(a) The Regional Administrator may provide to States upon written request by the State Governor or an authorized representative, an annual improvement grant up to $50,000, but not to exceed 50 percent of eligible costs, except where separate legislation requires or permits a waiver of the State's matching share, e.g., with respect to “insular areas”, as that term is defined at 48 U.S.C. 1469a(d). The nonFederal share in all cases may exceed the Federal share.

(b) The improvement grant shall be product-oriented; that is, it must produce something measurable in a way that determines specific results, to substantiate compliance with the grant workplan objectives and to evidence contribution to the State's disaster capability. The following list, which is neither exhaustive nor ranked in priority order, offers examples of eligible products under the Disaster Preparedness Improvement Grant Program:

(1) Evaluations of natural hazards and development of the programs and actions required to mitigate such hazards;

(2) Hazard mitigation activities, including development of predisaster natural hazard mitigation plans, policies, programs and strategies for State-level multi-hazard mitigation;

(3) Updates to State disaster assistance plans, including plans for the Individual and Family Grant (IFG) Program, Public Assistance Program, Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Disaster Application Center operations, damage assessment, etc.;

(4) Handbooks to implement State disaster assistance program activities;

(5) Exercise materials (EXPLAN, scenario, injects, etc.) to test and exercise procedures for State efforts in disaster response, including provision of individual and public assistance;

(6) Standard operating procedures for individual State agencies to execute disaster responsibilities for IFG, crisis counseling, mass care or other functional responsibilities;

(7) Training for State employees in their responsibilities under the State's disaster assistance plan;

(8) Report of formal analysis of State enabling legislation and other authorities to ensure efficient processing by the State of applications by governmental entities and individuals for Federal disaster relief;

(9) An inventory of updated inventory of State/local critical facilities (including State/local emergency operations centers) and their proximity to identified hazard areas;

(10) A tracking system of critical actions (identified in postdisaster critiques) to be executed by State or local governments to improve disaster assistance capabilities or reduce vulnerability to natural hazards.

(11) Plans or procedures for dealing with disasters not receiving supplementary Federal assistance;

(12) Damage assessment plans or procedures;

(13) Procedures for search and rescue operations; and,

(14) Disaster accounting procedures.

(c) The State shall provide quarterly financial and performance reports to the Regional Administrator. Reporting shall be by program quarter unless otherwise agreed to by the Regional Administrator.

[54 FR 2129, Jan. 19, 1989]