1988 – Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, an amended version of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974, was designed to provide an orderly and continuing means of assistance from the federal government to state and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage that result from major disasters and emergencies. One of the critical components was change the cost share for hazard mitigation assistance from 50-50 to 75-25, which allowed more communities to participate in the program. It also increased the funding pool to 15% of all disaster costs rather than just certain of the costs.