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FEDERALhearing transcript
Finance Detected

Senate Hearing: Addressing Worsening Natural Disasters

Original title: ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF WORSENING NATURAL DISASTERS

January 1, 2022

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Finance Connection

Notable money activity
$23,598across 20 reported contributions
Trace money trail →
CandidateDonorAmountIndustryDate
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$2,000-Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$2,000-Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$2,000-Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$2,000-Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$1,764Senior AdvisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$1,764Senior AdvisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$1,764Senior AdvisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$1,764Senior AdvisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Unspecified 0$8940Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Unspecified 0$8940Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Unspecified 0$8940Oct 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$865senior advisorSep 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$865senior advisorSep 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$865senior advisorSep 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$865senior advisorSep 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$500senior advisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$500senior advisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$500senior advisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Gary Petersen$500senior advisorAug 2020
Gary Peterson for Nevada City Council 2020Oerating EngineersLocal No.3District 80 PAC$400-Oct 2020

Reported financial relationships and timing signals. This does not prove motive or influence. Readers draw their own conclusions.

The Frame

What this does

The hearing highlights the federal government's strategy to shift from reactive disaster spending to proactive mitigation, specifically through the implementation of the and proposed infrastructure funding.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

State and local emergency responders

These groups are responsible for managing disaster response and recovery efforts, which are currently described as being stretched thin.

Taxpayers

Taxpayers are affected by the allocation of federal funds toward disaster mitigation and the potential reduction in long-term recovery costs.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2022.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing to discuss the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters. The committee examined the need for proactive infrastructure investment and disaster mitigation strategies to reduce long-term recovery costs.

Key Facts

  • The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs held a hearing on September 29, 2021, regarding worsening natural disasters.
  • Chairman Peters stated that every $1 invested in hazard mitigation saves an average of $6 in future recovery costs.
  • The STORM Act was signed into law in 2021 to provide states and local communities with resources for disaster mitigation.
  • A $500 million initial funding allocation for the STORM Act program was included in the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill.
  • Emergency response resources are currently strained due to the compounding effects of natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The hearing included testimony from emergency management experts, stormwater officials, the American Red Cross, and fire service leadership.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the STORM Act?
The Safeguarding Tomorrow Through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act is a law that provides states and local communities with access to resources for infrastructure projects designed to mitigate the risks of natural disasters.
Why is the government focusing on mitigation?
According to the committee, studies show that investing in before a disaster occurs saves an average of $6 in recovery costs for every $1 spent.

Why It Matters

The hearing highlights the federal government's strategy to shift from reactive disaster spending to proactive mitigation, specifically through the implementation of the and proposed infrastructure funding.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Shift to Proactive Mitigation

The committee is explicitly framing disaster management as an economic investment strategy, citing a 1:6 return on investment for mitigation spending.

Connected Entities

personGary PetersChairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental AffairsMap →
personJennifer PipaVice President of Disaster Programs at the American Red CrossMap →
personSima MerickPresident of the National Emergency Managers AssociationMap →
personJerry HancockExecutive Director of the Michigan Stormwater Floodplain AssociationMap →
personJohn S. ButlerFire Chief of Fairfax County, VirginiaMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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