Volunteers are one of the most versatile and cost-effective resources in disaster response and recovery, however they come with a big caveat – when not managed properly, they can escalate an already dangerous and chaotic situation by overwhelming first-responders and putting themselves and others in danger. Public safety officials can relieve some of the resulting… Read more
Volunteers play a critical role in a disaster recovery effort – they are cost-effective and flexible and can provide an enormous benefit to localities during response and recovery. Yet without proper management, volunteers are underutilized or can instead do more harm than good.
Volunteer credentialing is a required component of utilizing volunteers in any disaster scenario for all localities, even at the most basic level. An effective credentialing system allows management to triage and use volunteers properly during response and recovery from a disaster. Yet this process starts well before a disaster hits. Engaging volunteers throughout preparation and planning… Read more
Volunteers are one of the most versatile and cost-effective resources in disaster response and recovery, but it is impossible to predict exactly to what extent volunteers and resources will be affected by a disaster. Accordingly, city managers and county administrators must be prepared to call on help from surrounding communities by having mutual aid agreements… Read more
Volunteers are one of the most versatile and cost-effective resources in disaster response and recovery, however they come with a big caveat – when not managed properly, they can escalate an already dangerous and chaotic situation by overwhelming first-responders and putting themselves and others in danger. The finance and accounting department must take an active… Read more
Base Flood Elevation (BFE) – base flood elevation, according to FEMA, is the computer estimation of where flood levels should be during a “base” flood. A “base” flood is defined as the 1% annual chance flood that may occur The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is administered by the Department of Housing and Urban… Read more
Resilience planning ensures that your community is better prepared for future disasters. For communities that have recovered from a disaster, it is critical to take the time to apply lessons learned from the experience. Click on the topics below to learn more for your community. Lessons Learned Disaster Planning Revisions Codes, Ordinance Review & Revisions… Read more
Local police and fire departments help make sure the community’s disaster plan is in place. During a disaster, the emergency operations center (EOC) must swiftly communicate any plan changes with local police and fire departments.
The disaster planning process should include clear identification of when staff are needed and take into consideration potential scenarios that can prevent staff from reaching the emergency operations center (EOC). Staff should also be briefed on their roles and responsibilities to ensure quick and efficient action when disaster does strike.
In a disaster, it is crucial for localities to communicate with the state for resources and support. The state administration interface provides a point of contact where localities can report their needs and request funding.
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