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Community Disaster Planning
Organizing And Planning Disaster
Communication Strategies For Communities
For communities to organize effective communication strategies during a disaster, they should establish a multi-layered plan that includes both official and neighborhood-level networks. Effective communication relies on using multiple, redundant channels, designating clear roles for information sharing, and preparing strategies before an emergency occurs.
Official emergency communication
These are the formal systems used by government and emergency services to broadcast vital, widespread information.
Mass notification systems: Communities can use services to send targeted alerts via text message, email, or automated phone calls. These alerts can be customized for specific risks, such as evacuation orders, shelter locations, and safety instructions.
Integrated public alert and warning systems (IPAWS): This system uses multiple channels, including broadcast television and radio (Emergency Alert System) and mobile devices (Wireless Emergency Alerts), to disseminate geographically targeted warnings.
Social media: Official government accounts on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) can provide real-time updates and address misinformation. The Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) offers guidance for agencies on how to build trust and use social media effectively.
Dedicated websites: Local emergency management agencies should have a designated website that is regularly updated during a crisis. The site should feature clear, concise information, including maps and other visuals, and be accessible to people with disabilities.
Neighborhood and community-level communication
These informal networks are crucial for supporting neighbors and ensuring no one is overlooked, especially vulnerable residents.
Phone trees: Create a system where one person calls a small group of neighbors, who then call others on the list. This "tree" structure ensures messages are relayed efficiently, even if technology fails.
Community messaging apps: Use platforms like WhatsApp or Nextdoor to create private groups for real-time updates and mutual aid requests. These can be used for neighborhood-specific alerts or to check on vulnerable residents.
Two-way radios (walkie-talkies): Communities can establish designated radio channels for short-range communication in case phone networks are down. Some neighborhoods also use amateur (ham) radios for broader communication.
Community bulletin boards: For those without internet access, a physical bulletin board in a centralized location, such as a community center, can be used to post important notices.
In-person communication: In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, door-to-door check-ins can be crucial. Some neighborhood disaster groups use specific search and rescue protocols to check on homes systematically.
Key strategies for organizing communication
Beyond the specific channels, a community communication plan needs to be inclusive, accessible, and practiced regularly.
Assign clear roles: Designate specific individuals to act as communication coordinators, spokespeople, and message-relayers. This prevents chaotic or inconsistent messaging.
Create accessible messages: Ensure information is available in multiple formats, including different languages and alternative media like large print, Braille, or sign language, to serve all community members.
Build a central information point: A Joint Information Center (JIC) can be established, either physically or virtually, to coordinate information from all agencies and provide consistent, accurate updates to the public.
Engage the community pre-disaster: Hold regular meetings and workshops to practice the communication plan and build trust. Involving the community in preparedness efforts makes them more likely to heed warnings during a real crisis.
Practice and evaluate regularly: Test communication systems and conduct drills to ensure all roles and procedures are understood and to identify and fix any weak points in the plan.
Best Practices for Joint Information
Center Operations During A Disaster
For communities to organize effective communication strategies during a disaster, a Joint Information Center (JIC) provides a centralized, collaborative framework based on best practices from the Incident Command System (ICS). A JIC ensures that public information is accurate, timely, consistent, and coordinated across all agencies and jurisdictions involved in the response.
JIC setup and staffing
Establish location: The JIC can be a physical location, often co-located with an Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or a virtual one for broader collaboration. A physical JIC should be easily accessible but safely removed from the incident, with sufficient space, power, phone lines, and internet access.
Assign JIC manager/lead Public Information Officer (PIO): The lead PIO, appointed by the Incident Commander (IC), directs all JIC activities and advises the IC on communication strategy.
Create a multi-agency team: The JIC should include PIOs and communication representatives from all involved agencies, including law enforcement, fire, EMS, public health, and private sector partners. This ensures a unified message and leverages diverse expertise.
Use a virtual JIC: To enable flexibility, especially in large-scale incidents or where a physical location is not feasible, use technology like video conferencing, email lists, and web-enabled devices to connect JIC staff.
Information gathering and management
Verify all information: The JIC must establish strict protocols for fact-checking all data before release. Information comes from sources like on-scene commanders, technical specialists, and agencies at the EOC.
Gather data from diverse sources: A JIC should gather information from multiple channels, including on-scene reports, monitoring systems, and public feedback, to develop a comprehensive understanding of the situation.
