Disaster Response & Recovery
Natural disasters do not discriminate based on the type of community you live in- they devastate lives and create hazards that can impede recovery efforts. Currently, community associations are not eligible for vital federal funds for debris removal and other recovery efforts, leaving associations to make tough choices, and potentially overwhelming state and local resources. Community Associations Institute (CAI) supports a legislative or regulatory change to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act so that community associations are eligible for federal assistance following a disaster, including, but not limited to, debris removal and cleanup to help speed up post-disaster recovery.
CAI supports the Disaster Assistance Fairness Act of 2023 (H.R. 3777) because it:
- Allows FEMA's Public Assistance Program to reimburse costs related to disaster debris removal from community association roads and waterways
- Allows FEMA's Individuals and Households Assistance Program to provide assistance to condominium unit homeowners for critical common element repairs after a natural disaster
Hurricane Preparedness
CAI encourages all communities and their residents to be ready for hurricanes
FEMA Disaster Declarations
CAI tracks natural disasters as they are declared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). For a live list of all actively declared disasters, please reference the FEMA website.
Natural Disasters
CAI believes that as taxpayers, all community association residents have the right to benefit from federal disaster response, recovery, and mitigation resources. CAI advocates for closer coordination between community associations and FEMA to ensure community association interests are reflected in the design of federal disaster mitigation grants.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the "Stafford Act," 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206 and Related Authorities) governs FEMA and allows for financial assistance to states, counties, municipalities, and eligible "private nonprofit facilities" that "provide essential services of a government nature to the general public."
Currently, community associations that own their roads/streets are not eligible for FEMA disaster recovery funding for debris removal and other efforts. CAI provides guidance for debris removal after a disaster that outlines the steps a community association needs to take so that their local municipality can remove debris caused by a disaster.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
The NFIP is managed by FEMA to provide flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses. CAI supports reauthorization of the NFIP for a period of no less than five years and advocates to improve NFIP's financial stability, accuracy of federal flood maps, flood mitigation resources, and competition in the flood insurance marketplace. CAI will support the establishment of a premium affordability credit for means-tested households, including condominiums, located in special flood hazard areas.
Click Here to View CAI's Resources for Community Associations on Disaster Preparedness & Recovery