Paperwork is often the last thing people think of after a natural disaster, yet it’s one of the most important and complicated components of the disaster recovery process. Jurisdictions in the recovery process can be overwhelmed by the amount and specificity of documentation needed. But familiarizing staff with requirements and developing checklists during disaster planning… Read more
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
To maintain the integrity of the design consultation process, a best practice is to use a scope and version control system. See the document below for an example, and see the Scope/Estimate Version Control tool for a template you can download and customize.
Orange County, Texas, offers an insightful example of the types of staffing considerations localities experience during a disaster. The county was faced with a unique natural disaster situation in March of 2016 when the nearby Sabine River reached record-level highs, forcing operators at the Toledo Bend Dam to release water at an accelerated rate, flooding… 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
Enthusiasm and engagement among volunteers may wane as the natural disaster recovery process moves out of the immediate response phase and into the months and even years of long-term recovery. However, volunteer efforts still play an important role in helping a community recover. Keep volunteers engaged with the following tips. Check-in with volunteers. Talk with… Read more
Throughout a disaster, send messages through local media and post messages on social media that let volunteers know: When they’re needed and what they’re needed for. Where to go at the disaster site. When it’s safe for them to arrive at the disaster site. Be clear about when help is needed and when to… 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
Volunteers are one of the most versatile and cost-effective resources in disaster response and recovery, but it is impossible to predict exactly to what extent volunteers and resources will be affected by a disaster. Accordingly, city managers and county administrators must be prepared to call on help from surrounding communities by having mutual aid agreements… Read more
Resilience planning ensures that your community is better prepared for future disasters. For communities that have recovered from a disaster, it is critical to take the time to apply lessons learned from the experience. Click on the topics below to learn more for your community. Lessons Learned Disaster Planning Revisions Codes, Ordinance Review & Revisions… Read more
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