Natural Disasters: Response, Recovery and Assistance

In 2017, four sequential disasters-hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria, and the California wildfires-created an unprecedented demand for federal disaster response and recovery resources. Chapter 1 provides observations on federal and state preparedness and response coordination for hurricanes Harvey and Irma in Texas and Florida, and the California wildfires; federal preparedness for and response to hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands; and existing and emerging disaster recovery challenges highlighted by these disasters. Chapter 2 provides information on federal financial assistance provided to the Gulf States after major disasters were declared in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas in response to the widespread destruction that resulted from Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma in 2005 and Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008.