Findings

Congress finds the following: (1) Rural communities, Tribal lands, and territories face heightened vulnerabilities to flooding due to limited local tax bases, aging infrastructure, isolation, and unique geographic conditions. (2) Hazard risk and impacts in rural communities, Tribal lands, and territories are made worse by lower levels of capacity to apply for and administer hazard mitigation and preparedness grants, and is further exacerbated when States also have lower levels of capacity to assist such areas. (3) The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Disaster Relief Fund primarily focuses on post-disaster recovery, leaving a gap in dedicated predisaster investments tailored to rural and remote areas. (4) Targeted support for rural, Tribal, and territorial flood mitigation and preparedness measurably reduces long-term Federal disaster expenditures.