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1 1 (July 27, 2023)

handle is hein.crs/govemii0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service ~nforming 1hw legislative debate since 1914 July 27, 2023 Tribal Disaster Risk and Selected Federal Resources Overview Many federally recognized tribes are vulnerable to natural hazards and may face particular risks in the face of disasters of increasing severity, frequency, and cost. Congress has authorized specific programs, and appropriated funding, to assist tribes with disaster mitigation, response, recovery, and relocation. This In Focus describes selected federal programs and recurring challenges for addressing tribal disaster risk. Natural Hazards and Disaster Rislk The following definitions provide context for this product's discussion of tribal disaster risk: * Natural hazards are hazards caused by events including, but not limited to, severe storms, tropical cyclones, drought, wildfires, extreme temperatures, floods, erosion, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and earthquakes. * Disaster Risk is often expressed as a function of the frequency, duration, and intensity of hazards (e.g., extreme rainfall) along with an individual or community's exposure (e.g., development along coastal areas) and vulnerability (e.g., low socioeconomic status or inadequate building standards). See Figure 1 for the disaster risk components. Figure 1. Disaster Risk (disaster risk as defined through the combination of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability) Source: CRS adapted from the World Bank. Selected Federal Agencies That Address Tribal Dsaster Risk As of 2023, the United States has a government-to- government relationship with 574 federally recognized tribes. These tribes are eligible to receive funding and services from the federal government due to the federal trust responsibility, which is a legal obligation under which the United States has charged itself with moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust toward tribes (Seminole Nation v. U.S., 316 U.S. 286, 296-297 (1942)). Many tribes are vulnerable to natural hazards because they are located in places that are susceptible to natural hazards and they face challenges accessing federal resources. As a result, disasters may disproportionately affect these tribes. The following highlights selected federal programs, by agency, that may assist tribes in addressing this risk. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) plays a leading role in carrying out federal trust, treaty, and other responsibilities to federally recognized tribes. In recent years, Congress has provided BIA with natural hazard-related funding in annual and supplemental appropriations acts. Some programs focused on climate change may help tribes mitigate disaster risk. The following two programs also may help tribes prepare for and respond to natural hazards: * BIA's Emergency Management Program coordinates with interagency partners and tribes on tribal disaster preparedness, planning, response and recovery, and continuity of operations. It also provides technical assistance to tribes, such as trainings. * BIA's Tribal Climate Resilience Program enables tribal climate preparedness and resilience through technical and financial assistance, access to scientific resources, and educational opportunities. Federal funding supports tribal resilience and adaptation activities, including relocation. Department of Homeland Securit's Federal Emergency Management Agency The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act; P.L. 93-288, as amended) authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to deliver assistance following a presidential declaration of emergency or major disaster, including * Public Assistance, through which FEMA provides grants and direct assistance to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and certain private nonprofits for urgent emergency response and long-term recovery and rebuilding; * Individual Assistance, through which FEMA provides financial and/or direct assistance to affected individuals and households, including Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance, among other things; and * Hazard Mitigation Assistance, through which FEMA administers four programs to reduce the impact of future

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