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
This document describes FEMA’s policy for providing public assistance to reimburse medical facilities for the costs of medical expenses to meet the immediate and temporary needs during a natural disaster. According to the policy, eligible applicants include state and local governments and nonprofit organizations that own or operate a medical or custodial care facility, such… Read more
The methods outlined in this report can serve as a guide for local and state governments and other disaster stakeholders to develop a plan for reunifying children with their families after a natural disaster. Amidst the chaos of a natural disaster, children are more apt to become separated from their legal parents or guardians. This… 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
To best support emergency management agencies throughout all phases of disaster, municipal department heads, local elected officials and directors of NGOs and private sector organizations should be trained and knowledgeable in disaster response and recovery. Roger Jolliff, emergency manager for the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Area Emergency Management Agency, is a strong proponent of training a broad… Read more
In many localities, disaster planning is confined to emergency management. To improve the effectiveness of disaster plans, it’s important to engage stakeholders from a broad range municipal departments, NGOs and private sector organizations, in addition to local elected officials. IBTS spoke with Roger Jolliff, director of the Tulsa, Oklahoma, Emergency Management Agency, about the best… Read more
This document provides a brief explanation of the FEMA disaster declaration process, including an outline of the steps a governor must take to request a declaration, types of disaster declarations and the assistance programs that can be activated once a declaration has been made by the president. FEMA Fact Sheet: Disaster Declaration Process
Wildfires are long, drawn-out events that often require localities to ask for state assistance to get key messages out to the public, manage and monitor social media and keep up with the demands of local media. Use these tips from subject matter experts in Washington and California, who frequently deal with wildfires, to think through frequently… Read more
During severe winter weather events, the public has an undying need for information — when will their roads be plowed, will schools shut down, is more snow expected? Providing them with constant updates is essential to set clear expectations about your municipal snow removal agency’s capabilities during a given storm. Use these tips to… Read more
After “Snowzilla” dumped more than 26 inches of snow on Arlington County, Virginia in January 2016, the county had to supplement their 40-pieces of snow removal equipment with 200 pieces of contracted equipment to keep up with storm. Mike Moon, deputy director of operations for Arlington County, Virginia, Environmental Services, was tasked with coordinating… Read more
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