Centralize information: Consolidate all incident information into a single, accessible hub. This prevents conflicting narratives and provides a single source of truth for all messaging.
Document everything: Maintain logs of all incoming inquiries, briefings, and information releases. This creates a historical record for after-action reports.
Public and media relations
Act as the official media point-of-contact: The JIC serves as the central liaison for all media inquiries, press releases, and briefings. This controls the narrative and ensures journalists receive timely, consistent information.
Schedule regular briefings: Conduct periodic press briefings with designated speakers. This builds trust by providing regular updates and allows media to ask questions in a controlled environment.
Address misinformation proactively: Monitor traditional and social media for inaccurate reports or rumors. The JIC should issue prompt, factual statements to correct misinformation and manage public perception.
Engage with the public: Use multiple channels, including social media, websites, and community leaders, to reach a broad audience. Tailor messages for accessibility, considering different languages and special needs groups.
Interagency coordination
Overcommunicate: Due to the high-pressure environment, JIC members should overcommunicate to avoid assumptions.
Regular internal briefings and updates are essential for keeping all agencies aligned.
Define clear roles and responsibilities: Establish a clear organizational structure with defined roles and a decision-making matrix. This avoids confusion and ensures everyone knows their specific tasks.
Build trust through relationships: Fostering a collaborative culture through joint training and exercises before an incident occurs is critical. Strong pre-existing relationships help to resolve conflicts that arise during a crisis.
Leverage shared outcomes: Ensure all agencies agree on the common goals of the communication strategy. A shared purpose can build buy-in and focus resources.
Post-incident evaluation
Conduct after-action reports: Following the incident, the JIC manager leads a debriefing to identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Support recovery communication: Even after the emergency response phase ends, the JIC continues to play a vital role by providing information on recovery efforts, such as financial assistance programs and debris removal.
Biggest Challenges for Joint Information Centers During Widespread Disasters
During widespread disasters, Joint Information Centers (JICs) face significant challenges that can complicate efforts to deliver consistent, accurate, and timely information. These issues stem from the immense scale, scope, and duration of the event, which strain resources and processes designed for more localized incidents.
Coordination across multiple jurisdictions
Widespread disasters often affect multiple cities, counties, and even states, requiring complex coordination among numerous agencies and different levels of government. This creates major communication hurdles for JICs:
Competing priorities: Different jurisdictions may have their own priorities or operational cultures, leading to inter-agency conflicts and delays in reaching a unified message.
Varying capacities: Jurisdictions, especially rural areas, have differing staffing and communication capabilities. Some may have limited internet and cellular service, making it difficult to coordinate with the JIC and disseminate information locally.
Conflicting protocols: Multiple agencies and jurisdictions may have different communication protocols or use different systems, making it difficult to integrate data and create a seamless information flow.
Shared resources: Allocating limited JIC personnel and other resources among the affected areas can be difficult. Larger, more populated areas may receive more attention, potentially disadvantaging smaller or rural communities.
Managing a chaotic information environment
Modern disasters unfold in a complex media landscape that is difficult for JICs to manage.
Misinformation and rumors: Social media can spread unverified information faster than officials can correct it, amplifying panic and undermining public trust. Proactively fact-checking and debunking falsehoods becomes a constant, time-consuming task.
Overwhelmed networks: Communication networks often become congested during widespread events as a surge in calls, texts, and social media posts overwhelm the system. This can delay the JIC's ability to disseminate official warnings and updates.
Addressing diverse needs: The JIC must communicate with a wide range of audiences, including vulnerable populations with limited resources, different language speakers, and people with disabilities. Ensuring that all groups receive accessible, accurate, and timely information is a persistent challenge.
Resource and personnel fatigue
A large-scale disaster places immense strain on JIC staff and resources, threatening operational efficiency over time.
Staffing shortages: A single incident can exhaust available Public Information Officers (PIOs) and JIC staff. A widespread disaster requires a sustained response, leading to burnout and fatigue among personnel who must manage high workloads for an extended period.
Physical limitations: A physical JIC may be in an area affected by the disaster, making it inaccessible or damaged. Relying on a virtual JIC introduces technical challenges and can strain a virtual team’s ability to coordinate effectively.
