When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the coastal city of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005, they left trail of destruction in their wake. In total, 80 percent of the city was flooded by the waters that breached the levees intended to protect the city. The epic flooding created an equally monumental amount of debris. “After… Read more
During a disaster, the aspects of day-to-day life such as transportation, communication and acquisition of goods, become increasingly difficult. Communities are left in a state of fluctuation and instability that is only exacerbated by the problem of debris and debris removal. In order to return a community back to normal, effective and efficient debris removal… Read more
In disaster recovery, the role that the Stafford Act plays in how FEMA is authorized to provide disaster assistance funding is critically important, but it is challenging for localities to understand all the requirements. Below is a brief overview of the Stafford Act. Additionally, tools and resources are available for helping communities meet requirements.
Housing cooperatives and other planned communities present their own challenges during the post-disaster recovery process. A single apartment block might yield more opinions and challenges than an entire small town. Add in the profusion of city, state and national ordinances and regulations that the process must meet, and the task can quickly become unmanageable. Yet… Read more
At the end of post-disaster response, many communities start to feel abandoned – their FEMA representative leaves and it often seems like funding options are diminishing. Communities often find themselves asking the question, “What do we do now?” During this period of transition, a long-term recovery group (LTRG) can play an integral role in keeping… Read more
Volunteer Reception Center Use a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to create a location designated for volunteer management. Be sure to prepare ahead of time to quickly implement the VRC by identifying multiple locations for the center, assigning leadership roles and preparing key documents like, sign-in and sign-out sheets and VRC setup instructions. Volunteer Credentialing… Read more
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and its offshoot discount incentive program, the Community Rating System (CRS), help communities get back on their feet in the wake of flooding incidents by providing affordable insurance to property owners and encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations. The program, managed by the Federal Emergency Management… Read more
Mutual aid agreements and other types of assistance agreements facilitate the rapid sharing of emergency aid and resources among governments and organizations at all levels. These can involve pre-existing agreements like the or may require the creation of new instruments to address emerging events or parties outside of existing compacts. Depending on the nature and… Read more
The Synergy of Structure and Good Intentions When disaster – natural or man-made – strikes a community, specific emergency management and nonprofit organizations automatically respond according to a pre-established plan. Each of these designated organizations has a specific role to play in ensuring an effective response to and recovery from the disaster’s devastation. Yet one… Read more
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