[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48763-48767]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-23015]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DHS-2008-0088]


Privacy Act of 1974; Federal Emergency Management Agency-008 
Disaster Recovery Assistance Files System of Records

AGENCY: Privacy Office; DHS.

ACTION: Notice of Privacy Act system of records.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of 
Homeland Security proposes to update and reissue a system of records 
titled, Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management 
Agency-REG 2 Disaster Recovery Assistance Files [July 6, 2006], into a 
Department of Homeland Security system of records notice titled, DHS/
Federal Emergency Management Agency-008 Disaster Recovery Assistance 
Files. This system enables the Department of Homeland Security to 
administer the DHS/Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster 
Recovery Assistance system of records. To assist in improving disaster 
recovery assistance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, in 
partnership with other Federal agencies, hosts a single application and 
resource center (http://www.disasterassistance.gov) that allows the 
public to apply for disaster assistance, benefits, and other services 
within the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other Federal 
agencies.
    Updated information contained in the Disaster Recovery Assistance 
Files, includes, but is not limited to, the disaster applicant's change 
of address associated with the applicant's social security number that 
will be submitted to the Social Security Administration.
    Sharing the date of a disaster applicant's change of address along 
with the social security number will allow applicants to update the 
Social Security Administration with information to help prevent delay 
in receiving benefits and correspondence from the Social Security 
Administration.
    Categories of individuals, categories of records, and the routine 
uses of this system of records notice have been updated to better 
reflect the Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency 
Management Agency's Disaster Recovery Assistance record systems. This 
system will be included in the Department's inventory of record 
systems. The changes include re-numbering the routine uses to comport 
with all of DHS system of record notices.
    We have expanded the preamble language in section (h), which was 
previously numbered section (a), to include sharing for the purposes of 
addressing unmet needs as well as preventing a duplication of benefits. 
We expanded the language in (h)(1) (previously (a)(1)) to include all 
types of disaster related assistance that a Federal or State agency may 
provide. There was some ambiguity as to whether some services that 
states provided met the standard set out in the previous system of 
records notice. We have added an additional routine use in section (h) 
to address immediate health needs of applicants.
    We have added routine use section (q) to better assist applicants 
by updating all of their information that is filed with government 
agencies. FEMA learned that in the aftermath of a disaster, applicants 
who were housed in FEMA-provided dwellings had trouble receiving other 
services and benefits from other government agencies due to the fact 
that those other agencies did not have updated contact information 
regarding the applicants. This routine use will address that problem.
    In response to Executive Order 13411 we have added routine use (r) 
to allow for computer matching agreements with other agencies in order 
to better deal with eligibility concerns. Often eligibility for other 
Federal agency programs is contingent upon whether the applicant 
received assistance from DHS/FEMA and vice versa. The sharing via 
computer matching agreements will expedite and improve upon this 
process.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 26, 
2009. This new system will be effective October 26, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket Number DHS-
2008-0088 by one of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 703-483-2999.
     Mail: Mary Ellen Callahan, Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy 
Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.
     Instructions: All submissions received must include the 
agency name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments 
received will be posted without change and may be read at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information provided.
     Docket: For access to the docket to read background 
documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general questions please contact: 
Delia Davis (202-646-3808), Privacy Officer, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 
20472. For privacy issues please contact: Mary Ellen Callahan (703-235-
0780), Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, U.S. Department of 
Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Pursuant to the savings clause in the Homeland Security Act of 
2002, Public Law 107-296, Section 1512, 116 Stat. 2310 (November 25, 
2002) and in accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is 
updating and reissuing this system of records for the collection and 
maintenance of records pertaining to the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency Disaster Recovery Assistance Files.
    In compliance with Executive Order 13411, ``Improving Assistance 
for Disaster Victims,'' dated August 29, 2006, FEMA has developed and 
improved several programs to improve assistance provided to victims of 
Presidentially-declared disasters.
    The Department of Homeland Security is updating the DHS/FEMA-REG 2 
Disaster Recovery Assistance Files [July 6, 2006, 71 FR 38408], and 
reissuing it under a new name, DHS/FEMA-008 Disaster Recovery 
Assistance Files. This system will enable DHS to administer the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Assistance system of 
records. To assist in improving disaster recovery assistance, FEMA, in 
partnership with other Federal agencies, hosts a single application and 
resource center (http://www.disasterassistance.gov) that allows the 
public to apply for disaster assistance, benefits, and other services 
within FEMA and other Federal agencies.