Technical difficulties: Widespread power outages or damaged infrastructure can render communication technology useless. JICs must be prepared with redundant systems and plans to operate with limited technology, which can be challenging to implement.
Information overload: JIC staff are inundated with information from various agencies, field teams, and the public. Filtering, verifying, and prioritizing this massive volume of data in a high-pressure, time-sensitive environment is extremely difficult.
Communty Disaster Preparedness Plan
A community disaster preparedness plan is a comprehensive strategy created by community members to prepare for, respond to, and recover from various hazards. It is designed to empower local citizens by establishing clear procedures, organizing resources, and defining roles before an emergency strikes.
Steps to create a community disaster preparedness plan
Form a planning team: Create a team with a diverse representation of community members, including residents, businesses, faith-based organizations, and local government officials like fire and police departments.
Assess risks and vulnerabilities: Work with your team to identify potential disasters most likely to occur in your area, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, or wildfires. Consider specific community vulnerabilities, including residents with special needs, limited-income households, and isolated individuals.
Identify resources and capabilities: Map the community's assets that can be utilized during an emergency. These may include local businesses, community centers, skilled volunteers (e.g., medical professionals, construction workers), and available supplies.
Develop the plan: The plan should address the full disaster management cycle, including prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Key components should include:
Emergency operations and communication: Define a clear chain of command and communication protocols. Include a system for contacting community members, including alternate methods if traditional systems fail.
Evacuation procedures: Identify primary and secondary evacuation routes and meeting points within and outside the community. Ensure plans account for residents with transportation challenges.
Shelter-in-place and evacuation sites: Pre-determine and prepare community sites for sheltering residents who cannot evacuate.
Resource and supply management: Establish a plan for distributing essential resources, like food, water, and medical supplies. Consider surge capacity—the ability to quickly fill gaps in resources during a crisis.
Roles and responsibilities: Clearly define the duties of individuals and organizations before, during, and after a disaster.
Train and exercise the plan: Conduct regular training and exercises (like drills) to ensure all community members and organizations understand their roles and responsibilities. This helps identify weaknesses and improve the plan.
Review and update the plan: Regularly review the plan to reflect any changes in the community or potential risks. FEMA recommends updating mitigation plans every five years.
Essential components of a community plan
Hazard-specific procedures: Include detailed response plans for the most likely threats identified in the risk assessment, such as how to seek shelter during a tornado or evacuate from a coastal storm.
Emergency contact lists: Create and distribute lists of emergency services, utility companies, and key community leaders.
Special needs considerations: Include specific protocols for assisting vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, or those who rely on medical equipment.
Family communication plan: A comprehensive community plan should encourage individual families to create their own emergency communication plans, including out-of-area contacts for use when local phone lines are down.
Emergency supply kit information: Provide guidance on what to include in a basic emergency supply kit, with recommendations for food, water, first-aid, and other essentials.
Recovery and long-term vision: Outline the steps for long-term recovery, which helps guide decision-making in the aftermath of a disaster.
Working With Local Emergency Services
For community groups, working with local emergency services is crucial for creating an effective disaster plan. This collaboration ensures that local knowledge and resources complement the training and expertise of first responders, resulting in a coordinated and resilient community.
Here is how community groups can effectively partner with first responders and emergency management agencies:
1. Establish early and consistent communication
Identify key contacts: Find the liaisons or community outreach officials for local agencies like the Pasco County Emergency Management, fire departments, and the Pasco Sheriff's Office.
Initiate a conversation and build a relationship before a disaster occurs.
Create communication protocols: Define how community leaders and emergency services will communicate during a disaster, including during power outages or when cell networks are down.
This can involve using alternative channels like satellite phones or pre-established meeting points.
2. Participate in formal programs
Join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): These programs, offered by FEMA and local emergency management, train citizens in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. CERT members can support first responders and assist their neighbors when a crisis strikes.
Engage with volunteer organizations: Connect with local chapters of organizations like the American Red Cross and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).
These groups can provide valuable training, resources, and coordination during response and recovery efforts.
3. Share local knowledge and resources
Help assess vulnerabilities: First responders may not have specific knowledge of every street or neighborhood. Community members can provide critical local insights, such as where vulnerable populations live, the best evacuation routes for a specific area, and potential flooding spots.
