The Integrated Public Alert and Warning Systems (IPAWS) was designed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Executive Order 13407[1] as a way to integrate and modernize the existing US population warning systems in order to save time during disaster response. The program was developed in response to criticism of the Federal government’s response to Hurricane… Read more
On May 22, 2011, a catastrophic Enhanced Fujita-5 (EF-5) tornado struck the City of Joplin in Jasper and Newton Counties in southwest Missouri. The tornado, which had winds in excess of 200 mph, caused 161 fatalities and over 1,300 injuries, and damaged or destroyed thousands of structures, overwhelming the capabilities of the City of Joplin,… Read more
Conducted by FEMA, Kickoff Meetings are designed to provide an in-depth review of the Public Assistance program and address specific applicant needs. The meeting typically occurs 5-10 days after a natural disaster, but it can be delayed for up to five or six weeks. Use these tips to prepare for your Kickoff Meeting — who… Read more
Most small disasters don’t require temporary medical facilities to be established, but localities still must have a plan – the likelihood may be small, but the repercussions of not having a plan are monumental. Use these tips to develop a plan and coordinate available resources, staff and supplies during a disaster to setup one or… Read more
The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it assesses the economic benefits of green infrastructure on reducing the negative impacts of flooding in communities in Minnesota and Ohio. Second, it develops an “analytical framework” that can be applied in other communities to predict the impacts of future flooding events and analyze how green infrastructure… Read more
Using habitats damaged in Hurricane Sandy as a case study, this survey provides insight into the economic value of ecosystem services that can be used in making restoration and coastal protection decisions. The authors place their analysis and recommendations in the broader context of coastal resiliency planning, making this a useful resource for decision-makers, coastal… Read more
This guidebook, developed by the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), provides a six-step planning process for local governments to incorporate resilience planning and implementation into their long- and short- term recovery plans. The guide offers a “practical approach” for localities to address the challenges of resilience planning, unifying disaster risk management, emergency response… Read more
This two-part analysis, conducted by the Virginia Coastal Policy Center at the College of William & Mary Law School, predicts that sea level rise will “significantly exacerbate the property damages and economic losses associated with coastal storm events and flooding” over the next 50 years in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Regions prone to… Read more
In this report, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) outlines strategic planning tools that communities and governments at the local, state and federal level can implement before a natural disaster to prepare for rapid reconstruction during the recovery phase. The report walks communities through the development of a recovery plan and serves… Read more
The state of Texas recently developed a rapid re-housing model, called RAPIDO, to help low income families recover from disasters more quickly. This report outlines the model’s key innovations, incorporation of fair housing to improve outcomes, and recommendations for next steps. Localities in any state can use this a guide for improving disaster recovery housing… Read more
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