(2013-0377-F) FEMA Disaster Denials

36 folders, approximately 2,816 pages [8 pages electronic files]

This collection consists of material regarding FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] denials for disaster relief for specific states and dates. When a disaster hits a state; rain, snow, floods, tornados, fires, etc., the governor of the state sends a request to FEMA and the President requesting that a disaster be declared for the state and/or specific counties hardest hit. The governor’s request is for federal funds to be made available to help the state recover from any damages caused by the disaster. FEMA sends a memo and a report to the President and the Governor of the state with their recommendation of whether or not the disaster declaration should be approved or denied. The records in this collection include correspondence, memos, reports, proclamations, lists, and maps.

The materials in FOIA 2013-0377-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related materials. FOIA 2013-0377-F contains material regarding FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Disaster Request Denials for specific states and dates. When a disaster hits a state; rain, snow, floods, tornados, fires, etc., the governor of the state sends a request to FEMA and the President requesting that a disaster be declared for the state and/or specific counties hardest hit. The governor’s request is for federal funds to be made available to help the state recover from any damages caused by the disaster. After receiving a request, FEMA sends a team of inspectors to assess the damages. The inspectors check everything that was reported by the governor to include loss of life, homes, dwellings, roads, bridges, public utilities, public buildings, land, crops, farm damage, and debris clean-up. They also check to see what protective measures may be needed for the state. The team of inspectors then informs FEMA of their findings which includes the inspectors’ estimate of severity of damages and costs needed to assist the state. FEMA in turn sends a memo and a report to the President and the Governor of the state with their recommendation of whether or not the disaster declaration should be approved or denied. The records responsive to this FOIA include correspondence, memos, reports, proclamations, lists, and maps.

Textual

Records that are responsive to this FOIA request were found in the Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files collection. Staff and Office Files were maintained at the folder level by staff members within their individual offices and document all levels of administration activity. Staff and Office files are processed at the folder level, that is, individual documents are not selected and removed from a folder for processing. While this method maintains folder integrity, it frequently results in the incidental processing of documents that are not wholly responsive to the subject area.

Collection is open to all reserachers. Access to Clinton Presidential Records is governed by the Presidential Records Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. Chapter 22, as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552, as amended) and therefore records may be restricted in whole or in part in accordance with legal exemptions.

Official records of William Jefferson Clinton’s presidency are housed at the Clinton Presidential Library and administered by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) under the provisions of the Presidential Records Act (PRA).

Staff Archives Specialist, 2013. Previously restricted materials are added as they are released.

The following is a list of documents and folders processed in response to FOIA 2013-0377-F:
Box 1
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files
Cabinet Affairs
Balderston, Kris
Virginia Denial March 17, 1998 [OA/ID 12883]
Silverman, Stephen
Iowa Denial September 1996 [OA/ID 9770]
Massachusetts Denial August 06, 1996 [OA/ID 9770]
Montana Denial October 22, 1996 [OA/ID 9770]
Nebraska Denial September 1996 [OA/ID 9770]
North Dakota Denial October 15, 1996 [OA/ID 9770]
Subject Files
[Georgia January 1993] [OA/ID 2758]
FEMA 1994 – Virginia 2 – Folder 5 [RE: Storm of March 12-14, 1993] [1]
[OA/ID 6171]
Box 2
FEMA 1994 – Virginia 2 – Folder 5 [RE: Storm of March 12-14, 1993] [2]
[OA/ID 6171]
Kentucky – August 5 [1993] [OA/ID 2757]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] – Louisiana/Kentucky/Iowa ’94
[1994] [Kentucky Denial/Appeal January – April] [1] [OA/ID 6098]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] – Louisiana/Kentucky/Iowa ’94
[1994] [Kentucky Denial/Appeal January – April] [2] [OA/ID 6098]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Mississippi 1994 [Denial for Storm on
January 27, 1994] [OA/ID 6097]
Clinton Presidential Records: White House Staff and Office Files (continued)
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Indiana/Illinois 1994 [Indiana April –
May] [OA/ID 6098]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Minnesota and Michigan 1994
[Minnesota Denial July 27, 1994]
Florida 1994 [RE: Storm of August 15] [Folder 1] [1] [OA/ID 6096]
Box 3
Florida 1994 [RE: Storm of August 15] [Folder 1] [2] [OA/ID 6096]
North Carolina - FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] [Denial for Storm on
August 16-17, 1994] [OA/ID 6097]
FEMA 1994 – Pennsylvania, South Dakota 1994 – Folder 4 [RE: Pennsylvania Storm
August 17-18, 1994] [OA/ID 6171]
Florida 1994 [October – November: Tropical Depressions Number 8 and Number 10]
Folder 2] [OA/ID 6096]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] – Diaster Denial/Declaration Ocotber
1993 – Spetember 1993 - Pennsylvania Declaration September 9, 1994
[OA/ID 7353]
FEMA 1994 – Tennessee, South Carolina 1994 – Folder 1 [RE: Tennessee Storm
Novermber 27, 1994] [OA/ID 6171]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Diaster Declarations and Denials –
Tennessee Denial February 24, 1995 [OA/ID 7316]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Diaster Declarations and Denials –
Nevada Denial May 15, 1995 [OA/ID 7316]
Box 4
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Diaster Declarations and Denials –
July 1995: Florida Denial July 31, 1995 [OA/ID 7317]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Diaster Declarations and Denials –
July 1995: Nebraska Denial July 31, 1995 [OA/ID 7317]
FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] Diaster Declarations February 1996:
New Jersey Denial February 23, 1996 [OA/ID 8177]
Virginia April 25, 1996 Denial [OA/ID 8049]
Connecticut May 21, 1996 Denial [OA/ID 8049]
Washington State (Floods) July 16, 1998 [OA/ID 15320]
Washington State (Mudslide) July 16, 1998 [OA/ID 15320]
Georgia July 9, 1999 Denial Floods [OA/ID 18001]
Box 5
Georgia July 26, 1999 Redo [OA/ID 18000]
New York Denial August 2, 1999 [OA/ID 18000]
Legislative Affairs
Subject Files
FEMA Disaster Request Recommendations – April 1999 – December 1999:
[Massachusetts Denial September 16-17, 1999 for Tropical Storm Floyd]
[OA/ID 24457]
Electronic Media
Cabinet Affairs
Subject Files
[Washington State Floods and Mudslides July 16, 1998 Presidential Memo] [Disk]
[OA/ID 15320