Map community assets: Identify local businesses, skilled volunteers, and community gathering places that can serve as temporary shelters or supply hubs. Share this inventory of local resources with emergency services to enhance their response capabilities.
4. Align community plans with official strategies
Integrate emergency operations: Work with emergency management agencies to ensure your community's plan is coordinated and does not conflict with the official county-wide disaster management strategy.
Conduct joint training and exercises: Participate in drills and exercises with first responders. These activities ensure everyone understands their roles, improves communication, and helps identify and fix any weaknesses in the plan.
5. Educate and engage the public
Disseminate information: After collaborating with emergency services, help distribute educational materials and preparedness tips to your neighbors. This increases public awareness and strengthens the community's overall resilience.
Promote awareness campaigns: Co-host events like safety fairs with emergency service personnel. This builds trust between residents and responders and promotes a culture of preparedness.
6. Consider the needs of all residents
Support vulnerable populations: Help emergency services identify and plan for assisting residents with special needs, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and non-English speakers. In Florida, the Special Needs Registry links individuals with disabilities or medical needs to local emergency management.
Address mental health: Work with mental health experts to include post-disaster emotional support in your plans, as first responders may not have the capacity to address these needs.
During and After A Community Disaster
During and after a disaster, numerous community resources are available to provide support, including government aid, nonprofit assistance, and volunteer-based programs. These resources can help with financial needs, shelter, health services, and mental health support.
Federal resources
FEMA Individual Assistance: Provides grants to households and individuals for housing needs and other expenses after a presidential disaster declaration.
How to apply: Visit DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App, or call 1-800-621-3362.
Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loans: Offers low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, and businesses to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.
How to apply: Visit SBA.gov/disaster or call 1-800-659-2955. Disaster Distress Helpline: Offers immediate, confidential crisis counseling and support for disaster survivors.
How to contact: Call or text 1-800-985-5990.
USA.gov Disaster Assistance: Provides a central hub to find government assistance related to disaster recovery, including financial aid and medical support.
Nonprofit organizations
American Red Cross: Offers emergency services including mass care (shelter, food, and water), health and mental health services, and reunification services for families.
How to find help: Use the Red Cross website to find open shelters and service sites.
Convoy of Hope: Works with churches and other organizations to provide food, water, and emergency supplies to affected communities.
Team Rubicon: Uses the skills of military veterans and volunteers to provide disaster relief services such as debris removal, roof repairs, and damage assessments.
Local and community-based resources
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Trains local volunteers in disaster preparedness and basic response skills to assist their communities.
Disaster Resource Centers: In many communities, these multi-agency centers provide a one-stop-shop for a variety of recovery services.
Local food banks and shelters: These organizations provide food, water, and temporary housing. Their services are often expanded during a disaster.
Religious organizations and houses of worship: Many faith-based groups provide support services, including emotional support, food, and shelter.
Preparation and planning tools
Ready.gov: This Department of Homeland Security site offers information and checklists to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for disasters.
FEMA App: Provides weather alerts, safety tips, and disaster resources directly on your mobile device.
To find resources tailored to your location and specific needs, it is best to search for your local county's emergency management office or social services department, especially after a presidential disaster declaration has been made.
Disaster Management Involves
Utilizing Community Resources
Utilizing community resources in disaster management involves integrating local assets like businesses, community organizations, volunteers, and social services to enhance preparedness and response. This includes leveraging partnerships for supplies, communication, and shelter, engaging trained volunteers through programs like the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and building robust communication networks that involve all stakeholders. By pre-establishing relationships and identifying potential resources, communities can mount a more effective, timely, and resilient response to disasters.
Key community resources and their roles
Community organizations: Local chapters of national groups (e.g., Red Cross, United Way) and local coalitions like Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) can provide food, shelter, and medical supplies through established networks.
Local businesses: Businesses can supply essential products and services, help with recovery, and their tax contributions support local disaster relief.
Volunteers: Trained volunteers, such as those in CERT programs, can be the first line of response, providing immediate assistance and supporting official efforts.
Social and faith-based services: These organizations are critical for supporting the health, social, and behavioral needs of the community, both in normal times and during a crisis.
Individuals: Engaging at-risk individuals and promoting community-wide health and wellness initiatives strengthen the overall resilience of the community.
Strategies for effective utilization
Build relationships and networks: Develop and maintain relationships with community leaders, organizations, and businesses before a disaster strikes.
