NEMA 2010 Biennial Report

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NEMA Releases New Report on State Emergency Management Funding and Organizational Structure
The number of disasters and emergencies is on the increase, reinforcing emergency management as a priority function of government. Despite the struggle to balance their budgets, states have been able to maintain funding for local emergency management programs, provide disaster assistance for citizens and communities and further professionalize the discipline with certification programs.

These are just a few of the findings in the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) 2010 Biennial Report, released July 30.

Based on in-depth surveying of state emergency management directors, the NEMA 2010 Biennial Report represents the most comprehensive compilation of state emergency management data and information available. It was first published by NEMA in 1996 and is used by state emergency management directors and their staffs, governors, members of Congress, state legislators, homeland security officers and local emergency managers. The main purpose of the document is to outline the current state of emergency management and highlight issues that could impact it in the future, while providing a historical context.

Results of the nationwide survey include:

The decade of 2000-2009 had more presidential disasters declared than any other decade in more than 50 years, according to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) records, with an average of 56 per year.
Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), a critical federal program that has an exponential benefit for state and local emergency management, remains seriously underfunded. The estimated shortfall is $192 million, while the total annual need stands at $532 million.
Although it’s not required, all states with local emergency management programs passed through EMPG dollars in FY2009, with 23 states giving at least 50 percent.
In 14 states, either emergency management or a combined emergency management/homeland security office oversees daily operations of the homeland security office. Only four states house the day-to-day functions in a stand-alone homeland security agency or office.
23 states now have certification programs for either state or local emergency management staff.
41 governors have explicit authority codified in law to compel emergency evacuations and move citizens out of harm’s way.
With gubernatorial elections in 37 states and two territories in 2010, state emergency management could be seriously impacted – currently, 32 governors personally appoint the directors in their states.
28 states have established their own state-funded disaster assistance programs to help citizens and businesses when a disaster or emergency doesn’t meet the criteria for a presidential disaster declaration.

Click here to purchase your copy from the NEMA store. The PDF version of the Biennial Report is available to NEMA members in the document library.

State-specific information is available only to directors of NEMA member states.