[[Page 48764]]

    Additional routine uses have been added in order to improve 
efficiency of administering disaster relief efforts and benefits. FEMA 
has added routine use (q) to better assist applicants in updating all 
of their information that is filed with government agencies. FEMA 
learned that in the aftermath of a disaster, applicants who were housed 
in FEMA-provided dwellings had trouble receiving other services and 
benefits from other government agencies due to the fact that those 
other agencies did not have updated contact information regarding the 
applicants. Initially, the following agencies will be using Disaster 
Assistance Center: Social Security Administration (SSA), Small Business 
Administration (SBA), Department of Education (ED), and Department of 
Labor (DOL). In subsequent phases, the following agencies may be using 
Disaster Assistance Center: Department of Housing and Urban Development 
(HUD), Department of Agriculture (USDA), Department of Health & Human 
Services (HHS), Department of Justice (USDOJ), Department of the 
Interior (DOI), Department of Treasury (Treasury), Department of 
Veterans' Affairs (VA), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM). For 
example, sharing the date of a disaster applicant's change of address 
together with their social security number will allow applicants to 
update Social Security Administration with information to help prevent 
delay in receiving benefits and correspondence from the Social Security 
Administration.
    FEMA has added routine use (r) pursuant to the aforementioned 
Executive Order 13411. This allows for computer matching agreements 
with other agencies in order to better deal with eligibility concerns. 
Eligibility for other Federal agency programs is contingent on whether 
the applicant received assistance from DHS/FEMA and vice versa. The 
sharing via computer matching agreements will expedite and improve upon 
this process.
    Specifically, routine use section (h) (previously section a.) more 
clearly describes which entities may receive applicant information for 
the purposes of preventing duplication of benefits and addressing unmet 
needs caused by the disaster. This section also adds an additional 
routine use to entities that are able to assist applicants who require 
immediate health related needs. FEMA has added routine use (e) to 
comport with all DHS system of records notices. Pursuant to the 
aforementioned Executive Order 13411, FEMA has added routine uses (q) 
and (r). All disclosures made pursuant to the routine uses described 
below (unless stated otherwise) require a written request from the 
entity seeking the information prior to disclosure. All requests for 
applicant information first require legal review and concurrence before 
disclosing applicant information under this system.

II. Privacy Act

    The Privacy Act embodies fair information principles in a statutory 
framework governing the means by which the United States Government 
collects, maintains, uses, and disseminates individuals' records. The 
Privacy Act applies to information that is maintained in a ``system of 
records.'' A ``system of records'' is a group of any records under the 
control of an agency for which information is retrieved by the name of 
an individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other 
identifying particular assigned to the individual. In the Privacy Act, 
an individual is defined to encompass United States citizens and lawful 
permanent residents. As a matter of policy, DHS extends administrative 
Privacy Act protections to all individuals where systems of records 
maintain information on U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and 
visitors. Individuals may request access to their own records that are 
maintained in a system of records in the possession or under the 
control of DHS by complying with DHS Privacy Act Regulations, 6 CFR 
part 5.
    The Privacy Act requires each agency to publish in the Federal 
Register a description denoting the type and character of each system 
of records that the agency maintains, and the routine uses that are 
contained in each system in order to make agency record keeping 
practices transparent, to notify individuals regarding the uses of 
their records, and to assist individuals to more easily find such files 
within the agency. Below is the description of the DHS/FEMA Disaster 
Recovery Assistance Files System of Records.
    In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), DHS has provided a report of 
this revised system of records to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) and to Congress.

System of Records:
    DHS/FEMA-008.

System name:
    Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster Recovery Assistance 
Files.

Security classification:
    Unclassified.

System location:
    National Processing Service Centers (NPSC) located at FEMA MD-NPSC, 
6511 America Boulevard, Hyattsville, MD 20782; FEMA VA-NPSC, 430 Market 
St. Winchester, VA 22603; and FEMA TX-NPSC, 3900 Karina Lane, Denton, 
TX 76208.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Eligible United States citizens and lawful permanent residents 
applying for disaster recovery assistance following a Presidentially-
declared major disaster or emergency.

