Page images
PDF
EPUB

(c) Undertake general procurement and supply operations for wholesale and quantity deliveries from any available source.

(d) Provide temporary storage and issue facilities in such of its warehouses as shall have temporarily unused space available for such purposes during periods of emergency.

3. National Archives and Records Service

The National Archives and Records Service has a staff of qualified and specially trained personnel in both the central and regional offices. This staff is experienced in the planning and administration of records management activities, including restoration and repair of damaged documents.

With its facilities and personnel, National Archives and Records Service, after first concerning itself with meeting those situations for which it is responsible, would be able to assist in disaster situations by providing the following resources and services:

(a) General guidance in the preservation, storage, and use of records.

(1) Advice and assistance in the salvaging of records, moving salvaged records to storage, and preserving them pending rehabilitation.

(2) Advice and assistance in the repair and restoration of damaged records.

(3) Advice as to other available sources for information contained in Federal records destroyed or inaccessible.

(b) Providing of copies of vital records of which security copies are held in Federal records centers.

(c) Advice and assistance in the establishment of emergency mail and file systems at relocation points or at relief stations.

4. Public Buildings Service

The Public Buildings Service has a staff of technical and specially trained personnel in central and regional offices. This staff is experienced in the design and supervision of construction of new buildings, building repairs and alterations; the procurement, assignment, and control of office space for a large portion of the Federal Government; the operation, maintenance, and protection of buildings and the operation of telephone switchboards and a nationwide teletype system.

With the above facilities and personnel, Public Buildings Service, after first concerning itself with the protection, operation, maintenance, and upkeep of properties and activities for which it is responsible, would be able to assist in disaster situations by providing the following resources and services: (a) Engineering and architectural services in connection with(1) Repairs to buildings and demolition.

(2) Design and supervision of construction of buildings or temporary structures for office quarters, dormitories, hospitals, warehouses, and structures of similar purposes.

(b) Assistance in planning and coordinating the assignment of quarters for office or other purposes in existing federally owned or leased buildings or the procurement of office quarters in other locations by lease or through other occupancy arrangement.

(c) The provision and management of custodial services including protection in new or additional office quarters.

(d) Communications services through the use of existing communications facilities or by the expansion of existing facilities to cover additional locations. (e) The acquisition, operation, and management of additional communications facilities not related to present facilities.

(f) Repairs, demolition, and alteration to buildings by force account utilizing those employees presently engaged in building maintenance in the locality or by the employment and supervision of additional or temporary personnel.

5. Staff offices

Staff offices performing legal and financial functions for the three operating services are available both in the central and the regional offices. Within their respective spheres of activities, these staff offices-those of the General Counsel, of the Comptroller, of Public Information, and of Management-are available to service such disaster operations as any one or more of the operating services may undertake and to render appropriate assistance to others in the disaster

areas.

6. Regional offices of General Services Administration

Relevant data concerning the several regional offices of General Services Administration are:

[blocks in formation]

Region No. 1: J. J. O'Connor,
regional director.

Region No. 2: Walter F. Downey,
regional director.
Region No. 3: William A. Miller,
regional director.

Region No. 4: Harry E. Harman,
Jr., regional director.

Region No. 5: John A. Skeen,
regional director.

Region No. 6: William A. Holloway, regional director.

Region No. 7: Karl E. Wallace, regional director.

Region No. 8: Otto G. Klein, re-
gional director.

Regional No. 9: Robert B. Brad-
ford, regional director.
Region No. 10: Orrin C. Bradeen,
regional director.

620 Post Office and Courthouse, Maine, Vermont, New HampBoston 9, Mass.

250 Hudson St., New York 13,
N. Y.

Room 7022, General Services Re-
gional Office Bldg., 7th and D
Sts. SW., Washington, D. C.

Room 833, Peachtree-Seventh
Bldg., 50 7th St. NE., Atlanta
5, Ga.

528 United States Courthouse,
Chicago 4, Ill.

1800 Federal Office Bldg., Kansas
City 6, Mo.

1114 Commerce St., Dallas 2, Tex..

Bldg. 41, Denver Federal Center,
Denver 1, Colo.

4th floor, 49 4th St., San Fran-
cisco 3, Calif.

Federal Office Bldg., 909 1st Ave.,
Seattle 4, Wash.

shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island. New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware.

District of Columbia, Mary-
land, West Virginia, Vir-
ginia, Puerto Rico, Virgin
Islands.

North Carolina, South Caro-
lina, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida.
Kentucky, Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio.
Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Ne-
braska, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Minnesota.
Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas,
Oklahoma.

Colorado, Wyoming, Utah,
New Mexico.

California, Arizona, Nevada,
Territory of Hawaii.
Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Montana, Territory of
Alaska.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY AND THE FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING RESPONSIBILITIES IN DISASTER OPERATIONS

In recognition of the responsibilities and functions of the Housing and Home Finance Agency and the authority and functions to be exercised by the Federal Civil Defense Administration under Executive Order No. 10427, and Public Law 875, 81st Congress, as amended, this memorandum of understanding has been agreed to and is published for the guidance and information of all concerned.

