§636g Development and Implementation of Major Disaster Response Plan

Summary

Within 3 months of this law being passed, the Administrator must change the Administration’s 2006 Atlantic hurricane season disaster response plan so it also covers major disasters. The Administrator must then send a report to the Senate and House Small Business Committees explaining the changes. That report must cover updates since the July 14, 2006 report; how District Office staff will be used for loan processing and disbursement; the agency’s disaster scalability model; how the Disaster Oversight Council is set up and who is on it (including whether the Associate Deputy Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development is a member); how the agency will work with State and local officials and State programs (like State bridge loan programs); ways to improve coordination with other federal, State, and local groups; any surge plan for the disaster loan program in effect on or after August 29, 2005 (such as loss verification, loan processing, mailroom, customer service, and continuity of operations); the number of full-time equivalent employees and job descriptions for planning and disaster staff; in-service and preservice training for that staff; logistical support plans (equipment, staffing, and how those scale by disaster size); findings from reviews of the agency’s responses to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma (2005); and a plan, developed with FEMA, for housing and supporting disaster assistance personnel. The Administrator must run a disaster simulation exercise at least once every 2 fiscal years. The exercise must include at least 50 percent of the disaster reserve corps and must stress-test all vital information technology and telecommunications systems at full capacity. A report on these exercises must be included each time the agency files the report required under section 657o.