After several weeks focused on meeting emergency needs, trained Red Cross case managers began meeting with families to help them plan for their recovery and navigate available resources to assist them each step of the way, and developed a recovery plan alongside FEMA and others. By the end of 2012, most emergency needs, though ongoing,… Read more
After Sandy made landfall, Unitil was able to restore all impacted customers in 2.5 days, with the Capital region completed in less than 52 hours and the Seacoast region completed in 60. The response demonstrated the effectiveness and flexibility of its ERP and ability to handle events of differing sizes. Not only did Unitil complete… Read more
The report provides an overview on how social media was used in preparation for, in response to, and in recovery from Hurricane Sandy (“Sandy”) in late October 2012. It also discusses processes identified by the first-responder community as best practices; presents examples, themes in applications, and lessons learned; identifies gaps in technology, process, and/or policy; and… Read more
This report follows extensive research by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) of after action reviews from major disasters of the past decade into lessons learned. The disasters studied were weather-related events that required responding firefighters to assume duties for which they were unprepared or for situations they never anticipated. From analysis of post-incident operational evaluations,… Read more
This details specific actions taken by the city of New Haven, Conn., before, during and after Tropical Storm Irene. Overall, the city concluded that it had an excellent response to the storm, with over 200 personnel engaged in mitigation efforts. The city does not explicitly list weaknesses identified, but notes that information learned through identification… Read more
This presentation, developed by Blake Ratcliff, Director, IBTS for the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC), will walk you through grant administration and procurement. Included are the elements of a successful grant and the six areas of grant management, including the two priority areas. Note: PowerPoint presentations are best viewed in presentation mode. Grant Administration and… Read more
This provides a summary of recommended improvements to New York City’s operations based on operations before, during and after Hurricane Sandy. The report notes that it is not an exhaustive list of all lessons learned in Hurricane Sandy; rather, it is intended to provide “a roadmap of the strategic steps the City will take to… Read more
A field report, which examines the devastation due to Hurricane Sandy experienced in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood consisting of geographically isolated low-lying commercial and residential units, with a concentration of low-income housing, and disproportionate rates of poverty and poor health outcomes largely experienced by Black and Latino residents. The authors conclude that… Read more
The GridWise Alliance (GWA) conducted a workshop entitled “Grid Modernization Impacts During Superstorm Sandy and Other Very Large Scale Grid Events” to explore challenges and opportunities that very large scale events (VLSEs) events present to the electric system. This report notes that grid modernization alone cannot adequately ensure that the electric grid is safe, secure,… Read more
This article argues that the issues were related more to communication and coordination rather than capacity and capability. “Resources did not always make it the last mile to reach those most in need.” Also emphasizes the need for better understanding of (a) reasons that citizens defy public mandatory evacuation orders and (b) how to communicate… Read more
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