Having a social media presence is a must in emergency management today, however many local emergency management agencies struggle to build the following needed to effectively use social media for effective communication with constituents and stakeholders during a natural disaster. IBTS spoke with Washington Emergency Management Digital Media Specialist Steven Friederich about the strategies he uses for building… Read more
Having a social media presence is a must for emergency management agencies today, however many public information officers (PIOs) struggle to build the large following that allows social media to be effectively used to communicate with constituents and stakeholders during a natural disaster. IBTS spoke with Washington Emergency Management Digital Media Specialist Steven Friederich… Read more
On March 22, 2014, groundwater saturation triggered a 4,400-foot-wide landslide near the town of Oso, Washington. Considered the largest and most destructive landslide in U.S. history, the event caused 43 fatalities, swallowed 49 homes and shut-down a portion of State Route 530 – giving the catastrophe its official name, the SR 530 Landslide. Search and… Read more
On March 22, 2014, groundwater saturation triggered a 4,400-foot-wide landslide near the town of Oso, Washington. Considered the largest and most destructive landslide in U.S. history, the event caused 43 fatalities, swallowed 49 homes and shut-down a portion of State Route 530 – giving the catastrophe its official name, the SR 530 Landslide. Search and… Read more
On March 22, 2014, groundwater saturation triggered a 4,400-foot-wide landslide near the town of Oso, Washington. Considered the largest and most destructive landslide in U.S. history, the event caused 43 fatalities, swallowed 49 homes and shut-down a portion of State Route 530 – giving the catastrophe its official name, the SR 530 Landslide. Search and… Read more
The Tulsa, Oklahoma Area Emergency Management Agency launched the “Tulsa Ready” App for smart phones to create a more interactive public communications interface that better meets the needs of today’s public. The app helps residents prepare for natural disasters, communicate with family members during an event and also allows emergency management to send severe weather… Read more
Use this fact sheet to get a basic understanding of FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP). The program provides financial and/or direct assistance to eligible applicants who, as a result of a major disaster or emergency, have necessary expenses and serious needs they are unable to meet through insurance or other means. FEMA Fact… Read more
This audit of FEMA’s response to the 2014 landslide that wiped out a small community near Oso, Washington, reports on FEMA officials’ quick and effective response to the disaster. The officials were resourceful in overcoming significant challenges, implemented a variety of disaster-specific policies, obtained needed resources and effectively coordinated with its disaster response partners. The… Read more
Although it’s impossible to predict how many residents will be displaced and what housing stock will be available to provide temporary living arrangements for these residents after a natural disaster, these tips can help your locality maximize the resources that are available to get residents on the fastest track to permanent housing. Work on… Read more
Planning for temporary housing assistance can be one of the most difficult aspects of preparing for a natural disaster due to the unpredictability of a storm’s impact on a locality’s housing stock. Likewise, each community has unique risks and resources when it comes to temporary housing — there is no “one-sized-fits-all” approach. Local, state… Read more