Formalize partnerships: Create local COADs or join existing ones to bring together various community resources for coordinated planning and response.
Train and organize volunteers: Support and utilize volunteer programs like CERT to train local citizens in basic disaster response skills.
Integrate into existing systems: Weave community engagement into existing processes like public health assessments and economic development planning to build resilience over time.
Improve communication: Establish clear communication channels between community groups, responders, and official agencies to avoid information gaps and ensure a timely response.
Conduct needs assessments: Use community-led needs assessments to understand the unique vulnerabilities and resources within a specific area.
Community Resources Are Crucial
Community resources are crucial for effective disaster management across all phases, from preparedness to recovery [1, 2, 3]. They include human resources (volunteers, leaders), material resources (local supplies), and institutional resources (local organizations) [4].
Preparedness
Capacity assessment and planning: Communities can assess their own vulnerabilities and resources to create effective, locally tailored disaster plans [1, 2].
Education and awareness: Local leaders and community organizations help raise awareness and educate residents on disaster risks and safety measures [1].
Hazard mapping: Community members can contribute local knowledge to create detailed maps of potential hazards and vulnerable areas [2].
Drills and training: Community-based disaster management (CBDM) programs facilitate regular drills and training exercises to improve readiness [1, 2].
Response
Immediate relief and aid: Community-based organizations (CBOs) and local volunteer groups can mobilize quickly to provide immediate relief, first aid, and search and rescue efforts [1, 3, 4].
Shelter and support: Local schools, places of worship, or community centers can be used as emergency shelters. CBOs and NGOs often assist in managing these shelters and providing essential supplies [1, 4].
Resource coordination: Local leaders and organizations can effectively coordinate the distribution of aid by leveraging their knowledge of the community and its immediate needs [1, 4].
Recovery
Long-term rebuilding: Community members are often the primary drivers of long-term recovery, participating in the rebuilding of homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods [1, 4].
Psychosocial support: Local community groups and volunteers play a vital role in providing social and emotional support to residents affected by the disaster [1, 4].
Restoration of services: Communities work with external organizations to restore essential services and help the community regain a sense of normalcy [1, 4].
Economic recovery: Local businesses and community organizations are essential for helping to restore the local economy following a disaster
Extension and other community developers can be the facilitators of community preparedness and response to a disaster. Such community developers can provide training at a variety of levels to facilitate such citizen involvement. For example, community development/civic engagement training should be the cornerstone of all community-based disaster response programs. Such training provided by Extension and other community development educators would provide an understanding and framework for including broad based local representation into long-term emergency response and other local efforts. These trainings should include skill development such as asset mapping, assessing local power structures, needs assessments, conflict resolution skills, management methods, and community profile development. Such training would also inform active citizens that their involvement is essential to local development well beyond times of disaster.
Similarly, more general grassroots mobilizations can plan for, respond to, and rebuild in the aftermath of disaster. Included would be active efforts to bring together diverse local groups, the formation of local groups for planning, establishment of formal long-term visioning and goal setting for disaster preparation/recovery, and recruitment of experienced local citizens to take direct action.
Similarly, the establishment of alliances between local groups could set the stage for a more effective sharing of resources and responsibilities during times of crisis. Such alliances can include the identification of organizations or individuals to serve as liaisons between local grassroots efforts and more formal structures (state and federal response organizations, military/national guard, emergency response agencies). Extension programming and training can be a valuable resource in facilitating all these activities and skills.
Ways Community Volunteers Can Help
An organized community and volunteer response can help in several ways before, during, and immediately after the occurrence of disasters. They can:
1. Coordinate a more successful evacuation and transportation effort.
2. Provide some structure and order instead of chaos.
3. Aid in organizing resources for distribution before and after disasters.
4. Decrease the isolation and sense of abandonment that quickly engulfs disaster victims in the affected areas; and
contribute to local connections and interaction that signals the development of community.
Local volunteers and community level action is essential to effective natural disaster preparation and response. They are particularly important because citizens are in many cases the first responders and have the greatest chance to save lives and provide support in the hours and days immediately after disaster occurrences. An effective community response diminishes some of the suffering and loss that occur during and after a disaster.
Community and volunteer coordinators have an obligation to help facilitate community organization and preparation to aid fellow citizens in times of such great need. The only thing that is certain in these times is that local residents will be the first people capable of responding.
