This special populations assessment tool was designed to help identify those groups of individuals who require differing messages from the general public information message or who cannot be reached through mass communication channels. In conducting the assessment, consulting individuals within a population, or representative organizations, may be helpful in understanding how the population may receive… Read more
This guide is intended to help close many of the gaps in emergency planning and preparedness for vulnerable older adults. In particular, it aims to give public health officials, the Aging Services Network, emergency management personnel and partners at all jurisdictional levels (state, regional, and community) the critical information, strategies and resources that they need… Read more
This evidence-based guide, developed by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), shares stories, tools and projects issued by state and local agencies and organizations to determine the extent of preparing and planning for at-risk populations, as well as assisting these communities in emergencies. As part of this project, ASTHO performed an extensive… 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 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
This FEMA Best Practice guide outlines recommendations for localities to provide pet-friendly shelters during emergencies and large-scale evacuations. Localities should have a plan for implementing pet-friendly shelters to increase the likelihood that pet-owners will evacuate to safety with their pets. Pet-friendly shelters typically allow pet-owners to care for their own animals within the owner’s shelter… 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
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