Localities prone to severe winter weather events should take advantage of the off-season to review and revise their existing winter weather plans, reflect on last season’s successes and incorporate new strategies to areas that need improvements. Use these tips to help prepare for winter seasonal disasters during the off-season. Focus on snow removal contracts… Read more
During and after a natural disaster, utilities and local governments must work together to ensure the safety of citizens and navigate the restoration of infrastructure. Accordingly, it is critical they share an understanding about roles, responsibilities and processes during a disaster. Even when utilities and local governments have a productive, well-established relationship with each other,… Read more
During a long-term power outage, communications challenges with emergency management and the local government can hinder recovery efforts. Use these tips to build and maintain a relationship with your local emergency management agency that allows for an open flow of information before, during and after a weather-induced power outage. Maintain your relationship with emergency management before… Read more
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
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 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
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
Wildfires are long, drawn-out events that often require localities to ask for state assistance to get key messages out to the public, manage and monitor social media and keep up with the demands of local media. Use these tips from subject matter experts in Washington and California, who frequently deal with wildfires, to think through frequently… Read more
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