The City of Central, Louisiana, although well-equipped to handle severe flooding, was forced to navigate unexpected obstacles in the wake of the historic August 2016 flooding. The historic storm dumped 24 inches of rainfall in a 48-hour period, isolating the City and flooding 60 percent of the City’s single-family homes. Reflecting on their experiences, City… Read more
As Hurricane Florence hits communities throughout the Carolina’s and across the region, National Public Radio (NPR) provides a list of useful mobile apps that citizens can download to stay updated, safe, and access the resources they need to ride out the storm and the weeks following. From weather updates to finding gasoline and shelter, the list… Read more
IBTS Economic Development and Disaster Recovery (EDDR) subject matter experts provided a webinar on innovative procurement options as part of the Florida Housing Coalition’s July 2018 Hurricane Member Update webinar. The IBTS portion of the webinar focused on using bid books in procurement, a practice frequently used by IBTS when administering CDBG-DR programs. Bid books… Read more
FEMA’s independent study training courses offerings are one of the most important disaster preparation educational tools for government officials, staff, and other professionals engaged in FEMA efforts during disasters. Below, IBTS provides links to FEMA’s course offerings, organized by disaster phase. Click on the disaster phase to see the listing of course options specific to… Read more
FEMA offers online independent study courses related to the three main types of funding made available to communities by FEMA after a disaster: , and hazard mitigation. To ensure compliance with FEMA funding regulations, emergency managers, local leaders, financing and accounting department staff, and any other stakeholder involved with FEMA funding distribution should take these… Read more
In February 2018, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made an important update to the way that Small Business Association (SBA) disaster loans are assessed, a change which applies to . A DOB occurs when any person, business, or entity uses federal funds to cover losses for which they have already received assistance… Read more
Although many grantees are familiar with regular CDBG programs, CDBG disaster recovery programs have important differences that require adjustments to existing CDBG policies, and sometimes even the development of new policies. “You can’t treat your CDBG-DR program like a regular CDBG program,” says IBTS Economic Development and Disaster Recovery Program Director Mike Spletto. “Disaster recovery… Read more
Returning to your home after weathering a natural disaster is not always a simple process. However, having the legal documentation and insurance information for your home up-to-date and on-hand before a disaster can help avoid delays in the reconstruction process and allow you to return to your home more quickly. These tips provide a primer… Read more
This FEMA video explains the shelter at home program and how it was implemented in Louisiana after the catastrophic August 2016 floods left thousands of residents with severely damaged homes. The shelter at home program is funded through FEMA’s program and in no way detracts from a homeowner’s eligibility to receive from FEMA. The program… Read more
Natural disasters are unpredictable and can happen at any time. From hurricanes and flooding, to fires and blizzards, it is helpful to know how to move forward once you, and your home, have weathered the storm. “As a homeowner, a first step towards being prepared is to be informed of your home’s characteristics,” explains IBTS… Read more
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