FEMA Patches Floodplain Review Glitch for Faster Disaster Recovery
Published Date: 5/11/2026
Notice
Summary
FEMA just fixed a mix-up about when new dollar limits for floodplain and wetlands reviews kick in for disaster aid projects. These updated thresholds now apply to all major disasters declared by the President on or after October 1, 2025, no matter when the disaster actually started. This means more disaster projects can benefit from easier review rules, saving time and money for communities recovering from big events.
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Inflation‑Adjusted Review Thresholds Apply by Declaration Date
FEMA corrected its notice so the Consumer Price Index–adjusted dollar thresholds in 44 CFR 9.5 apply to major disasters declared by the President on or after October 1, 2025, regardless of the incident start date. 44 CFR 9.5 sets three different dollar value thresholds that are adjusted annually using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, and this correction increases the number of disasters that qualify for the abbreviated or exempt floodplain and wetlands review process.
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