[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 143 (Wednesday, July 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 43606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18133]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2011-0022]


Preliminary Damage Assessment for Individual Assistance 
Operations Manual (9327.2-PR)

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: This document provides notice of the availability of the final 
Preliminary Damage Assessment for Individual Assistance Operations 
Manual (9327.2-PR). The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 
published a notice of availability and request for comment for the 
proposed policy on October 13, 2011.

DATES: This manual is effective July 18, 2012.

ADDRESSES: This final manual is available online at http://www.regulations.gov and on FEMA's Web site at http://www.fema.gov. The 
proposed and final manual, all related Federal Register Notices, and 
all public comments received during the comment period are available at 
http://www.regulations.gov under docket ID FEMA-2011-0022. You may also 
view a hard copy of the final manual at the Office of Chief Counsel, 
Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street SW., 
Washington, DC 20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael M. Grimm, Individual 
Assistance Director, Individual Assistance Division, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-212-
1000.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Preliminary Damage Assessment for 
Individual Assistance Operations Manual (PDA Manual) was developed to 
create uniform procedures for performing Individual Assistance (IA) 
Preliminary Damage Assessments (PDAs), nationwide, in response to an 
impacted State's request. The primary purpose for conducting IA PDAs is 
to identify the impact, type, and extent of disaster damages and to 
determine the impact on individuals and communities while identifying 
the resources needed for the community to recover.
    The PDA is an important first step in the disaster declaration 
process. The information collected during a PDA will be used by the 
State to determine if the response and recovery actions will require 
Federal support. If the Governor determines that the State does not 
have adequate resources to respond and recover from the disaster, and 
supplemental Federal assistance is required, the Governor may request a 
Presidential emergency or major disaster declaration under sections 401 
and 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency 
Assistance Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 5170 and 5191). The PDA 
information, along with the Governor's request, is included with the 
Regional Administrator's Validation and Recommendation and is forwarded 
to FEMA for review. FEMA then prepares a recommendation to the 
President based on the PDA information and the Regional Administrator's 
Validation and Recommendation. Establishing a single set of PDA 
procedures ensures that regardless of the location, type of disaster, 
or FEMA regional office involved, the assessment of damages will be 
consistent, thorough, and well coordinated.
    The PDA Manual supersedes FEMA Manual 9327.1 PR, Preliminary Damage 
Assessment for Individual Assistance Operations Manual, dated April 
2005. It incorporates procedures developed and used by individual FEMA 
regional offices in the course of conducting PDAs throughout the United 
States in a variety of disasters over several years. It reflects FEMA's 
extensive experience working with State and local governments. The PDA 
Manual is intended to set the standard for defining and recording 
levels of damage, as well as to establish uniformity in the composition 
of teams and the means by which data is collected.
    FEMA received 10 comments on the draft PDA Manual and made 
revisions accordingly. This final PDA Manual does not have the force or 
effect of law.

    Authority: The PDA Manual is consistent with and supports the 
current plans and procedures of the National Response Framework for 
implementation of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. and its 
implementing regulations in Title 44, Chapter I of the Code of 
Federal Regulations.

W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2012-18133 Filed 7-24-12; 8:45 am]
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