In these disaster settings, local volunteers and community organizations are presented with an opportunity to make a measurable impact on local well-being. The quality and extent of this response may hold the key to minimizing disaster effects, maintaining order, increasing hope, and maximizing recovery efforts. And much of the effectiveness of the response depends on the preparedness and organization of the communities in advance of disasters.
In the end, facilitating local involvement in disaster preparedness and response is about far more than the provision of basic and logistical needs. It ensures that local voices and their leadership are heard, local struggles are recognized, and the dignity of local people is respected. With this capacity established, local citizens can respond and recover in a manner that improves local life. The response and rebuilding process will belong to the front line of disaster responders - community volunteers - who will reinvest in their communities.
Vital Human Resources for
Disaster Management
Vital human resources for disaster management span a wide range of expertise and are essential across all phases of a disaster.
Key Professional and Institutional Human Resources
Emergency Managers: Professionals responsible for overall planning, coordination, and execution of disaster management plans at local, state, and federal levels.
First Responders: This includes fire services, law enforcement, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS/paramedics), who are often the first on the scene for immediate life-saving actions, search and rescue, and providing initial aid.
Medical and Mental Health Professionals: Doctors, nurses, paramedics, and mental health counselors provide critical medical care, prevent disease outbreaks, and offer crucial psychological support to help individuals cope with trauma and stress during and after a crisis.
Public Works and Utility Personnel: Essential staff for restoring critical infrastructure like power, water, roads, and bridges, which is vital for both response and recovery efforts.
Logistics and Supply Chain Managers: Professionals who coordinate the transportation and distribution of essential supplies like food, water, medicine, and shelter materials to affected areas efficiently and promptly.
Human Resources (HR) Professionals: Play a critical role in pre-disaster planning, developing communication protocols, managing employee well-being, coordinating with external agencies, ensuring legal compliance, and aiding in workforce reintegration during recovery.
Policy Makers and Advocates: Work behind the scenes to shape disaster response strategies, secure funding, and develop policies that enhance disaster preparedness and resilience.
Public Information Officers (PIOs): Responsible for transparent and timely communication with the public, media, and stakeholders to provide accurate information and reduce panic.
Community and Volunteer Human Resources
Trained Volunteers: Individuals trained in first aid, CPR, and search and rescue through programs like Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), who provide immediate, on-the-ground support.
Community Leaders: Trusted individuals who can effectively liaise between local communities and disaster relief organizations, ensuring efforts are culturally sensitive and meet specific local needs.
Faith-Based and Non-profit Organizations: Volunteers and staff from humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross, local charities, and religious groups that provide food, shelter, and support services.
General Public: Informed and prepared citizens who can protect themselves and their families, reducing the burden on official emergency services and contributing to community-wide resilience.
The effective utilization and coordination of these diverse human resources are essential for minimizing disruption, saving lives, and ensuring a smoother recovery process.
Disaster Plans Call for
Strong Local Leadership
Successful community disaster plans often involve a blend of strong local leadership, community-wide participation, and proactive risk reduction measures. Some notable examples include:
1. The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Program (USA)
Description: Initiated by the Los Angeles Fire Department and adopted by FEMA, this national program trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.
Success: CERT volunteers become valuable immediate resources in their communities, filling the gap when professional first responders are overwhelmed. Their actions have saved lives and significantly contributed to post-disaster stability in numerous events, including the aftermath of earthquakes and wildfires.
2. Seward, Alaska's Tsunami Preparedness Program
Description: Seward, a town with significant tsunami risk, developed a comprehensive, community-driven plan that includes a robust warning system, clear evacuation routes, designated safe zones, and ongoing public education.
Success: Regular drills ensure residents know exactly where to go and what to do. The plan is widely regarded as a model for coastal communities, emphasizing clear communication and frequent practice, which are key to rapid evacuation.
3. Coastal Communities in Bangladesh's Cyclone Preparedness Program
Description: Facing frequent devastating cyclones, communities in Bangladesh utilize a multi-pronged approach involving an extensive network of cyclone shelters, early warning systems, and trained local volunteers who disseminate warnings and assist with evacuations.
Success: This community-based system has dramatically reduced the death toll from cyclones over the decades. The 2007 Cyclone Sidr, while devastating, resulted in far fewer deaths than previous storms of similar magnitude due to the effective implementation of these preparedness measures and strong community mobilization.
