Although it’s impossible to predict how many residents will be displaced and what housing stock will be available to provide temporary living arrangements for these residents after a natural disaster, these tips can help your locality maximize the resources that are available to get residents on the fastest track to permanent housing. Work on… Read more
Planning for temporary housing assistance can be one of the most difficult aspects of preparing for a natural disaster due to the unpredictability of a storm’s impact on a locality’s housing stock. Likewise, each community has unique risks and resources when it comes to temporary housing — there is no “one-sized-fits-all” approach. Local, state… Read more
Download this chronological checklist, created by the U.S. department of Housing and Urban Development (), to ensure your agency completes the critical actions grantees must take immediately upon the receipt of a award to meet the deadlines and move recovery efforts forward. HUD Chronological Checklist for CDBG-DR Grantees (.doc)
Long-term, widespread power outages can cause a plethora of unexpected communications challenges. IBTS spoke with Monroe County, New York, Emergency Manager Tim Kohlmeier about his experiences communicating with stakeholders and his constituents after a severe wind storm — coupled with sub-zero temperatures — hit the county in March 2017, causing multi-day power outages for more than 125,000.… Read more
Having a social media presence is a must for emergency management agencies today, however many localities struggle to build the large following that allows social media to be effectively used to communicate with constituents and stakeholders during a natural disaster. IBTS spoke with Washington Emergency Management Digital Media Specialist Steven Friederich about the strategies… Read more
Use this presentation to get a broad understanding of the recordkeeping and website maintenance requirements. CDBG Disaster Recovery: Recordkeeping Requirements & Website Maintenance
Applying for an award claim can be overwhelming and frustrating for homeowners who are still struggling with the emotional and financial implications of their loss. Erica Bueno, lead case manager for IBTS, has years of experience assisting homeowners through the application process and knows how arduous it can be both for homeowners and for case… 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
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
Get in contact at the start. As soon as applications come in, call every homeowner to explain the process, timeline and steps that will take place. Make sure the applicant has a voice. The first time you speak with any homeowner, listen to their story before asking questions and collecting information. Let the applicant… Read more
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