"The Stafford Act is the result of years of congressional effort to provide relief during disasters and emergencies. This unit presents background information about the act. The act establishes the Presidential declaration process for major disasters and emergencies, provides for the implementation of disaster assistance, and sets forth the various disaster assistance programs. History and Philosophy of the Federal Assistance Program - Before 1950, there was no comprehensive disaster program. In 1950, Congress enacted the initial disaster relief program, Public Law 81-875. Under this law: Funding was authorized for a disaster relief program rather than a single-incident response. The responsibility for determining when Federal disaster relief is required was transferred from Congress to the President. Nearly 20 years later, the Disaster Relief Act of 1969 was enacted. This law introduced the concept of the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO), and placed the management of Federal disaster relief under one individual who was appointed by the President. In April 1974, there was a series of devastating tornadoes that hit six Midwestern States. This event confirmed the need to add assistance to individuals and families to the Disaster Relief Program. As a result, the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-288) was established. Under this law: The Individual and Family Grant Program was established.
In November 1988, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act was passed. This act provided a framework for continued disaster relief. It also legislated a minimum 75 percent Federal/25 percent State and local cost sharing for the public assistance program. The Stafford Act refocused assistance for non-natural disasters, unless caused by fire, flood, or explosion, to a more limited scope. It also confirmed the importance of individual assistance and added an emphasis on mitigation of future losses. Disaster assistance programs included in the Stafford Act are: Individual Assistance in the form of individual and family grants and temporary housing. Public Assistance including grants for emergency work, repair and restoration, and debris removal. Mitigation grants to reduce long-term risk to life and property from natural or technological disasters."
This is the complete course manual made available by FEMA as part of the Emergency Management Institute Independent Study program, described this way by FEMA:
FEMA’s Independent Study Program is one of the delivery channels that the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) uses to provide training to the general public and specific audiences. Within the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Fire Administration, operates the Emergency Management Institute (EMI). EMI produces independent study courses to train the general public as well as specific target audiences. The EMI Independent Study program consists of self-paced courses designed for people who have emergency management responsibilities and the general public. . .and college credit can be obtained through a for-fee service. Each Independent Study Course includes lessons with practice exercises and a final examination. Students who score 75 percent or better are issued a certificate of achievement from EMI. Course completion times vary from two to fourteen hours, depending on the course and the student’s background.
