With word recently that Congress passed legislative language in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill that amends the FEMA Stafford Act, one could almost hear the collective sigh coming from local governments in disaster-prone regions throughout the country.

Over the last decade in Florida alone, numerous counties and local governments have been forced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to “clawback” or “deobligate” funds for repairs and debris removal that FEMA dispensed during the 2004-2005 hurricane season that saw Hurricanes Katrina, Francis and Charlie ravage much of the state.