§701n. Emergency response to natural disasters
(a) Emergency fund
(1) There is authorized an emergency fund to be expended in preparation for emergency response to any natural disaster, in flood fighting and rescue operations, or in the repair or restoration of any flood control work threatened or destroyed by flood, including the strengthening, raising, extending, realigning, or other modification thereof as may be necessary in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers for the adequate functioning of the work for flood control and subject to the condition that the Chief of Engineers may include modifications to the structure or project, or in implementation of nonstructural alternatives to the repair or restoration of such flood control work if requested by the non-Federal sponsor; in the emergency protection of federally authorized hurricane or shore protection being threatened when in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers such protection is warranted to protect against imminent and substantial loss to life and property; in the repair and restoration of any federally authorized hurricane or shore protective structure or project damaged or destroyed by wind, wave, or water action of other than an ordinary nature to the pre-storm level of protection, to the design level of protection, or, notwithstanding the authorized dimensions of the structure or project, to a level sufficient to meet the authorized purpose of such structure or project, whichever provides greater protection, when, in the discretion of the Chief of Engineers, such repair and restoration is warranted for the adequate functioning of the structure or project for hurricane or shore protection, including to ensure the structure or project is functioning adequately to protect against projected changes in wave action or height or storm surge (including changes that result from relative sea level change over the useful life of the structure or project), subject to the condition that the Chief of Engineers may, if requested by the non-Federal sponsor, include modifications to the structure or project (including the addition of new project features) to address major deficiencies, increase resilience, increase benefits from the reduction of damages from inundation, wave action, or erosion, or implement nonstructural alternatives to the repair or restoration of the structure. The emergency fund may also be expended for emergency dredging for restoration of authorized project depths for Federal navigable channels and waterways made necessary by flood, drought, earthquake, or other natural disasters. In any case in which the Chief of Engineers is otherwise performing work under this section in an area for which the Governor of the affected State has requested a determination that an emergency exists or a declaration that a major disaster exists under the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act [42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.], the Chief of Engineers is further authorized to perform on public and private lands and waters for a period of ten days following the Governor's request any emergency work made necessary by such emergency or disaster which is essential for the preservation of life and property, including, but not limited to, channel clearance, emergency shore protection, clearance and removal of debris and wreckage endangering public health and safety, and temporary restoration of essential public facilities and services. The Chief of Engineers, in the exercise of his discretion, is further authorized to provide emergency supplies of clean water, on such terms as he determines to be advisable, to any locality which he finds is confronted with a source of contaminated water causing or likely to cause a substantial threat to the public health and welfare of the inhabitants of the locality. The appropriation of such moneys for the initial establishment of this fund and for its replenishment on an annual basis, is authorized: Provided, That pending the appropriation of sums to such emergency fund, the Secretary of the Army may allot, from existing flood-control appropriations, such sums as may be necessary for the immediate prosecution of the work herein authorized, such appropriations to be reimbursed from the appropriation herein authorized when made. The Chief of Engineers is authorized, in the prosecution of work in connection with rescue operations, or in conducting other flood emergency work, to acquire on a rental basis such motor vehicles, including passenger cars and buses, as in his discretion are deemed necessary.
(2)
(A)
(i) residential establishments;
(ii) commercial establishments, including the protection of inventory; and
(iii) agricultural establishments, including the protection of crops.
(B)
(i)
(I) the non-Federal sponsor agrees to pay, or provide contributions equal to, an amount sufficient to make the remaining costs of the project equal to the estimated value of the benefits of the repair or restoration work; and
(II) the Secretary determines that-
(aa) the damage to the structure was not a result of negligent operation or maintenance; and
(bb) repair of the project could benefit another Corps project.
(ii)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(A)
(B)
(b) Emergency supplies of drinking water; drought; well construction and water transportation
(1) The Secretary, upon a written request for assistance under this paragraph made by any farmer, rancher, or political subdivision within a distressed area, and after a determination by the Secretary that (A) as a result of the drought such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision has an inadequate supply of water, (B) an adequate supply of water can be made available to such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision through the construction of a well, and (C) as a result of the drought such well could not be constructed by a private business, the Secretary, subject to paragraph (3) of this subsection, may enter into an agreement with such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision for the construction of such well.
(2) The Secretary, upon a written request for assistance under this paragraph made by any farmer, rancher, or political subdivision within a distressed area, and after a determination by the Secretary that as a result of the drought such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision has an inadequate supply of water and water cannot be obtained by such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision, the Secretary may transport water to such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision by methods which include, but are not limited to, small-diameter emergency water lines and tank trucks, until such time as the Secretary determines that an adequate supply of water is available to such farmer, rancher, or political subdivision.
