Grantees must ensure that they are following proper documentation and program requirements in order to ensure that they are compliant with the CDBG-DR program. Yet this can be easier said than done. Staff managing the recovery process can be overwhelmed with additional work. Follow these tips to make sure that your program is able to… Read more
Following a disaster, public information officers, and local leaders, officials and staff will need to communicate with homeowners about FEMA Individual Assistance (IA). Homeowners can apply for assistance in recovering from a disaster through the FEMA IA program. First, let homeowners know about the availability of FEMA Individual Assistance. Following a disaster declaration, homeowners… Read more
All stakeholders involved in your locality’s natural disaster response effort must be aware of the and their role and responsibilities in it. Follow these tips to ensure that the EOP is implemented properly. Assign Clear Responsibilities The EOP should lay out a clear . Ensuring that every department has a clear understanding of their responsibilities… Read more
Paperwork is often the last thing people think of after a natural disaster, yet it’s one of the most important and complicated components of the disaster recovery process. All disaster-related damages and expenses must be explicitly documented to provide verification to FEMA, HUD and other funding program entities. Be aware that the amount and specificity… Read more
Paperwork is often the last thing people think of after a natural disaster, yet it’s one of the most important and complicated components of the disaster recovery process. Jurisdictions in the recovery process can be overwhelmed by the amount and specificity of documentation needed. But familiarizing staff with requirements and developing checklists during disaster planning… Read more
FEMA developed this guide to provide communities with a framework for structuring their own debris management plan or ensuring that their existing plan is consistent with FEMA’s eligibility criteria. This is part of FEMA’s efforts to encourage communities to take a proactive approach to creating and managing debris removal operations as part of their overall… Read more
This guide provides an overview of and the steps for implementing FEMA’s alternative procedures for debris removal. FEMA is currently piloting these procedures. FEMA’s Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program Guide for Debris Removal, Version 5 [PDF]
During a disaster, the aspects of day-to-day life such as transportation, communication and acquisition of goods, become increasingly difficult. Communities are left in a state of fluctuation and instability that is only exacerbated by the problem of debris and debris removal. In order to return a community back to normal, effective and efficient debris removal… Read more
When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the coastal city of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005, they left a trail of destruction in their wake, including a monumental amount of debris. Dr. Chuck Carr Brown, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, managed the massive debris removal effort in New Orleans. Below are Brown’s tips… Read more
In disaster recovery, the role that the Stafford Act plays in how FEMA is authorized to provide disaster assistance funding is critically important, but it is challenging for localities to understand all the requirements. Below is a brief overview of the Stafford Act. Additionally, tools and resources are available for helping communities meet requirements.
Stay up to date with all the latest IBTS news.