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- .. = .2 :!1 III ::l e bIl = '6 = GI Q, III $1,800 $1,600 $1,400 $1,200 $1,000 $,800 $600 $400 $200 $0 1992 1993 1994 1995 Fiscal Year 1996 1997 Figure7: Pre-Disaster vs. Post-Disaster State Spending (FY 92-97) STATE AND FEDERAL DECLARATIONS Under the Federal Response Plan, federal assistance is only provided if a disaster exceeds the resources and capabilities of state and local authorities. Because states are increasing their focus on mitigation and disaster preparedness, more emergency management agencies are better able to deal with any hazard that threatens, which ultimately means fewer state and local emergencies are requiring federal aid. In fiscal 1997, states estimated that around 5,000 emergencies required significant state assistance, although only 915 (about 10 percent) were officially declared state emergencies by governors. The number of gubernatorial emergencies rose dramati- cally by nearly 284 percent since fiscal 1992, reflecting the growing number and severity of disasters during the decade. According to FEMA. four of the nation's costliest hurri- canes occurred between 1995 and 1996, in addition to major earthquakes, flooding and wildfires. Despite the growth in the number of state emergencies, the number of federally declared disasters has remained relatively stable during this decade, ranging from 43 to 72 declarations per year. Only about 5 percent of state gubernatorial emergencies were eventually declared federal disasters in fiscal 1997 (Figure 8). It is clear that states are more prepared than ever to deal with the vast majority of emergencies they face every year. 1.000 800 600 400 200 o 1992 1994 1995 1996 1993 F'lgUre 8: State vs. Federal Declarations Fiscal Year ~ National Emergency Management Association 1997 States reported spending a total of $1.71 billion on various pre-disaster efforts in fiscal 1997, which is more than triple the fiscal 1992 level (Figure 7). This spending varied widely from $84,108 to $976 million, with an average of $28 million. At 73 percent, mitigation accounted for the largest share of these expenditures. The amount spent by states on post-disaster activities in fiscal 1997, including response and recovery, was a good deal less than pre-disaster efforts which totaled $1.06 billion. Although this represents a significant 74 percent increase over the past five years, pre-disaster spending grew far more during the same period. Thus while the price states are paying to respond and recover from disasters continues to climb as the severity of these disasters increases, states are now spending far more attention and resources on proactive strategies that are helping to create truly disaster-resistant communities.