(3)(A) Any agreement entered into by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall require the farmer, rancher, or political subdivision for whom the well is constructed to pay to the United States the reasonable cost of such construction, with interest, over such number of years, not to exceed thirty, as the Secretary deems appropriate. The rate of interest shall be that rate which the Secretary determines would apply if the amount to be repaid was a loan made pursuant to section 636(b)(2) of title 15.
(B) The Secretary shall not construct any well pursuant to this subsection unless the farmer, rancher, or political subdivision for whom the well is being constructed has obtained, prior to construction, all necessary State and local permits.
(4) The Federal share for the transportation of water pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection shall be 100 per centum.
(5) For purposes of this subsection-
(A) the term "construction" includes construction, reconstruction, or repair;
(B) the term "distressed area" means an area which the Secretary determines due to drought conditions has an inadequate water supply which is causing, or is likely to cause, a substantial threat to the health and welfare of the inhabitants of the area including threat of damage or loss of property;
(C) the term "political subdivision" means a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body created by or pursuant to State law and having jurisdiction over the water supply of such public body;
(D) the term "reasonable cost" means the lesser of (i) the cost to the Secretary of constructing a well pursuant to this subsection exclusive of the cost of transporting equipment used in the construction of wells, or (ii) the cost to a private business of constructing such well;
(E) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers; and
(F) the term "State" means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(c) Eligibility
(1) Levee owner's manual
Not later than 1 year after October 12, 1996, in accordance with chapter 5 of title 5, the Secretary of the Army shall prepare a manual describing the maintenance and upkeep responsibilities that the Corps of Engineers requires of a non-Federal interest in order for the non-Federal interest to receive Federal assistance under this section. The Secretary shall provide a copy of the manual at no cost to each non-Federal interest that is eligible to receive Federal assistance under this section.
(2) Compliance
(A) In general
Notwithstanding the status of compliance of a non-Federal interest with the requirements of a levee owner's manual described in paragraph (1), or with any other eligibility requirement established by the Secretary related to the maintenance and upkeep responsibilities of the non-Federal interest, the Secretary shall consider the non-Federal interest to be eligible for repair and rehabilitation assistance under this section if the non-Federal interest-
(i) enters into a written agreement with the Secretary that identifies any items of deferred or inadequate maintenance and upkeep identified by the Secretary prior to the natural disaster; and
(ii) pays, during performance of the repair and rehabilitation work, all costs to address-
(I) any items of deferred or inadequate maintenance and upkeep identified by the Secretary; and
(II) any repair or rehabilitation work necessary to address damage the Secretary attributes to such deferred or inadequate maintenance or upkeep.
(B) Eligibility
The Secretary may only enter into one agreement under subparagraph (A) with any non-Federal interest.
(C) Sunset
The authority of the Secretary to enter into agreements under paragraph (2) shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after December 27, 2020.
(3) Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1).
(4) Definitions
In this subsection, the following definitions apply:
(A) Maintenance and upkeep
The term "maintenance and upkeep" means all maintenance and general upkeep of a levee performed on a regular and consistent basis that is not repair and rehabilitation.
(B) Repair and rehabilitation
The term "repair and rehabilitation"-
(i) means the repair or rebuilding of a levee or other flood control structure, after the structure has been damaged by a flood, to the level of protection provided by the structure before the flood; but
(ii) does not include-
(I) any improvement to the structure; or
(II) repair or rebuilding described in clause (i) if, in the normal course of usage, the structure becomes structurally unsound and is no longer fit to provide the level of protection for which the structure was designed.
(d) Increased level of protection
In conducting repair or restoration work under subsection (a), at the request of the non-Federal sponsor, the Chief of Engineers may increase the level of protection above the level to which the system was designed, or, if the repair or restoration includes repair or restoration of a pumping station, increase the capacity of a pump, if-
(1) the Chief of Engineers determines the improvements are in the public interest, including consideration of whether-
(A) the authority under this section has been used more than once at the same location;
(B) there is an opportunity to decrease significantly the risk of loss of life and property damage; or
(C) there is an opportunity to decrease total life cycle rehabilitation costs for the project; and
(2) the non-Federal sponsor agrees to pay the difference between the cost of repair or restoration to the original design level or original capacity and the cost of achieving the higher level of protection or capacity sought by the non-Federal sponsor.
(e) Notice
The Secretary shall notify and consult with the non-Federal sponsor regarding the opportunity to request implementation of nonstructural alternatives to the repair or restoration of a flood control work under subsection (a).
(Aug. 18, 1941, ch. 377, §5,
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is
Amendments
2022-Subsec. (a)(1).
2020-Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(i)(I).
Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii).
Subsec. (a)(5).
Subsec. (c).
Subsec. (c)(1).
Subsec. (c)(2) to (4).
2018-Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (a)(2).
"(A) residential establishments;
"(B) commercial establishments, including the protection of inventory; and
"(C) agricultural establishments, including the protection of crops."
Subsec. (a)(3), (4).
2016-Subsec. (a)(3).
Subsecs. (d), (e).
