RD381 - Report on the Virginia Disaster Response Fund, the Virginia Disaster Recovery Fund, and the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund - October 31, 2014


Executive Summary:
Item 394 E of Chapter 2 of the 2014 Act of Assembly (Special Session I), directs the Department of Emergency Management to report on the method of creation, the coordination between, the method of funding for, and its authority to use the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund, the Virginia Disaster Recovery Fund, and the Virginia Disaster Response Fund.

The key findings of this report outline that the Virginia Disaster Response Fund, the Virginia Disaster Recovery Fund, and the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund are distinct programs - with defined purposes - administered by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. Each program area is managed independently within the department, but works in tandem to carry out the mission of the agency. Any monies received, appropriated, or allocated to one fund are not comingled or intermingled with another fund.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is recommending that all Virginia agencies begin referring to the Virginia Disaster Recovery Fund as the Virginia Recovery and Mitigation Fund. Consistent and agreed upon terminology is critical in being able to carry out the mission of emergency management in the Commonwealth. The Virginia Department of Emergency Management recommends the continued use of the term Virginia Disaster Response Fund, as outlined by Virginia Code.

Further, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management recommends the codification of the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund. Since 2011, the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund has received approximately $1.6 million in private donations to assist disaster households recover. The Virginia Disaster Relief Fund has awarded more than $2 million in grants to assist more than 350 disaster households in 20 different Virginia localities recover. This program is extremely successful in assisting during times of disaster recovery but is not a permanent program. Enacting legislation would solidify the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund as part of the Commonwealth’s disaster relief tools, serving as a fund of last resort if other local, state, federal, and private aid is not available to assist disaster survivors. Legislation would also protect the Virginia Disaster Relief Fund as a non-reverting fund and would guarantee that the intentions of individual donors are adhered to.