Categories of records in the system:
    Categories of records in this system include:
    (a) Registration Records (Form 90-69 and 90-69b, Disaster 
Assistance Registration/Application)
     Individual's full name;
     Social security number, alien number, co-application 
social security number;
     Date of birth;
     Phone numbers;
     E-mail addresses;
     Addresses;
     Language(s) spoken;
     Date of disaster and/or property loss including cause of 
damage and estimates of repair;
     Type of disaster location;
     Name for each disaster;
     Income information;
     Acceptable forms of identification (e.g., drivers license, 
state/federal issued photo identification);
     Emergency needs of the individual (e.g. food, clothing, 
shelter etc.);
     Other needs (e.g., medical, dental, moving, funeral etc.)
     Type of residence;
     Insurance coverage information including names, addresses, 
phone numbers, e-mail addresses;
     Household size and composition including number and type 
of individual's dependents;
     Bank name and account information including electronic 
funds transfer information;
    (b) Inspection Reports (Form 90-56, Inspection Report)
     Inspection reports containing individuals' identifying 
information and results of surveys of damaged real and personal 
property and goods, which may include individuals' homes and personal 
items;
    (c) Temporary Housing Assistance Eligibility Determinations (Forms 
90-11, through 90-13, 90-16, 90-22, 90-24 through 90-28, 90-31, 90-33, 
90-41, 90-48, 90-57, 90-68 through 90-70, 90-71, 90-75 through 90-78, 
90-82, 90-86,

[[Page 48765]]

90-87, 90-94 through 90-97, 90-99, and 90-101.
     Correspondence and documentation related to the approval 
and disapproval of temporary housing assistance including: general 
correspondence, complaints, appeals and resolutions, requests for 
disbursement of payments, inquiries from tenants and landlords, general 
administrative and fiscal information, payment schedules and forms, 
termination notices, information shared with the temporary housing 
program staff from other agencies to prevent the duplication of 
benefits, leases, contracts, specifications for repair of disaster 
damaged residences, reasons for eviction or denial of aid, sales 
information after tenant purchase of housing units, and the status of 
disposition of applications for housing;
    (d) Eligibility Decisions for Disaster Aid from other Federal and 
State Agencies (forms 76-27 through 70-28, 76-30, 76-32, 76-34 through 
76-35 and 76-38)
     Notations of decisions for disaster aid from other Federal 
and State agencies as they relate to determinations of individuals' 
eligibility for disaster assistance programs.
     Other files independently kept by the State, which contain 
records of persons who request disaster aid, specifically for the 
``Other Needs'' assistance provision of the Individuals and Households 
Program (IHP), and its predecessor program, the Individuals and Family 
Grant (IFG), administrative files and reports required by FEMA. As to 
individuals, the State keeps the same type of information as described 
above under registration, inspection, and temporary housing assistance 
records. As to administrative files and reporting requirements.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act as 
amended (the Stafford Act), 42 U.S.C. 5121-5206 and Reorganization Plan 
No. 3 of 1978, 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, Executive Order 
13411, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, Section 
1512, 116 Stat. 2310 (November 25, 2002), 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the 
Privacy Act, 44 U.S.C. sections 2904 and 2906, Debt Collection 
Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 3325(d) and 7701(c)(1), Fair Credit 
Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f), as amended; Federal Claims 
Collection Act of 1966, 31 U.S.C. 3701(a)(3), as amended; 44 CFR 
206.2(a)(27).

