Direct Property Acquisitions Act

This bill requires FEMA to create a test program that lets certain local governments apply directly to FEMA for grant money to buy properties and tear down or move buildings in areas at risk from natural hazards. Right now, local governments have to go through their state or tribal government to ask for this kind of help, but this program would let up to two local governments from each of FEMA's 10 regions skip that step and apply on their own. To be chosen, a local government must show it can handle the process with little help from the state, and FEMA must get positive feedback from the state about that local government. The test program would last up to eight years, each local government could participate for up to 48 months, and FEMA would have to send yearly reports to Congress on how well the program is working.

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