Following a natural disaster, most communities want as much information as possible from FEMA; yet communicating with FEMA is often a new process for local officials. Use these tips to help communicate with FEMA during funding disbursement. FEMA Public Assistance Coordinators (PAC) can be used to inform localities about special considerations such as insurance, hazard mitigation opportunities,… Read more
Grantees must ensure that they are following proper documentation and program requirements in order to ensure that they are compliant with the CDBG-DR program. Yet this can be easier said than done. Staff managing the recovery process can be overwhelmed with additional work. Follow these tips to make sure that your program is able to… Read more
During accounting closeout of your CDBG-DR grant program, it is critical to review all documentation. Keep a checklist of all documentation that requires review. Checklist items will likely include: Equipment and labor receipts A master recap of all invoices from and payments to consultants Teaming partners and other third parties Final calculations Internal records and… Read more
Flood insurance premiums are expected to skyrocket as the frequency and severity of flooding events across the nation continue to rise. Although communities can’t control rising rates, county administrators can be proactive by enrolling their counties in the – a program that reduces flood insurance premiums for communities who exceed NFIP’s minimum requirements. The process… Read more
Paperwork is often the last thing people think of after a natural disaster, yet it’s one of the most important and complicated components of the disaster recovery process. All disaster-related damages and expenses must be explicitly documented to provide verification to FEMA, HUD and other funding program entities. Be aware that the amount and specificity… Read more
Paperwork is often the last thing people think of after a natural disaster, yet it’s one of the most important and complicated components of the disaster recovery process. Jurisdictions in the recovery process can be overwhelmed by the amount and specificity of documentation needed. But familiarizing staff with requirements and developing checklists during disaster planning… Read more
To maintain the integrity of the design consultation process, a best practice is to use a scope and version control system. See the document below for an example, and see the Scope/Estimate Version Control tool for a template you can download and customize.
The Disaster Impact and Unmet Needs Assessment Kit guides grantees through a process for identifying and prioritizing critical unmet needs for long-term community recovery. It is designed to be used by grantees at any time following a disaster. However, the quality of the assessment is directly tied to the quality and completeness of the impact… Read more
Housing cooperatives and other planned communities present their own challenges during the post-disaster recovery process. A single apartment block might yield more opinions and challenges than an entire small town. Add in the profusion of city, state and national ordinances and regulations that the process must meet, and the task can quickly become unmanageable. Yet… Read more
At the end of post-disaster response, many communities start to feel abandoned – their FEMA representative leaves and it often seems like funding options are diminishing. Communities often find themselves asking the question, “What do we do now?” During this period of transition, a long-term recovery group (LTRG) can play an integral role in keeping… Read more
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