This details specific actions taken by the city of New Haven, Conn., before, during and after Tropical Storm Irene. Overall, the city concluded that it had an excellent response to the storm, with over 200 personnel engaged in mitigation efforts. The city does not explicitly list weaknesses identified, but notes that information learned through identification… Read more
This provides a summary of recommended improvements to New York City’s operations based on operations before, during and after Hurricane Sandy. The report notes that it is not an exhaustive list of all lessons learned in Hurricane Sandy; rather, it is intended to provide “a roadmap of the strategic steps the City will take to… Read more
The GridWise Alliance (GWA) conducted a workshop entitled “Grid Modernization Impacts During Superstorm Sandy and Other Very Large Scale Grid Events” to explore challenges and opportunities that very large scale events (VLSEs) events present to the electric system. This report notes that grid modernization alone cannot adequately ensure that the electric grid is safe, secure,… Read more
The Obama administration aspires to work with communities to help them rebuild smarter and better by providing the best data about the risks they face, setting clear resilience standards to help protect against those risks, and bringing a wide range of stakeholders together to foster innovative ideas and ensure a comprehensive regional approach to rebuilding.… Read more
This report by The Heritage Foundation Emergency Preparedness Working Group lists its recommendations for preparing for and responding to natural disasters in the future, including: FEMA must no longer be made to respond to all manner of routine disasters, only major catastrophic ones. The National Guard and Coast Guard were more successful than FEMA; ensure… Read more
Frequently-asked questions about the Stafford Act from the Public Risk Management Association. (PDF). Stafford Act
The Federal Emergency Management Agency: FEMA
The Stafford Act constitutes the statutory authority for most federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs. In response to the to the evolving demands for federal disaster assistance, Congress has passed legislation to amend the Stafford Act to improve the role of the federal government in disaster assistance. Pre-1950… Read more
FEMA developed this guide to provide communities with a framework for structuring their own debris management plan or ensuring that their existing plan is consistent with FEMA’s eligibility criteria. This is part of FEMA’s efforts to encourage communities to take a proactive approach to creating and managing debris removal operations as part of their overall… Read more
This guide provides an overview of and the steps for implementing FEMA’s alternative procedures for debris removal. FEMA is currently piloting these procedures. FEMA’s Public Assistance Alternative Procedures Pilot Program Guide for Debris Removal, Version 5 [PDF]
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