Purpose(s):
    To register applicants needing disaster assistance, to inspect 
damaged homes, to verify information provided by each applicant, to 
determine eligibility regarding an applicant's request for assistance, 
and to identify and implement measures to reduce future disaster 
damage, prevent duplication of federal government efforts and benefits, 
identify possible fraudulent activity once there has been a 
Presidentially-declared major disaster or emergency.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, DHS/FEMA may disclose all or a portion of 
the records of information contained in this system as a routine use 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
    A. To the Department of Justice (DOJ) (including United States 
Attorney Offices) or other Federal agency conducting litigation or in 
proceedings before any court, adjudicative or administrative body when 
it is necessary to the litigation and one of the following is a party 
to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation:
    1. DHS or any component thereof;
    2. Any employee of DHS in his/her official capacity;
    3. Any employee of DHS in his/her individual capacity where DOJ or 
DHS has agreed to represent the employee; or
    4. The United States or any agency thereof, is a party to the 
litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and DHS determines 
that the records are both relevant and necessary to the litigation.
    B. To a congressional office from the record of an individual in 
response to an inquiry from that congressional office made at the 
request and with the consent of the individual to whom the record 
pertains.
    C. To the National Archives and Records Administration or other 
Federal Government agencies pursuant to records management inspections 
being conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. sections 2904 and 
2906.
    D. To a Federal agency, organization, or individual for the purpose 
of performing audit or oversight operations as authorized by law, but 
only such information as is necessary and relevant to such audit or 
oversight function.
    E. To appropriate agencies, entities, and persons when:
    1. DHS suspects or has confirmed that the security or 
confidentiality of information in the system of records has been 
compromised;
    2. The Department has determined that as a result of the suspected 
or confirmed compromise there is a risk of harm to economic or property 
interests, identity theft or fraud, or harm to the security or 
integrity of this system or other systems or programs (whether 
maintained by DHS or another agency or entity) or harm to the 
individual who relies upon the compromised information; and
    3. The disclosure made to such agencies, entities, and persons is 
reasonably necessary to assist in connection with DHS's efforts to 
respond to the suspected or confirmed compromise and prevent, minimize, 
or remedy such harm.
    F. To contractors and their agents, grantees, experts, consultants, 
and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, 
cooperative agreement, or other assignment for DHS, when necessary to 
accomplish an agency function related to this system of records. 
Individuals provided information under this routine use are subject to 
the same Privacy Act requirements and limitations on disclosure as are 
applicable to DHS officers and employees.
    G. Where a record, either on its face or in conjunction with other 
information, indicates a violation or potential violation of law--
criminal, civil, or regulatory--the relevant records may be referred to 
an appropriate Federal, State, tribal, local, international, or foreign 
law enforcement agency or other appropriate authority charged with 
investigating or prosecuting such a violation or enforcing or 
implementing a law, rule, regulation, or order, so long as such 
disclosure is proper and consistent with the official duties of the 
person receiving the information.
    H. To certain agencies where FEMA may disclose applicant 
information necessary to prevent a duplication of efforts or a 
duplication of benefits in determining eligibility for disaster 
assistance, or to certain entities that will provide unmet needs to 
eligible, ineligible or partially eligible FEMA applicants. Only the 
least amount of necessary information shall be released to enable the 
recipient agency to determine eligibility for that agency's particular 
assistance program(s). The receiving agency is not permitted to alter 
or to further disclose the disclosed records to other disaster 
organizations. FEMA may make such disclosures under the following 
circumstances:
    1. To another Federal agency or State government agency charged by 
statute or regulation in administering disaster relief programs. This 
includes programs

[[Page 48766]]

