When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the coastal city of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2005, they left a trail of destruction in their wake, including a monumental amount of debris. Dr. Chuck Carr Brown, secretary of the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, managed the massive debris removal effort in New Orleans. Below are Brown’s tips… 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.
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
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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