Resources

Economic Assessment of Green Infrastructure Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation: Pilot Studies in The Great Lakes Region

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it assesses the economic benefits of green infrastructure on reducing the negative impacts of flooding in communities in Minnesota and Ohio. Second, it develops an “analytical framework” that can be applied in other communities to predict the impacts of future flooding events and analyze  how green infrastructure… Read more

Hurricane Sandy and the Value of Trade‐Offs in Coastal Restoration and Protection

Using habitats damaged in Hurricane Sandy as a case study, this survey provides insight into the economic value of ecosystem services that can be used in making restoration and coastal protection decisions. The authors place their analysis and recommendations in the broader context of coastal resiliency planning, making this a useful resource for decision-makers, coastal… Read more

Community Resilience Planning Guide for Buildings and Infrastructure Systems

This guidebook, developed by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), provides a six-step planning process for local governments to incorporate resilience planning and implementation into their long- and short- term recovery plans. The guide offers a “practical approach” for localities to address the challenges of resilience planning, unifying disaster risk management, emergency response… Read more

Costs of Doing Nothing: Economic Consequences of Not Adapting to Sea Level Rise in the Hampton Roads Region

This two-part analysis, conducted by the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the College of William & Mary Law School, predicts that sea level rise will “significantly exacerbate the property damages and economic losses associated with coastal storm events and flooding” over the next 50 years in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Regions prone to… Read more

Pre-Disaster Planning for Permanent Housing Recovery

In this report, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) outlines strategic planning tools that communities and governments at the local, state and federal level can implement before a natural disaster to prepare for rapid reconstruction during the recovery phase. The report walks communities through the development of a recovery plan and serves… Read more

Lessons from Texas: 10 Years of Disaster Recovery Examined

This white paper examines the disparities based on race and income that have historically been present in all phases of the disaster recovery process – most prominently in long-term recovery and rebuilding. The authors offer policy recommendations drawn from Texas’ experience, focusing primarily on the challenges surrounding administration and oversight of the long-term recovery process.… Read more

FEMA Disaster Assistance Policy: Emergency Medical Care and Medical Evacuations

This document describes FEMA’s policy for providing public assistance to reimburse medical facilities for the costs of medical expenses to meet the immediate and temporary needs during a natural disaster. According to the policy, eligible applicants include state and local governments and nonprofit organizations that own or operate a medical or custodial care facility, such… Read more

Post-Disaster Reunification of Children: A Nationwide Approach

The methods outlined in this report can serve as a guide for local and state governments and other disaster stakeholders to develop a plan for reunifying children with their families after a natural disaster. Amidst the chaos of a natural disaster, children are more apt to become separated from their legal parents or guardians. This… Read more

Disaster Recovery Housing

The state of Texas recently developed a rapid re-housing model, called RAPIDO, to help low income families recover from disasters more quickly. This report outlines the model’s key innovations, incorporation of fair housing to improve outcomes, and recommendations for next steps. Localities in any state can use this a guide for improving disaster recovery housing… Read more

Elected Officials: What You Need to Know About NIMS

This fact sheet provides local elected and appointed officials with tips and action items for implementing NIMS at the local level to ensure the entire community is trained and prepared to provide an integrated, coordinated response to a natural disaster.   Elected Officials: What you Need to Know About NIMS