that make available any additional Federal and State disaster 
assistance to individuals and households and authorities that give 
preference of priority to disaster victims to the extent the 
information is relevant and necessary and is compatible as to purpose.
    2. When an applicant seeks assistance from a local government 
agency or a voluntary organization (as defined at 44 CFR 206.2(a)(27), 
as amended or superseded) charged under legislation or charter with 
administering disaster relief programs, and FEMA receives a written 
request from that local government or voluntary agency that includes 
the applicant's name, date of birth, FEMA registration/application 
number, and damaged dwelling address. The written request must explain 
the type of tangible assistance being offered and the type of 
verification required before the assistance can be provided.
    3. To voluntary organizations (as defined at 44 CFR 206.2(a)(27), 
as amended or superseded) that have an established disaster assistance 
program to address the disaster-related unmet needs of disaster 
victims, are actively involved in the recovery efforts of the disaster, 
and either have a national membership in good standing with the 
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), or are 
participating in the FEMA or State recognized disaster's Long-Term 
Recovery Committee. When a voluntary agency satisfies all of the 
criteria listed in this sub-paragraph, FEMA may release lists of 
individuals' names, contact information, and their FEMA inspected loss 
amount to the voluntary agency for the sole purpose of providing 
additional disaster assistance. FEMA shall release this information 
only from the time that disaster period is first open until 90 days 
after the disaster period is closed.
    4. FEMA may immediately disclose, on a case-by-case basis, 
applicant information to an entity qualifying under routine use (H)(3) 
above or to an entity approved by the FEMA Disability Coordinator, if 
the applicant in question has a special need for durable medical 
equipment or device, and the qualifying entity is able to provide the 
assistance to the applicant in question. Specifically, FEMA may release 
the applicants name and telephone number. A written request is not 
necessary in this situation, however FEMA shall provide a written 
letter along with the information to receiving entity, and in turn the 
receiving entity shall send FEMA an acknowledgement letter that it has 
received the information and has contacted the applicant. In addition, 
the entity will confirm that it has taken the steps to protect the 
information provided. Only the FEMA Disability Coordinator or designee 
is authorized to approve a release under this routine use.
    I. To relevant agencies, organizations, and institutions when an 
individual's eligibility, in whole or in part, for a disaster 
assistance program depends upon benefits already received or available 
from another source for the same purpose as necessary to determine what 
benefits are available from another source and to prevent the 
duplication of disaster assistance benefits (as described in section 
312 of the Stafford Act).
    J. To Federal, State, or local agencies in response to a written 
request, FEMA may disclose information charged with the implementation 
of hazard mitigation measures and the enforcement of hazard-specific 
provisions of building codes, standards, and ordinances. FEMA may only 
disclose information for the following purposes:
    1. For hazard mitigation planning purposes to assist States and 
local communities in identifying high-risk areas and preparing 
mitigation plans that target those areas for hazard mitigation projects 
implemented under Federal, State or local hazard mitigation programs.
    2. For enforcement purposes, to enable State and local communities 
to ensure that owners repair or rebuild structures in conformance with 
applicable hazard-specific building codes, standards, and ordinances.
    K. To the Department of the Treasury, pursuant to the Debt 
Collection Improvement Act of 1996, 31 U.S.C. 3325(d) and 7701(c)(1), 
on the release of a social security number of the person doing business 
with FEMA, including an applicant for a grant. An applicant's social 
security number will be released in connection with a request for 
payment to the Department of the Treasury to provide a disaster 
assistance payment to an applicant under the Individual Assistance 
program.
    L. To a State in connection with billing that State for the 
applicable non-Federal cost share under the Individuals and Households 
Program. Information shall only include list of applicants' names, 
contact information, and amounts of assistance received.
    M. To local emergency managers, when an applicant is occupying a 
FEMA Temporary Housing unit, for the purposes of preparing, 
administering, coordinating and/or monitoring emergency response, 
public safety, and evacuation plans. FEMA shall only release the 
address and location of the housing unit.
    N. To the Department of the Treasury, Justice, the United States 
Attorney's Office, or a consumer reporting agency for further 
collection action on any delinquent debt when circumstances warrant.
    O. To Federal or State law enforcement authority, or agency, or 
other entity authorized to investigate and/or coordinate locating 
missing children and/or reuniting families.
    P. To State and local government election authorities to oversee 
the voting process within their respective State/county/parish, for the 
limited purpose of ensuring voting rights of individuals who have 
applied to FEMA for Disaster Assistance, limited to their own 
respective State's/county's/parish's citizens who are displaced by a 
Presidentially-declared major disaster or emergency out of their State/
county/parish voting jurisdiction.
    Q. To certain Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies where FEMA 
may disclose an applicant's disaster related information to update the 
applicant's current records (i.e. change of address, effective date of 
change of address, etc.) within that agency to reduce additional 
efforts following a Presidentially-declared disaster (i.e. Social 
Security Administration, a state Department of Motor Vehicles, or state 
health agency that needs updated contact information).
    R. To other Federal agencies or non-Federal entities under approved 
computer matching efforts, if use of such information is compatible 
with the purpose for which DHS collected the information. Sharing is 
limited to only those data elements considered relevant and necessary 
to determine eligibility under particular benefit programs administered 
by those agencies or entities or by DHS or any component thereof to 
improve program integrity, and to collect debts and other monies owed 
under those programs.
    S. To the news media and the public, with the approval of the Chief 
Privacy Officer in consultation with Counsel, when there exists a 
legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the information or when 
disclosure is necessary to preserve confidence in the integrity of the 
Department or is necessary to demonstrate the accountability of the 
Department's officers, employees, or individuals covered by the system, 
except to the extent it is determined that release of the specific 
information in the context of a particular case would constitute an 
unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.

[[Page 48767]]

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
    Disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(12). DHS/FEMA may make 
disclosures from this system to ``consumer reporting agencies'' as 
defined in the Fair Credit Reporting Act 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f), as 
amended; or the Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966 31 U.S.C. 
3701(a)(3), as amended.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Records in this system are stored in an interactive database, 
computer discs, and paper records in file folders.

Retrievability:
    Records may be retrieved by an individual's name, address, social 
security number, and case file number.

