The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is an appropriation against which FEMA can direct, coordinate, manage, and fund eligible response and recovery efforts associated with domestic major disasters and emergencies that overwhelm State resources pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Through the DRF, FEMA can fund authorized Federal disaster support activities as well as eligible State, territorial, tribal, and local actions, such as providing emergency protection and debris removal. The DRF also funds:
- the repair and restoration of qualifying disaster-damaged public infrastructure
- hazard mitigation initiatives
- financial assistance to eligible disaster survivors
- Fire Management Assistance Grants for qualifying large forest or grassland wildfires
In response to language in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-74), as continued by the FY 2013 Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L. 112-175), and as modified by the FY 2013 Disaster Relief Appropriations Act (P.L. 113-2), FEMA is providing a monthly report for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), which includes:
- a summary of appropriations
- a table delineating the DRF funding activities
- activities each month by state and event
- a summary of the funding for the catastrophic events
- an estimate of the date on which the funds will be exhausted