4. FEMA's Project Impact (Defunct, but influential model)
Description: Although a federal initiative, its success came from empowering local communities to build disaster-resistant communities by encouraging partnerships between government, businesses, and citizens to undertake preventative measures (e.g., retrofitting buildings, updating building codes).
Success: The program demonstrated that investing in mitigation efforts before a disaster saves lives and significantly reduces economic costs during recovery. Communities that participated experienced substantially lower damage during subsequent events.
5. Kerala, India's Flood Response (2018)
Description: During a massive flood event, the state utilized a highly coordinated effort involving official disaster response forces alongside an extensive network of community volunteers, including local fishermen, who used their own boats to rescue thousands of stranded people.
Success: The immediate, informal, but highly effective community response, facilitated by social media for coordination, was instrumental in the large-scale rescue operations, showcasing the power of leveraging local human resources in a crisis.
These examples highlight the importance of empowering residents, using local knowledge and resources, and conducting regular training to ensure plans are effective when disaster strikes.
Several communities have implemented successful disaster plans, often characterized by strong local engagement, tailored strategies, and continuous improvement based on experience.
Key examples include:
Odisha, India (Cyclone Preparedness)
Odisha has been recognized as a global success story for its ability to minimize casualties from severe cyclones. Key elements of their approach include:
Mass Evacuation: They have successfully evacuated over a million people before major cyclones by utilizing a robust early warning system and extensive network of over 800 multi-purpose cyclone shelters designed to withstand high winds and flooding.
Community-Based Teams: Trained local volunteers (Disaster Management Teams) play a crucial role in the last-mile connectivity, helping with evacuation, providing first aid, and managing shelters. This local expertise ensures the plan is effective at the grassroots level.
Hunters Point, Florida (Hurricane Resilience)
This community serves as a blueprint for hurricane-resilient development through forward-looking construction practices.
Resilient Infrastructure: Homes are built with hurricane-resistant materials, elevated above flood codes, and are "net-zero" with systems that ensure continued operation during a storm.
Proven Success: During the 2024 hurricanes Helene and Milton, homes in Hunters Point remained powered and undamaged, demonstrating the effectiveness of pre-disaster mitigation and design.
Portland, Oregon (Neighborhood Emergency Teams - NETs) Portland's Bureau of Emergency Management's Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) program empowers residents to be the first line of response.
Citizen Training: The program trains community members in basic first aid, search and rescue, and disaster communication.
Localized Response: Because external help may be delayed after a major disaster, these trained local teams can rapidly mobilize to provide immediate assistance within their neighborhoods.
Kangaroo Valley, Australia (Bushfire-Ready Neighborhoods)
Following devastating bushfires, this community developed a proactive, community-led resilience initiative.
Risk Mitigation: Residents participated in creating a local preparedness map showing water sources, assets, and hazards.
Shared Responsibility: The plan emphasizes a collaborative approach where neighbors work together to prepare properties and support each other, reducing the overall risk and impact of fires.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) - U.S. Nationwide FEMA's CERT program is a successful national initiative that trains volunteers to assist their communities in a disaster.
Practical Skills: Volunteers learn skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations.
Local Implementation: The program allows for local adaptation to address community-specific hazards, empowering residents to take ownership of their safety and recovery.
In many communities across America, a variety of groups with outstanding leadership exist with diverse skills and abilities combined with personal and professional experiences that are essential to successful preparation and response to disasters.
Included are resident groups with needed professional and trade skills for damage control and assessment (engineers, environmental scientists, architects, contractors, and skilled laborers); disaster preparedness and response training (VFW, retired military/national guard/police); medical, psychological, and social service delivery experience (health practitioners, counselors, religious/civic groups); and longtime residents who have witnessed previous responses to natural disasters.
Effective community responses connect these diverse groups and develop action plans to meet common needs. Successfully linking local organizations, citizens, and leaders provides a strong network for local citizens and groups to become actively involved in local preparedness and response efforts. To be most effective, this process of capacity building must take place before disasters occur and continue during and after such catastrophic events.
