Not every natural disaster comes with a two-month notice, so Yakima County, Washington, is counting its blessings. For several months, roughly 20 acres of a hillside — Rattlesnake Ridge — has been sliding away, threatening homes, highways and the Yakima River. In recent weeks, the slide’s acceleration has slowed, muddying predictions as to when it… Read more
Hurricanes, wildfires, economic collapse, and other disasters can be natural or man-made, acute or long-term, foreseeable or unpredictable. Preparation for and recovery from such events requires both long-term planning and immediate action. NACo works to strengthen county resiliency by building leadership capacity to identify and manage risk, and allow counties to become more flexible and… Read more
Before disasters strike your county, you should be certain about which local or regional faith-based groups you can work with to help provide temporary shelter, hot meals and other types of assistance to residents, said Gregory Forrester, president and CEO, Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. The national group also has state-level associations that you can… Read more
County leaders, federal officials and corporate partners met March 2, at NACo to discuss county-driven mitigation efforts that have made communities resilient to disasters. “The issue of resilience is ready for prime time, and the Resilient Counties Initiative is working to build the momentum around this movement as we identify our path forward,” said… Read more
is one of the most difficult aspects of federal disaster recovery funding for both local stakeholders and citizens to grasp. It is a federal law that applies to all federal disaster assistance, including from , the , , and the , among others. applicants are more likely to have a DOB because they’ve already received funding… Read more
policies and procedures are critical to program success but can be challenging to develop. Although they can be daunting, as a program administrator it’s important to view them not just as another program requirement, but as a tool for helping your program run smoothly and for accomplishing your recovery goals. The following tips for… Read more
provides rules and requirements for program community outreach, however it’s up to grantees to design a citizen engagement program that best meets their community’s needs. Grantees can find creative ways to communicate with their residents, but they still must stay within HUD’s parameters to ensure full compliance. Review these tips on outreach and citizen participation… 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
Having a detailed, widely distributed recovery strategy is instrumental to mitigating damage caused by natural disasters and helping your community recover from a disaster more quickly. Below is a selection of FEMA’s introductory planning courses that can help you plan for a smooth recovery. The courses are primarily intended for emergency management personnel and local… Read more
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