Reimbursement for snow assistance and winter storms requires highly-specific documentation, often for specific time periods or completing certain tasks. FEMA typically reimburses for a continuous 48-hour period of the storm, and for specific tasks like making two lanes passable on an arterial roadway. Use these tips to ensure your agency has proper documentation to provide… Read more
This report describes snow assistance and assistance for severe winter storms, the declaration process, the criteria used to make eligibility determinations and the types of assistance that are provided after the President has issued a major disaster declaration for the incident. Major Disaster Declarations for Snow Assistance and Severe Winter Storms: An Overview
IBTS spoke with Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Emergency Management Public Information Officer (PIO) John Bobel about his plans for communicating during natural disasters at the local level. Below, Bobel offers advice to other localities on how disaster communications planning can increase effectiveness of public communication and outreach during and after an incident. Practice, practice, practice. Make… Read more
Communicating during a natural disaster is essential to emergency response, but is often intensely difficult due to inconsistent or nonexistent cell, internet and landline service. Amateur (or “ham”) radio enthusiasts can be an invaluable resource for your community during a disaster. Below are several tips for creating or improving your plan for calling on these… Read more
Amateur radio operators and organizations can play a key role in natural disaster communications. Even if cell, landline and internet service are knocked out, radio messages can still get through. IBTS spoke with Janelle Haible, public information officer for the St. Louis Metro Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) about her experiences assisting her community… Read more
IBTS spoke with Public Information Officer for the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management Buddy Rogers about his experiences navigating communications with the public and stakeholders before, during and after natural disasters. Kentucky has been increasingly subject to natural disasters in recent years, with 18 major disaster declarations made in the past 10 years. Below… Read more
Although always a welcome site initially, donations in the aftermath of a natural disaster can quickly become an additional burden. Without a donation management and staffing plan, localities often find themselves amidst a “second disaster” as truckloads of materials pile up at unorganized donation sites. Too much of any good thing can become a bad… Read more
After “Snowzilla” dumped more than 26 inches of snow on Arlington County, Virginia in January 2016, the county had to supplement their 40-pieces of snow removal equipment with 200 pieces of contracted equipment to keep up with storm. Mike Moon, deputy director of operations for Arlington County, Virginia, Environmental Services, was tasked with coordinating… Read more
Results of a National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) survey to determine the social media channels employed by emergency management agencies for public information use. Respondents were state emergency management agencies. States were also asked to break down what types of posts were the most effective, challenges they face and needs they have to be more successful.… Read more
During severe winter weather events, the public has an undying need for information — when will their roads be plowed, will schools shut down, is more snow expected? Providing them with constant updates is essential to set clear expectations about your agency’s snow removal capabilities during a given storm. Use these tips to manage… Read more
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