Arkansas Emergency Official Likes FEMA’s Disaster Deductible Proposal

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Arkansas’ emergency management director said he favors a proposal from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that gives states disaster “deductibles” as an incentive for the state to be better prepared for natural disasters.

FEMA’s proposal would give states deductibles to meet based on per capita damage costs before federal money is disbursed, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports.

Arkansas Department of Emergency Management Director David Maxwell said states could “buy down” the deductible by repairing levees, building public safe shelters and creating disaster awareness programs. Maxwell says the threshold that Arkansas must meet before it is eligible to receive federal assistance could more than triple if a new plan isn’t implemented. Arkansas currently must top $4.1 million before it is eligible to receive federal money.

“If (FEMA) simply raised the threshold, it would put burdens back on the state,” Maxwell said. “The deductible is the best idea. The state disaster programs that we already operate are more than likely programs that can apply to reducing that deductible.”

Susan Gilson, director of the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies, criticized FEMA’s proposal last month, citing that it would divert resources to meet documentation requirements when efforts need to be focused on disaster recovery.

FEMA’s proposal is still in the early stages of planning and would not go into effect for at least two to three years.