Gale Encyclopedia of American Law Volume 3 P49 fully illuminates today's leading cases, major statutes, legal terms and concepts, notable persons involved with the law, important documents and more. Legal issues are fully discussed in easy-to-understand language, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more. | 468 DISASTER RELIEF ILLUSTRATION BY GGS CREATIVE RESOURCES. REPRODUCED BY PERMISSION OF GALE A PART OF CENGAGE LEARNING. Property Loss in Major . Weather Disasters 3 1980 to 2008 aWeather-related disasters costing 1 billion or more including hurricanes tropical storms floods droughts blizzards severe freezes ice storms and wildfires. bAmounts are estimated. source . National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center Billion Dollar . Weather Disasters available online at http oa reports accessed on August 12 2009 . local or state officials and if necessary appeals were made to the federal government. Such an approach was often so disorganized that it frustrated effective disaster relief. Federal aid was rarely immediate and instead came some time after a disaster had occurred. Critics often complained that the federal response to disasters was dilatory insufficient and inconsistent. During the 1930s the expansion of the federal government under the New Deal including greater federal participation in public works projects led to a greater federal role in disaster assistance. NEW DEAL agencies such as the Reconstruction Finance Corporation Federal Emergency Relief Administration Federal Civilian Works Administration Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps all participated in disaster control and recovery. The Army Corps of Engineers helped communities prevent and recover from flood damage and the department of agriculture offered aid to farmers who sustained economic losses in disasters. The 1930s marked the federal government s first use of low-interest loans and outright grants for disaster relief both features of subsequent disaster laws. During this same decade Congress considered making the American Red Cross a government agency but Red Cross officials chose to keep their organization private. With the passage of the Disaster Relief Act of 1950 Pub. L. No. 81-875 64 Stat. .
