$6.4 Billion 2003 FEMA Budget Is Sought

Release No.: 02-009
February 4, 2002

Highlights of the FEMA FY2003 Budget Request

Washington, D.C. -- The director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today that the Bush Administration is asking Congress for Fiscal Year 2003 budget authority of $6.4 billion.

"FEMA's budget will meet the President's challenge to enhance America's homeland security while bolstering our disaster mitigation and response capabilities," FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh said in outlining key provisions of the budget request for the fiscal year, which runs from October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003.

According to Director Allbaugh, FEMA is requesting $3.5 billion to aid the nation's first responders-the firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians of America's homeland defense. The President's request will ensure better training, equipment and preparation for these emergency personnel.

The agency also is asking for a total of $1.8 billion for the President's Disaster Relief Fund to cover obligations for prior-year declarations and costs for future declared disasters, and $300 million for a new pre-disaster mitigation program that will provide competitive grants for projects that reduce future disaster risks.

Other highlights of the budget request include:

• $117.4 million for financial and technical assistance to improve mitigation techniques and planning processes for reducing damage from earthquakes, hurricanes, dam failures and floods.
• $300 million to update and digitize flood maps and make them available over the Internet.
• $50 million for FEMA's Office of National Preparedness to work with states and localities on terrorism preparedness and administer the first responder grant program.

The 2003 budget also proposes to transfer the agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to permit better coordination of services for the homeless.

The budget proposal calls for 2,735 full-time equivalent, non-disaster FEMA employees.