Emergency Flood Response Act

To direct the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to establish an emergency flood activity pilot program to assist flood response efforts in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Emergency Flood Response Act 2. Emergency Flood Activity Pilot Program (a) Establishment Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall establish and carry out a pilot program to assist flood response efforts at State and Federal regional levels in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure. (b) Grants In carrying out the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Administrator may award grants to not more than 10 eligible entities to— (1) establish or maintain a flood emergency fund to be used for emergency flood activities described in subsection (f); and (2) ensure a unified command system organizational framework for such activities. (c) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Administrator may require, including the following: (1) A plan describing the emergency flood activities for which the funds may be used as well as the levee safety plan that contains the unified command system that would carry out such activities. (2) A scope of work and tasks, project timeline, budget, and ongoing post-grant management plan. (3) Information regarding what entity maintains the flood emergency fund. (4) A description of non-Federal contributions to the flood emergency fund. (5) A description of how such plan will benefit the community, environment, and economy of the participating region within the legal boundaries of the applicant. (6) Mechanisms for long-term replenishment of the flood emergency fund and a description of what percentage of the fund will be used— (A) to support ongoing administrative project maintenance; and (B) for the unified command system that would use and apply the fund in a flood emergency or post-flood recovery. (d) Eligibility To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity, in cooperation with appropriate local, State, and Federal agencies, shall establish criteria and procedures for use of the entity’s flood emergency fund in a flood emergency. (e) Selection (1) In general The Administrator shall award grants under subsection (b) on a competitive basis. (2) Priority In awarding grants under subsection (b), the Administrator shall prioritize applications— (A) from eligible entities that represent a geographically diverse cross-section of the United States; (B) that include opportunities to build on existing Federal and non-Federal flood relief efforts; (C) from eligible entities that have a flood safety plan approved by a levee maintaining agency; and (D) from eligible entities that have a local mitigation plan regarding hazard mitigation approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. (f) Use of funds (1) In general Funds awarded under this section may be used in the case of a flood for emergency flood activities, including planning and preparing to perform emergency flood activities, and to support ongoing administrative project maintenance. Emergency flood activities include prompt emergency action to— (A) prevent levee failure; (B) close levee breaks; (C) make relief cuts and dewater flooded areas; and (D) otherwise physically limit the extent, depth, and duration of flood waters in the event of a levee failure. (2) Limitation on use of funds Funds awarded under this section may not be used if— (A) the emergency flood activity is required by law to be performed by the Corps of Engineers; and (B) the Corps of Engineers immediately exercises its authority to perform such activity. (3) Additional guidelines The Administrator, in consultation with the Corps of Engineers, shall establish any additional guidelines for the use of funds awarded under this section. (g) Reimbursement of expenditures As a condition of a grant awarded to an eligible entity under subsection (b), the Administrator shall ensure that, following an expenditure of funds from the entity’s flood emergency fund, the entity will— (1) seek all available State and Federal disaster assistance reimbursements for such expenditures; and (2) deposit the reimbursements in the flood emergency fund. (h) Federal share The Federal share of the cost of a flood emergency activity carried out using grant funds made available under this section may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of such activity. (i) Annual report to Congress The Administrator shall submit to Congress an annual report on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program established under this section. (j) Definitions In this section: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (A) is responsible for emergency flood response efforts; and (B) maintains and operates a flood emergency fund. (2) Flood emergency fund The term flood emergency fund (k) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 to remain available until expended.

Summary: Emergency Flood Response Act This bill directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish and carry out a pilot program to assist flood response efforts at state and federal regional levels in response to a levee failure or potential levee failure. FEMA may award grants to up to 10 eligible entities to (1) establish or maintain a flood emergency fund, and (2) ensure a unified command system organizational framework for emergency flood activities. An eligible entity is a levee maintaining agency or unit of local government that is responsible for emergency flood response efforts. Funds awarded under this bill may be used for emergency flood activities, including prompt emergency action to prevent levee failure, close levee breaks, make relief cuts and dewater flooded areas, and otherwise physically limit the extent, depth, and duration of flood waters in the event of a levee failure. Funds awarded may not be used if the emergency flood activity is required by law to be performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Corps immediately exercises its authority. FEMA shall ensure that, following an expenditure of funds from a grantee's flood emergency fund, the grantee will seek all available state and federal disaster assistance reimbursements for such expenditures and deposit the reimbursements in the fund. The federal share of the cost may not exceed 50%. FEMA must submit to Congress an annual report on the progress and outcomes of the pilot program.