2014-Subsec. (a)(1).
1996-Subsec. (a)(1).
Subsec. (c).
1990-Subsec. (a)(1).
1988-Subsec. (a)(1).
1987-Subsec. (a).
1986-Subsec. (a).
1977-
1974-
1962-
1955-Act June 28, 1955, authorized expenditure for flood emergency preparation and eliminated the requirement of maintenance of flood control works threatened by flood.
1950-Act May 17, 1950, expanded scope of work considered under emergency repairs to flood-control structures, and substituted "$15,000,000" for "$2,000,000".
1948-Act June 30, 1948, inserted provisions relating to the strengthening, extending, or modification of flood-control works.
1946-Act July 24, 1946, substituted "$2,000,000" for "$1,000,000".
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
Department of War designated Department of the Army and title of Secretary of War changed to Secretary of the Army by section 205(a) of act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title II,
Great Lakes Advance Measures Assistance
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
Technical Assistance for Levee Inspections
Continued Eligibility
"(1) the non-Federal sponsor agrees, in accordance with such section 5, as amended by this Act, to pay, or provide contributions equal to, an amount sufficient to make the remaining costs of the project equal to the estimated value of the benefits of the repair or restoration work; and
"(2) the Secretary [of the Army] determines that the damage to the structure was not as a result of negligent operation or maintenance."
Systemwide Improvement Framework
Vegetation Management Guidelines
"(a)
"(1) Engineering Technical Letter 1110–2–571 entitled 'Guidelines for Landscape Planting and Vegetation Management at Levees, Floodwalls, Embankment Dams, and Appurtenant Structures' and adopted April 10, 2009; and
"(2) the draft policy guidance letter entitled 'Process for Requesting a Variance from Vegetation Standards for Levees and Floodwalls' (77 Fed. Reg. 9637 (Feb. 17, 2012)).
"(b)
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) the varied interests and responsibilities in managing flood risks, including the need-
"(i) to provide the greatest benefits for public safety with limited resources; and
"(ii) to ensure that levee safety investments minimize environmental impacts and provide corresponding public safety benefits;
"(B) the levee safety benefits that can be provided by woody vegetation;
"(C) the preservation, protection, and enhancement of natural resources, including-
"(i) the benefit of vegetation on levees in providing habitat for species of concern, including endangered, threatened, and candidate species; and
"(ii) the impact of removing levee vegetation on compliance with other regulatory requirements;
"(D) protecting the rights of Indian tribes pursuant to treaties and statutes;
"(E) determining how vegetation impacts the performance of a levee or levee system during a storm or flood event;
"(F) the available science and the historical record regarding the link between vegetation on levees and flood risk;
"(G) the avoidance of actions requiring significant economic costs and environmental impacts; and
"(H) other factors relating to the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (F) identified in public comments that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
"(2)
"(A)
"(i) regional or watershed soil conditions;
"(ii) hydrologic factors;
"(iii) vegetation patterns and characteristics;
"(iv) environmental resources, including endangered, threatened, or candidate species and related regulatory requirements;
"(v) levee performance history, including historical information on original construction and subsequent operation and maintenance activities;
"(vi) any effects on water supply;
"(vii) any scientific evidence on the link between levee vegetation and levee safety;
"(viii) institutional considerations, including implementation challenges and conflicts with or violations of Federal or State environmental laws;
"(ix) the availability of limited funds for levee construction and rehabilitation;
"(x) the economic and environmental costs of removing woody vegetation on levees; and
"(xi) other relevant factors identified in public comments that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.
"(B)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(e)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) made available to the public; and
"(B) included in supporting materials issued in connection with the revised guidelines required under subsection (f).
"(f)
"(1)
"(A) revise the guidelines based on the results of the review, including-
"(i) recommendations received as part of the consultation described in subsection (d)(1); and
"(ii) the views received under subsection (e);
"(B) provide the public not less than 30 days to review and comment on draft guidelines before issuing final guidelines; and
"(C) submit to Congress and make publicly available a report that contains a summary of the activities of the Secretary and a description of the findings of the Secretary under this section.
"(2)
"(A) provide a practical, flexible process for approving Statewide, tribal, regional, or watershed variances from the guidelines that-
"(i) reflect due consideration of the factors described in subsection (c); and
"(ii) incorporate State, tribal, and regional vegetation management guidelines for specific areas that-
"(I) are consistent with the guidelines; and
"(II) have been adopted through a formal public process; and
"(B) be incorporated into the manual proposed under section 5(c) of the Act of August 18, 1941 (33 U.S.C. 701n(c)).
"(3)
"(A) why the deadline was missed;
"(B) solutions needed to meet the deadline; and
"(C) a projected date for submission of the report.
"(g)
"(1)
"(2)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
Executive Documents
Termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
For termination of Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, see note set out preceding section 1681 of Title 48, Territories and Insular Possessions.