Resources

Fact Sheet: What is FEMA’s Individual Assistance Program?

This FEMA fact sheet describes the types of services available under FEMA’s , which include housing assistance and other needs assistance. The IHP program provides financial help or direct services to disaster survivors who have necessary expenses and serious needs but are unable to meet these needs through other means.   Fact Sheet: What is FEMA’s… Read more

Tips for Construction Contractors: Working with CDBG-DR Homeowner Applicants

  Unlike typical construction projects, performing disaster recovery work under HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program comes with scope of work, time and funding constraints in order to maintain program compliance. Be sure you and your subcontractors have a clear understanding of CDBG-DR program requirements prior to communicating with homeowner applicants or… Read more

Tips: Managing the Appeals Process

  Homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable and time-consuming, they should be a last resort for applicants. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program, and been able to mitigate nearly all homeowner appeals — saving the locality and the applicant valuable… Read more

Tips for Project Managers: Be Prepared for Homeowner Applicant Appeals

  Homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable, but project managers can take preventative measures and work with case managers to reduce the number of applicant appeals — saving the applicant, project manager and agency administrating the program a significant amount of time and stress. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving… Read more

Tips for Case Managers: Managing the Applicant Appeals Process

  Although homeowner appeals during the recovery process are inevitable, case managers can take preventative measures to prevent applicants from taking their appeals to grantee. This can save applicants, case managers and program administrators time and hassle. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the ’s  program, and been… Read more

Construction Appeals Tips for Homeowner Applicants

If you are receiving assistance for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, elevation, or mitigation of your home after a disaster, you may be allowed to submit an appeal prior to construction to broaden the scope of work or request changes to construction material. IBTS has processed close to 2,500 homes for programs receiving funding from the the… Read more

FEMA Training Courses: Lessons Learned

FEMA’s online independent study course, “Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning,” covers the methodology for completing after action reports.   IS-130 Exercise Evaluation and Improvement Planning

Long-Term Recovery Planning: What Emergency Managers Need to Know

  Although emergency managers typically have sound plans in place to meet immediate post-disaster recovery needs, many overlook long-term recovery needs — how will your community survive and thrive five, ten, twenty years after a disaster? These tips provide insight into what emergency managers should take into account while developing a basic long-term recovery plan… Read more

Leadership in Times of Crisis: A Toolkit for Economic Recovery and Resiliency

This toolkit is intended to assist local publicly or privately funded economic development organizations and chambers of commerce in developing a plan of action to rebuild local economies back stronger after a natural disaster. The toolkit provides a number of actionable tools in its appendix to assist economic development organizations through the planning process.  … Read more

Long Term Recovery from Disasters — The Neglected Component of Emergency Management

Claire Ruben, researcher, consultant and educator in the fields of emergency management and homeland security, shares her observations and suggestions for long-term recovery planning improvement based on her 30-years of research and experience in the field. Her account provides reflections on multiple long-term recovery case studies and makes recommendations for improvement to practitioners and researchers… Read more