This publication provides practical guidance for local officials, emergency planners, homeless service providers and others involved with their community’s disaster planning process to better meet the needs of homeless populations after a natural disaster. The publication covers a range of topics, including: defining special needs populations, personal preparedness, communication, transportation and evacuation, sheltering, health status… Read more
King County, Washington, developed a suite of tools and resources to assist community agencies that deal with vulnerable populations in becoming more prepared and resilient in the wake of natural disasters and other emergencies. The tool outlines 13 standards that a community agency should work towards, ranging from communications tools to emergency payment procedures and… Read more
State emergency management agencies (EMAs), regional FEMA offices and surrounding jurisdictions can serve as useful resources to supplement your locality’s disaster training needs before a disaster, and immediately after a disaster strikes if need be. These tips provide guidance to ensure localities take full advantage of regional training opportunities. Find out if your state… Read more
A program specifications document is required for communities participating in HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program. The document provides a framework for materials and construction methods that addresses common needs encountered by the program, from inception to closeout. Below, IBTS Build it Back Recovery Team Project Leader Josh Cummings provides tips for… Read more
After a major disaster, entire communities often need to be elevated and rehabbed. This is a huge, often multi-year challenge to the imagination, ingenuity, perseverance and fortitude of the recovery team. To alleviate these headaches, a comprehensive program specifications document can help guide the process by outlining specifications that span from paint color to roof pitch.… Read more
Although home inspections and building code enforcement aren’t often top-of-mind for residents and community stakeholders rebuilding from a disaster, they are vital to a successful disaster recovery and rebuilding program. Hiring building inspectors trained in disaster recovery is a must, and what’s more, inspection costs are eligible for reimbursement under ’s program. “What can… Read more
In the chaos of natural disaster response and recovery — or any natural disaster planning, response or recovery activity — it’s important to remember that it is against the law to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, or economic status in all disaster assistance programs in Presidentially declared disaster areas. This… Read more
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) comprehensive “Disaster Recovery Guide for Homelessness” offers a framework for collaboration between local governments and services providers to ensure the needs of the entire community are met. The toolkit provides guides for all three phases of the natural disaster timeline, including a Local Planning Guide, Response… Read more
In disaster recovery, the relationship and interaction between FEMA and the 50 states is critically important and based on state sovereignty concepts defined when the U.S. Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution. Federal disaster assistance is intended to supplement — not replace — state, local, and private-sector resources. In almost all cases, states must formally… Read more
Providing proper documentation is crucial to ensuring that your community will receive and keep funding assistance following a disaster. Yet, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the detailed documentation requirements for FEMA, HUD’s program and other funding programs. It’s always a good idea to enroll in a FEMA or CDBG-DR training course prior to… Read more