I. Purpose

The purpose of this memorandum is:

1. To describe the responsibilities and functions of the Housing and Home Finance Agency for providing assistance in the alleviation of damage, hardship or suffering caused by disaster; and the technical and other resources of HHFA which may be adapted to this purpose;

2. To facilitate the development of suitable plans and preparations by the HHFA to insure maximum utilization of its authorities and resources in such disasters;

3. To describe the responsibilities of FCDA, as set forth in Executive Order No. 10427, in the coordination of Federal disaster assistance, and in plans and preparations therefor;

4. To outline procedures for utilization of the resources of HHFA in disasters; and

5. To provide adequate information and guidance to the regional and field personnel of the HHFA and FCDA on the provisions of Public Law 875 and Executive Order No. 10427.

II. Disaster responsibilities and functions of the HHFA

Section 4 of Executive Order No. 10427 provides that nothing in the order shall be construed to prevent Federal agencies from acting in disaster situations, in conformity with the existing policies, practices, and statutory authority, under circumstances which will not permit delay and pending the determination of the President as to whether there is a "major disaster," as defined in Public Law 875. When there has been a declaration of a major disaster, section 1 (a) of Executive Order No. 10427 authorizes the FCDA to make use of the available resources of existing agencies to provide assistance.

There is attached hereto as appendix A a description of the authorities, funetions, and resources of the HHFA appropriate for use in disaster situations.

III. Planning for disaster assistance

(a) Departmental planning.-Section 2 of Executive Order No. 10427 provides that Federal agencies shall make suitable plans and preparations in anticipation of their responsibilities in the event of a major disaster. It is further provided that the Federal Civil Defense Administration shall coordinate such advance plans and preparations on behalf of the President.

Pursuant thereto, plans and procedures will be developed by HHFA and FCDA: 1. To provide for interchange of information and continuing liaison between HHFA and FCDA, both in Washington and the field;

2. To insure that accurate and complete information relative to a disaster insofar as it affects the activities of HHFA reaches the public promptly; 3. To arrange an orderly means for coordination by FCDA of any HHFA disaster activities with those of other agencies;

4. To provide, when required, for delegation of authority by FCDA to HHFA to undertake specified disaster operations, and for reimbursement by FCDA for services and facilities provided by HHFA under such delegations. (b) Regional planning.-HHFA regional offices will be authorized to prepare plans and procedures to insure maximum benefit at minimum cost in the utilization of available resources and services of HHFA in disaster situations occurring within their respective geographical areas. Such plans should include, but not be limited to:

1. Arrangements for interchange of information with appropriate regional FCDA office regarding existing or threatened disasters.

2. Exchange of directories of key personnel of HHFA and FCDA.

3. Exchange of statements of geographical and functional areas of responsibility.

4. Operating procedures having sufficient flexibility to cover varying types of disasters.

All regional plans and decisions will be subject to departmental review. IV. Coordinating responsibility of FCDA

Public Law 875 and Executive Order No. 10427 set forth the policy of utilizing the authority available to Federal agencies to assist States and local governments in the alleviation of damage, hardship and suffering occasioned by disasters. Section 4 of Executive Order No. 10427 provides that such assistance shall be subject to coordination by the Federal Civil Defense Administration acting on behalf of the President.

Coordination by FCDA will consist of the evaluation of requests received and total assistance needed, and the facilitation of action by various Federal agencies to meet problems involved. FCDA will make necessary decisions regarding assistance to be furnished in cases where two or more Federal agencies have overlapping interests or authorities. FCDA will not supervise or direct the operations of the various Federal agencies.

Responsibility for field coordination (as above defined) has been delegated by FCDA to its regional directors.

V. Disaster assistance authorized by FCDA under Public Law 875

(a) Providing such assistance.-When the President has determined that a major disaster exists, the Federal Civil Defense Administration is authorized, within the scope of the President's determination, to direct Federal agencies to provide assistance in conformity with section 3 of Public Law 875. The Administrator has delegated this authority to each FCDA regional director for his region.

Upon written request and authorization by an FCDA regional director to an HHFA regional representative, HHFA will in accordance with the provisions outlined in the request furnish personnel, equipment or other resources which can be made available within that region. Before taking such action, however, the HHFA regional representative shall secure approval of the Washington office. When required, such approval may be secured by wire or telephone.

