--- kind: "section" citation: "42 U.S.C. § 5131" title: "42" title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare" number: "5131" heading: "Federal and State disaster preparedness programs" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/5131" units: - "Chapter 68 — Disaster Relief" - "Subchapter II — Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Assistance" --- # §5131. Federal and State disaster preparedness programs - (a) **Utilization of services of other agencies—** The President is authorized to establish a program of [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness that utilizes services of all appropriate [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) and includes— - (1) preparation of [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness plans for mitigation, warning, [emergency](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) operations, rehabilitation, and recovery; - (2) training and exercises; - (3) postdisaster critiques and evaluations; - (4) annual review of programs; - (5) coordination of Federal, [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4), and local preparedness programs; - (6) application of science and technology; - (7) research. - (b) **Technical assistance for the development of plans and programs—** The President shall provide technical assistance to the [States](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-9) in developing comprehensive plans and practicable programs for preparation against [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2), including [hazard](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-1) reduction, avoidance, and mitigation; for assistance to individuals, businesses, and [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8) following such [disasters](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2); and for recovery of damaged or destroyed public and private [facilities](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-6). - (c) **Grants to States for development of plans and programs—** Upon application by a [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4), the President is authorized to make grants, not to exceed in the aggregate to such [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) $250,000, for the development of plans, programs, and capabilities for [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness and prevention. Such grants shall be applied for within one year from May 22, 1974. Any [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) desiring financial assistance under this section shall designate or create an [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) to plan and administer such a [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) preparedness program, and shall, through such [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), submit a [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) plan to the President, which shall— - (1) set forth a comprehensive and detailed [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) program for preparation against and assistance following, [emergencies](/usc/42/5122.md?p=1) and [major disasters](/usc/42/5122.md?p=2), including provisions for assistance to individuals, businesses, and [local governments](/usc/42/5122.md?p=8); and - (2) include provisions for appointment and training of appropriate staffs, formulation of necessary regulations and procedures and conduct of required exercises. - (d) **Grants for improvement, maintenance, and updating of State plans—** The President is authorized to make grants not to exceed 50 per centum of the cost of improving, maintaining and updating [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4) [disaster](/usc/42/5204.md?p=2) assistance plans, including evaluations of natural [hazards](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-1) and development of the programs and actions required to mitigate such [hazards](/usc/42/5195a.md?p=a-1); except that no such grant shall exceed $50,000 per annum to any [State](/usc/42/5122.md?p=4). ## Source credit (Pub. L. 93–288, title II, § 201, May 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 100–707, title I, § 104, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4690.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Amendments 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–707, § 104(b)(1), struck out “(including the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency)” after “agencies”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–707, § 104(a), (b)(2), inserted “including evaluations of natural hazards and development of the programs and actions required to mitigate such hazards;” after “plans,” and substituted “$50,000” for “$25,000”. ### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries ### Red Flag Warnings and Predisaster Actions; Definitions Pub. L. 117–251, §§ 2, 4, Dec. 20, 2022, 136 Stat. 2354, 2356, provided that: DEFINITIONS.“In this Act [see Short Title of 2022 Amendment note set out under section 5121 of this title]— the term ‘Administrator’ means the Administrator of the Agency; the term ‘Agency’ means the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the term ‘appropriate committees of Congress’ means— the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; the term ‘emergency’ means an emergency declared or determined to exist by the President under section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5191); the terms ‘Indian tribal government’, ‘local government’, and ‘State’ have the meanings given such terms in section 102 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5122); and the term ‘major disaster’ means a major disaster declared by the President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170). RED FLAG WARNINGS AND PREDISASTER ACTIONS.“Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2022], the Administrator, in coordination with the National Weather Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall— conduct a study of, develop recommendations for, and initiate a process for the use of forecasts and data, including information that supports the Red Flag Warnings of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and similar weather alert and notification methods, to establish— plans and actions, consistent with law, that can be implemented prior to a wildfire event, including pre-impact disaster declarations and surge operations, that can limit the impact, duration, or severity of the fire; and mechanisms to increase interagency collaboration to expedite the delivery of disaster assistance; and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a comprehensive report regarding the study described in paragraph (1), including any recommendations of the Administrator, and the activities of the Administrator to carry out paragraph (1).”