Disaster preparedness bill signed into law

On Friday, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 302, which includes the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, the largest reform of the U.S. disaster preparedness and recovery system since Hurricane Katrina.

The act reforms the Federal Emergency Management Agency to include predisaster mitigation practices that will address the rising costs of disasters throughout the nation and help prevent future deaths. Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA), chairman of the House Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee, sponsored the legislation.

“Pennsylvania is no stranger to the threats posed by natural disasters, having suffered many from Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Lee in 2011, to this year’s summer storms that caused flooding in 20 counties across the state,” Barletta said. “Last year, 26.4 million Americans were affected by a disaster – that’s eight percent of the U.S. population – and countless lives were lost. With the Disaster Recovery Reform Act now law, we can invest in making our communities safer and more resilient before disaster strikes. After passing the House three times, I’m glad the Senate recognized the critical need for this bipartisan legislation, and I applaud President Trump for signing it into law.”

The act also ensures the disabled will be able to repair or replace accessibility related property.