
[Federal Register: July 24, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 143)]
[Notices]               
[Page 43250-43251]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jy08-79]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009]

 
National Disaster Housing Strategy

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting 
comments on the National Disaster Housing Strategy (NDHS). The NDHS is 
intended to serve two purposes. It describes how we as a Nation 
currently provide housing to those affected by disasters, and charts 
the new direction that our disaster housing efforts must take if we are 
to better meet the emergent needs of disaster victims and communities.

DATES: Comments must be received by September 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: The NDHS is available online at http://www.regulations.gov. 
You may also view a hard copy of the NDHS at the Office of Chief 
Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C Street, 
SW., Washington, DC 20472. You may submit comments on the NDHS, 
identified by Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009, by one of the following 
methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    E-mail: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include Docket ID FEMA-2008-0009 in 
the subject line of the message.
    Fax: 866-466-5370.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulation & Policy Team, Office of 
Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Instructions: All Submissions received must include the agency name 
and Docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or 
material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the 
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will 
include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting 
this information makes it public. You may wish to read

[[Page 43251]]

the Privacy Act notice that is available on the Privacy and Use Notice 
link on the Administration Navigation Bar of http://
www.regulations.gov. Due to the large number of comments expected, FEMA 
urges commenters to use the form provided in the docket when submitting 
their comments. To comment using the form provided, please open the 
form in Word, enter your comments to the form and save it as a new file 
on your computer. When submitting your comment on http://
www.regulations.gov, below the box provided for written comments is a 
link for ``Attachments''. Browse for the file saved to your computer 
then upload the form.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA, 
Office of Chief Counsel, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura McClure, Federal Emergency 
Management Agency, 500 C Street SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-
4389.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Disaster Housing Strategy 
(NDHS), serves as a guide to how the Nation currently provides housing 
after a disaster, and sets a course for improving the methods in which 
we can provide housing to meet the emergent needs of disaster victims 
and communities. As requested by Congress in Section 683 of the Post-
Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, Public Law 109-295, 
the NDHS is intended to begin a long-term effort to build on current 
strengths and encourage all involved to work collaboratively and seek 
innovative housing solutions. It intends to establish a strong 
foundation based on clear roles and responsibilities, key principles to 
guide national efforts, a joint planning process to build baseline 
capabilities, and additional resources to better prepare for an 
impending or emergent event.
    The NDHS promotes a national housing effort that engages all levels 
of government and the private sector to collectively meet the urgent 
housing needs of disaster victims and to enable individuals, households 
and communities to rebuild and restore their way of life following a 
disaster. A key concept introduced in the NDHS is the National Disaster 
Housing Task Force to bring together experts and policymakers whose 
efforts would be dedicated exclusively to the disaster housing issue. 
The NDHS draws on best practices and lessons learned over the years to 
identify actions that can be taken to improve disaster housing 
assistance. This effort began with realigning roles and 
responsibilities, renewing our focus on planning, building baseline 
capabilities, and providing a broader range of flexible disaster 
housing options. The NDHS outlines a vision, supported by specific 
goals, that will point the Nation in a new direction to meet the 
disaster housing needs of individuals and communities going forward. 
FEMA solicits comments on the draft NDHS which is available in Docket 
ID FEMA-2008-0009 at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Although it is not currently open for comment, FEMA has also 
provided a copy of the 2008 Disaster Housing Plan (Housing Plan) in the 
docket to aid the public in its review of the NDHS. The Housing Plan 
describes FEMA's approach to working with Federal partners, States, 
territories, local communities, and individual disaster victims to meet 
disaster housing needs during the 2008 hurricane season. Key concepts 
in the Housing Plan are further defined in the NDHS.

    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207; 6 U.S.C. 772.

    Dated: July 18, 2008.
Harvey E. Johnson, Jr.,
Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 [FR Doc. E8-17004 Filed 7-23-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-10-P
