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
Dear National Association of Counties Membership – Thank you for inviting me to speak at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference. FEMA supports and shares your goal of creating healthy, vibrant and safe counties across the U.S. FEMA is leaning forward, both strategically and operationally. We are building on the successes of 2017 and… 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
As counties respond to catastrophic events such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes, it is important to understand how to best utilize the suite of resources that are available from partners at the Federal and state government levels. It is also critical that counties work with the business community to better coordinate resources and logistical… 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
As a program administrator, you will likely be the point of contact for citizens and other stakeholders who have questions or need more information on the program. Transparency and regular communication throughout the lifecycle of the program are key to educating your citizens about rules and regulations, and to demonstrating the tangible progress of the… Read more
Procurement of materials and services often presents challenges for grantees, who tend to be unfamiliar with the federal procurement policies they must follow to meet ‘s compliance standards. Grantees cannot simply begin purchasing materials and services using their existing procurement policies, but must update them to be compliant with federal regulations as outlined in 2 CFR Part… Read more