FEMA solicits comments on the draft NDHS which is available in Docket
ID FEMA-2008-0009 at http://www.regulations.gov.
Although it is not currently open for comment, FEMA has also
provided a copy of the 2008 Disaster Housing Plan (Housing Plan) in the
docket to aid the public in its review of the NDHS. The Housing Plan
describes FEMA's approach to working with Federal partners, States,
territories, local communities, and individual disaster victims to meet
disaster housing needs during the 2008 hurricane season. Key concepts
in the Housing Plan are further defined in the NDHS.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207; 6 U.S.C. 772.
Dated: July 18, 2008.
Harvey E. Johnson, Jr.,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. E8-17004 Filed 7-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-10-P