For Margarita Abramov, New York City contract and compliance administrator for IBTS, the process of improving compliance policies and procedures is never quite finished. “There’s always room for improvement,” she says. Abramov was responsible for program compliance oversight for recovery programs in New York City after Hurricane Sandy, a situation she notes was extreme… Read more
When planning for disaster, jurisdictions often overlook how they will communicate with citizens and stakeholders in the disaster area when traditional forms of communication are unavailable. Initial communications after a disaster are critical for the health and safety of residents; it’s important to have multiple plans in place for communicating in all scenarios. The… Read more
Local and state departments of transportation can download this checklist, created by the New York State Department of Transportation (DOT), to ensure all department supplies are stocked and that emergency devices are in working order and ready for deployment during and immediately after any severe storm event. Preparation is key in getting roadways cleared and infrastructure… Read more
The Super Circular or Omni Circular, officially called the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (2 C.F.R. Part 200) went into effect on December 26, 2014, to increase the accessibility and impact of federal program funds by decreasing time spent complying with burdensome administrative requirements and better protect against waste,… Read more
The following summarizes the history of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, including the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The early post-Great Depression legislative measures from 1932 – 1938 stimulated housing construction in the U.S. Emergency Relief and Reconstruction Act of 1932 P.L. 75 – 432 First major U.S. relief legislation. Passed by Congress… Read more
Volunteer Reception Centers (VRC) are the most widely used method for coordinating and managing untrained, spontaneous volunteers who arrive in the aftermath of disaster. A VRC can prevent spontaneous volunteers from overwhelming emergency management and slowing relief efforts. This presentation by the Bedford (VA) Community Health Foundation (BCHF) can be used as a tool to… Read more
A post-disaster town hall meeting is one of the first and most important opportunities for local leaders to update the community on the status of recovery, and set the tone for the entire recovery process. Download this post-disaster town hall meeting agenda template as a Word Document and customize the time, location and content of the… Read more
Tracking volunteer credentials and efforts are an essential part of successfully managing both spontaneous and s, ensuring volunteer safety and also maximizing FEMA funding and reimbursement available for utilizing volunteer services. Download this Excel spreadsheet from the Glade Hill (VA) Volunteer Fire Department to use as a template for tracking volunteer efforts in your locality. You… Read more
The purpose of a plan is to provide the framework for an organization to restore essential functions in the event of an emergency that affects essential operations. Download this customizable template for local government departments and follow the provided instructions on how to fill in the correct information to meet the needs of your jurisdiction and… Read more
Despite early forecasts and preparations for disasters such as Sandy, our failure to accept and deal with the long-term effects of climate change, specifically global warming, will be an ongoing problem. Political and economic pressures discourage long-term planning, especially at the federal level. The author highlights the lack of water proofing of the NYC subway… Read more
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