The person designated to serve in the public information officer position during a disaster can download this FEMA checklist as a PDF for use during a disaster. The checklist can help to ensure the minimum requirements for the position are completed during an incident, and also provides a sample initial information summary and a sample… Read more
David Maack, a long serving local Emergency Manager in Wisconsin, was asked to write a section on emergency management for a Wisconsin Counties Association Public Officials Handbook. The section provides a “job aid” for local elected officials in Wisconsin and across the U.S. Emergency Management Guide for Local Elected Officials
Governors should be prepared from the first day of their administration to manage a major disaster. A Governor’s Guide to Mass Evacuation offers key actions governors can take to prepare themselves and their states for a large scale . A Governor’s Guide to Mass Evacuations
A Governor’s Guide to Homeland Security is a comprehensive resource intended to guide governors in the critical task of providing homeland security and ensuring public safety the states. The guide contains information on the four main components of homeland security as identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security: prepare, prevent, respond and recover. A… Read more
“The Role of States in Disaster Recovery,” a video project produced by the Coastal Resilience Center of Excellence (CRC), highlights the roles played by state agency officials, leaders of state recovery organizations and governors in disaster recovery following extreme events. The video is part of a larger, multi-year project that includes a training guide, journal… Read more
Before construction on your home begins, you will work closely with your case manager, designers, architects and contractors to ensure you are satisfied with the construction plan and that your home is safe, up to code and in compliance with the specific program requirements. Below are tips for what applicants repairing or rebuilding their homes… Read more
Keeping a constant stream of communications with homeowners throughout the pre-construction process is important both to ensure homeowners are satisfied with program results and that program administrators and subcontractors are compliant with program, state and federal rules and regulations. Use the following tips when communicating with homeowners about the nuts and bolts at different points… Read more
Conduct the inspection quickly to accommodate the homeowner. The most important thing during an inspection is accommodating the homeowner. Have a route planned for how you will navigate through the home; typically floor-by-floor works best. Have a streamlined template for inspection reports. Use a spreadsheet that includes a description of each line item. Put the… Read more
Document Everything from the Start Track each applicant from start to finish. Have a system in place for documenting each individual homeowner throughout the entire process. When does audits on applicants, they can ask about any point during the process; documenting by applicant is critical for having the correct data to meet HUD requirements. Set… Read more
Hold a town hall meeting early on in the post disaster recovery process. Work with community leaders to organize a town hall meeting to educate homeowners on the application process and program timeline. Provide applicants with your contact information so they can reach out with questions. Don’t set expectations too high or too low. … Read more
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