Safeguards:
    Only authorized FEMA employees and contractors have access to this 
information. Hardware and software computer security measures are used 
to control access to the data. Access to the data is based upon an 
individual's position in FEMA and/or their designated duties. 
Individuals are assigned specific ``rights'' or specific access (e.g., 
read only, modify, delete, etc.). The access granted is based upon an 
individual's position responsibilities for ``official use'' only. FEMA 
employees are allowed access to the data as a function of their 
specific job assignments within their respective organizations. Each 
FEMA employee's access to the data is restricted to that needed to 
carry out their duties.
    No individual applying for disaster assistance will have access to 
the entire database via the Internet. Applicants will have limited 
access to only their own information that they submitted via the 
Internet, and to the status of their own information regarding the 
processing of their own application (e.g. the status of required 
documentation, inspection status, or SBA status). Applicants are 
provided a Logon id, password, and Personal Identification Number (PIN) 
that connect only to the applicant's data. The password and PIN ensures 
that the login id belongs to the applicant. Computer security software 
ensures that the login id is mapped only to the applicant's data. 
Applicants will have access to only their own application information 
after FEMA assigns them a properly authenticated user id, password, and 
PIN. Applicants will be registered and authenticated in accordance with 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Level 2 Assurance 
guidelines.

Retention and disposal:
    Records pertaining to individual assistance EXCEPT those relating 
to temporary housing and Individuals and Households Program programs 
will retire to inactive storage when two years old and destroyed when 
six years three months old in accordance with FEMA Records Schedule No. 
N1-311-86-1, item 4C10a. Records pertaining to temporary housing will 
be destroyed three years after close of the operation in accordance 
with FRS No. N1-311-86-1, item 4C10b. Closeout occurs when the disaster 
contract is terminated. Records pertaining to the IHP program will 
retire to the Federal Records Center (FRC) one year after closeout and 
destroyed three years after closeout.

System Manager and address:
    Division Director, Individual Assistance Division, Federal 
Emergency Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472.

Notification procedure:
    Individuals seeking notification of and access to any record 
contained in this system of records, or seeking to contest its content, 
may submit a request in writing to the Headquarters or component's FOIA 
Officer, whose contact information can be found at http://www.dhs.gov/foia under ``contacts.'' If an individual believes more than one 
component maintains Privacy Act records concerning him or her the 
individual may submit the request to the Chief Privacy Officer, 
Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Drive, SW., Building 410, 
STOP-0550, Washington, DC 20528.
    When seeking records about yourself from this system of records or 
any other Departmental system of records your request must conform with 
the Privacy Act regulations set forth in 6 CFR part 5. You must first 
verify your identity, meaning that you must provide your full name, 
current address and date and place of birth. You must sign your 
request, and your signature must either be notarized or submitted under 
28 U.S.C. 1746, a law that permits statements to be made under penalty 
of perjury as a substitute for notarization. While no specific form is 
required, you may obtain forms for this purpose from the Director, 
Disclosure and FOIA, http://www.dhs.gov or 1-866-431-0486. In addition 
you should provide the following:
     An explanation of why you believe the Department would 
have information on you,
     Identify which component(s) of the Department you believe 
may have the information about you,
     Specify when you believe the records would have been 
created,
     Provide any other information that will help the FOIA 
staff determine which DHS component agency may have responsive records,
     If your request is seeking records pertaining to another 
living individual, you must include a statement from that individual 
certifying his/her agreement for you to access his/her records.
    Without this bulleted information the component(s) may not be able 
to conduct an effective search, and your request may be denied due to 
lack of specificity or lack of compliance with applicable regulations.

Record access procedures:
    See ``Notification procedure'' above.

Contesting record procedures:
    See ``Notification procedure'' above.

Record source categories:
    FEMA receives information from individuals who apply for disaster 
recovery assistance through three different media: (1) Electronically 
via the Internet at http://www.disasterassistance.gov; (2) by calling 
FEMA's toll-free number 1-800-621-3362, and (3) through submission of a 
paper copy of FEMA Form 90-69. In addition information in this records 
system may come from credit rating bureaus, financial institutions, 
insurance companies, State, local and voluntary agencies providing 
disaster relief, and commercial databases (for verification purposes).

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    None.

    Dated: September 14, 2009.
Mary Ellen Callahan,
Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9-23015 Filed 9-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-17-P