Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 83.djvu/156

 128

State d i s a s t e r relief programs, development. "State."

State agency, designation.

Report to Congress.

Federal coordinating officer. Appointment.

Temporary dwellings.

PUBLIC LAW 91-79-OCT. 1, 1969

[83 STAT.

from private sources, except that (A) any loan made under authority of this paragraph shall bear interest at a rate equal to the average annual interest rate on all interest-bearing obligations of the United States having maturities of 20 years or more and forming a part of the public debt as computed at the end of the fiscal year next preceding the date of the loan, adjusted to the nearest one-eighth of one per centum, and (B) no part of any loan made under authority of this paragraph shall be eligible for cancellation or deferral as authorized in paragraph (1) of this section. (3) may in the case of the total destruction or substantial property damage of a home or business concern refinance any mortgage or other liens outstanding against the destroyed or damaged property if such financing is for the repair, rehabilitation, or replacement of property damaged or destroyed as a result of such disaster and any such refinancing shall be subject to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this section. SEC. 8. (a) The President is authorized to provide assistance to the States in developing comprehensive plans and practicable programs for assisting individuals suffering losses as the result of a major disaster. For the purposes of this section, the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the territory of Guam, American Samoa, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. (b) The President is authorized to make grants not to exceed $250,000 to any State, upon application therefor, in an amount not to exceed 50 per centum of the cost of developing the plans and programs referred to in subsection (a). (c) Any State desiring assistance under this section shall designate or create an agency which is specially qualified to plan and administer such a disaster relief program, and shall, through such agency, submit a State plan to the President not later than December 31, 1970, wiich shall (1) set forth a comprehensive and detailed State program for assistance to individuals suffering losses as a result of a major disaster and (2) include provision for the appointment of a State coordinating officer to act in cooperation with the Federal coordinating officer required by section 9 of this Act. (d) The President shall prescribe such rules and regulations as he deems necessary for the effective coordination and administration of this section. (e) Upon the submission of such plans the President is authorized to report and recommend to the Congress, from time to time, programs for the Federal role in the implementation and funding of comprehensive disaster relief plans, and such other recommendations relating to the Federal role in disaster relief activities as he deems warranted. SEC. 9. The President shall, immediately upon his designation of an area as a major disaster area, appoint a Federal coordinating officer to operate under the Office of Emergency Preparedness in such area. Such officer shall be responsible for the coordination of all Federal disaster relief and assistance, shall establish such field offices as may be necessary for the rapid and efficient administration of Federal disaster relief programs, and shall otherw^ise assist local citizens and public officials in promptly obtaining assistance to which they are entitled. SEC. 10. (a) The President is authorized to provide on a temporary basis, as prescribed in this section, dwelling accommodations for individuals and families displaced by a major disaster.

