§321a — Title 6 Domestic Security | U.S. Code

Summary

Grants from the Department under the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative can pay for creating, keeping up, and practicing mass evacuation plans for natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or other man-made disasters. Money can be used to set up those programs, plan and prepare evacuations (like picking routes and buying supplies and shelters), and run evacuation drills. When making plans, state, local, and tribal governments must, as much as possible, set up clear incident command and decision-making, coordinate plans across governments, pick main and backup routes (and ways to boost route capacity, such as making roads one-way), plan transportation including public transit and moving people in hospitals and nursing homes, create ways to inform the public before and during an evacuation (including people with disabilities, the elderly, those with limited English, or others who need help), and identify shelters. The Administrator can issue rules and must help institutions on request to make and practice plans that fit with local plans. Grant funds may also be used for non-terrorism disaster preparedness if it builds terrorism-related capabilities.

Title 6, §321a

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to subsection (d), grants made to States or local or tribal governments by the Department through the State Homeland Security Grant Program or the Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to—

(1)establish programs for the development and maintenance of mass evacuation plans under subsection (b) in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster;

(2)prepare for the execution of such plans, including the development of evacuation routes and the purchase and stockpiling of necessary supplies and shelters; and

(3)conduct exercises of such plans.

(b)In developing the mass evacuation plans authorized under subsection (a), each State, local, or tribal government shall, to the maximum extent practicable—

(1)establish incident command and decision making processes;

(2)ensure that State, local, and tribal government plans, including evacuation routes, are coordinated and integrated;

(3)identify primary and alternative evacuation routes and methods to increase evacuation capabilities along such routes such as conversion of two-way traffic to one-way evacuation routes;

(4)identify evacuation transportation modes and capabilities, including the use of mass and public transit capabilities, and coordinating and integrating evacuation plans for all populations including for those individuals located in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional living facilities;

(5)develop procedures for informing the public of evacuation plans before and during an evacuation, including individuals—

(A)with disabilities or other special needs, including the elderly;

(B)with limited English proficiency; or

(C)who might otherwise have difficulty in obtaining such information; and

(6)identify shelter locations and capabilities.

(c)(1)The Administrator may establish any guidelines, standards, or requirements determined appropriate to administer this section and to ensure effective mass evacuation planning for State, local, and tribal areas.

(2)The Administrator shall make assistance available upon request of a State, local, or tribal government to assist hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions that house individuals with special needs to establish, maintain, and exercise mass evacuation plans that are coordinated and integrated into the plans developed by that State, local, or tribal government under this section.

(d)Nothing in this section may be construed to preclude a State, local, or tribal government from using grant funds in a manner that enhances preparedness for a natural or man-made disaster unrelated to an act of terrorism, if such use assists such government in building capabilities for terrorism preparedness.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2007—Subsec. (b)(5)(A). Pub. L. 110–53 inserted “, including the elderly” after “needs”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Any reference to the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in title VI of Pub. L. 109–295 or an amendment by title VI to be considered to refer and apply to the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency until Mar. 31, 2007, see section 612(f)(2) of Pub. L. 109–295, set out as a note under section 313 of this title.

§321a Evacuation Plans and Exercises