(b) Reimbursement for such assistance.-The additional cost to HHFA in furnishing assistance requested and authorized by FCDA under the provisions of section 3 of Public Law 875 will be subject to reimbursement. Such reimbursement will generally be from a specific allotment of funds available to the President under Public Law 875 and will cover expenses incurred by HHFA in furnishing assistance which are over and above the normal day-to-day operating expenses of HHFA. Expenses eligible for reimbursement may include, but are not necessarily limited to, pay of personnel during periods of assignment to such

work; pay of additional personnel requested; overtime pay of all personnel; per diem expenses and transportation of such personnel; materials and supplies; costs of materials, equipment and supplies furnished and not returned; costs of operating equipment and processing equipment in and out of storage; packing and crating; and, in certain cases, replacing major items of equipment lost or damaged beyond economical repair.

Requests for reimbursement must be fully documented. Records of HHFA pertinent thereto will be open for examination by authorized FCDA representatives.

No expenses will be incurred and no reimbursement will be requested for any purpose prior to the Presidential declaration of the existence of a major disaster. Expenses incident to preplanning for disaster action and expenses of operation in disasters other than major disasters are not reimbursable from Public Law 875 funds. Correspondingly, services and facilities which HHFA can provide under these circumstances must be limited to those which are a part of its normal functions and authorized by its laws.

VI. Advice to regional offices and States

This memorandum of understanding will be circulated within HHFA and FCDA at both departmental and field levels, and to State governors and State and local civil defense offices.

Whenever there is question of interpretation of this agreement, the question should be referred by the field personnel to their respective headquarters offices for decision.

This agreement is separate from and does not affect any other agreement between the Housing and Home Finance Agency and the Federal Civil Defense Administration relative to civil defense responsibility under the Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950 (Public Law 920, 81st Cong.).

[blocks in formation]

STATUTORY AUTHORITIES AND RESOURCES OF THE HOUSING AND HOME FINANCE AGENCY WHICH MAY BE UTILIZED IN DISASTER RELIEF ACTIVITY

I. STATUTORY AUTHORITIES

The National Housing Act, as amended (Public Law 479, 73d Cong.), contains in section 8 of title I, provisions authorizing the Federal Housing Administration to insure 100 percent of loans up to a maximum of $7,000 to either owner-occupants or tenants whose homes have been destroyed or damaged in a catastrophe which has been declared a major disaster by the President under Public Law 875. Exercise of this authority would not affect FHA's authority to insure either normal property improvement loans under title I or residential mortgages under section 203.

Title III, section 1, of the National Housing Act authorizes the Federal National Mortgage Association to purchase disaster mortgages insured by FHA as described above or guaranteed in the same way by the Veterans' Administration under the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, as amended, when a major disaster has been declared. FNMA is authorized to make both over-the-counter and prior-commitment purchases of such mortgages without observing the usual 60-day waiting period nor the requirement that sales to FNMA be limited to 50 percent of the mortgages issued by a seller.

II. PERSONNEL

HHFA personnel consists of technical experts in the analysis of housing needs, the design, construction, and financing of housing and community facilities, urban planning, and related matters. HHFA personnel might be utilized by FCDA to investigate housing and community facility conditions in disaster areas, to plan and supervise actual work on housing and community facilities, and to provide

technical advice to both FCDA and local authorities with respect to housing and community facilities. Listed below are fields of activity in which such services might be rendered.

1. Determining housing needs and existing resources.

2. Determining damage to community facilities.

3. Planning and providing emergency housing.

4. Planning and providing emergency community facilities.

5. Planning and supervising emergency repair and reconstruction of housing and community facilities.

6. Financing of residential repairs and reconstruction.

III. DOCUMENTARY RESOURCES

As the Federal housing agency, HHFA gathers, consolidates, and interprets a wide variety of housing data and community facilities data.

The housing research program of the Office of the Administrator resulted in the publication of many technical bulletins and in the accumulation of much technical data on housing materials and construction. Such data may be of use in planning emergency relief housing. Also the prefabricated, demountable, and relocatable housing programs produced a bank of data about and experience with those types of housing which might be utilized in disaster relief housing.

IV. MANAGEMENT

HHFA manages Government constructed housing of both temporary and permanent types in a number of communities. This housing, particularly that portion of it which is portable, may be useful in disaster situations.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AND THE FEDERAL CIVIL DEFENSE ADMINISTRATION

1. At national level the United States Coast Guard will assist the Federal Civil Defense Administration in drawing plans for the utilization, during periods of disaster, of the small craft of the Nation.

2. At other than national level, the United States Coast Guard, through its auxiliary will assist State and local directors of civil defense in enrolling small boats and people, and planning for their use during periods of disaster.

3. Within spheres of Coast Guard activities, all civilian small-boat operations shall be under Coast Guard control during periods of civil-defense emergency or natural disaster. To provide support for the State or local directors of civil defense in areas where damage has occurred, the Federal Civil Defense Administration will promulgate its national policy accordingly.

4. FCDA will recommend that State and local civil-defense directors provide logistical support for these activities.

[blocks in formation]

Subject: Federal assistance in disasters other than those induced by enemy attack.

I. PURPOSE

A. To furnish information to State and local civil defense directors concerning the authority of the Federal Civil Defense Administrator to provide Federal

« PreviousContinue »