Successful Community Mitigation Projects
Successful community disaster mitigation projects focus on proactive measures that reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards. Here are some notable examples:
1. Grand Forks, North Dakota – Flood Mitigation
Project: Following the devastating Red River flood of 1997, Grand Forks implemented a comprehensive $409 million flood control system. This included the construction of a permanent 4.5-mile flood levee/floodwall system, the addition of a second pumping station, and the conversion of a low-lying residential area into parkland.
Success: The investment paid off significantly. The system successfully protected the city during the 2009 flood, a flow event 1.6 times greater than the 1997 flood, preventing an estimated $1.2 billion in potential damage.
2. Miami-Dade County, Florida – Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience
Project: The county is implementing a multi-faceted approach to combat sea-level rise and storm surge, including restoring coastal mangroves and wetlands, enhancing coral reefs, and elevating infrastructure. These "green" and "gray" infrastructure solutions provide natural barriers.
Success: These projects offer cost-effective, long-term protection compared to traditional engineered structures, absorbing wave energy, reducing erosion, and providing ecological benefits. They are vital for the long-term survival of the coastal region.
3. Seattle, Washington – Seismic Retrofitting
Project: Seattle initiated a program to seismically retrofit unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings, which are highly vulnerable to earthquake damage. The city mandates property owners to address these structural vulnerabilities.
Success: This ongoing mitigation effort is essential for public safety in a high-risk earthquake zone. By strengthening buildings, the project aims to prevent catastrophic collapses, reduce injuries and fatalities, and speed up community recovery after a major seismic event.
4. Boulder County, Colorado – Wildfire Mitigation and Land Use Planning
Project: Following major wildfires, Boulder County has implemented robust mitigation strategies, including defensible space programs, fire-resistant building codes, and community education on vegetation management. They also use prescribed burns and forest thinning.
Success: These efforts create safer communities by slowing the spread of wildfires, giving residents and first responders more time to react. The programs emphasize a shared responsibility between homeowners and land management agencies.
5. New Jersey – Post-Sandy Home Elevation
Project: Following Hurricane Sandy in 2012, numerous New Jersey communities in flood plains have participated in federal and state-funded programs to elevate thousands of homes to comply with new, higher Base Flood Elevations (BFEs).
Success: Elevated homes in these areas have proven far more resilient to subsequent flood events, significantly reducing repetitive losses, insurance claims, and the need for costly post-disaster aid.
Successful community disaster mitigation projects focus on reducing long-term risk and building resilience through a variety of structural and non-structural measures. Examples of successful initiatives include:
Flood Mitigation
Property Buyouts and Elevation: Communities such as those in the Ohio River flood plains have implemented programs to acquire and demolish properties in high-risk areas or help homeowners elevate their homes. This permanently removes residents and structures from harm's way, significantly reducing future damage and saving recovery costs.
Green Infrastructure and Floodplain Restoration: Projects in places like Miami-Dade County have used natural barriers, such as restoring wetlands and mangroves, which act as natural buffers against storm surge and absorb floodwaters. Other communities have created parks and green spaces designed to absorb floodwaters, which also provides community co-benefits like recreation.
Improved Drainage and Diversion: Cities like Grand Forks, North Dakota, have built extensive levee systems and flood diversion channels that have successfully protected communities from major flood events.
Wildfire Risk Reduction
Strategic Forest Thinning: The Salt River Project in Northern Arizona partnered with others to implement a Resilient Water and Forest Initiative, which involves strategically thinning high-risk forests. This reduces the severity of wildfires, protects the local water supply infrastructure, and leads to a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.
Using Livestock for Fuel Reduction: Some communities have utilized targeted grazing programs, often funded by FEMA, using goats and sheep to clear out dense, flammable vegetation (fuel reduction) in fire-prone areas, a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution.
Project Wildfire in Deschutes County, Oregon: This community-based initiative focuses on public education, home assessments, and physical mitigation work, encouraging residents to create defensible space around their homes and making them more "fire-wise".
Earthquake and Wind Hazard Mitigation
Building Code Enforcement and Retrofitting: Areas like California have implemented programs that mandate or incentivize seismic retrofitting of unreinforced masonry buildings and homes. Japan's strict seismic building codes have also proven highly effective in reducing damage and loss of life during earthquakes.
Hurricane-Resistant Construction: The community of Hunters Point in Cortez, Florida, serves as a model for resilient development. Homes were built above code with hurricane-resistant materials and elevated to mitigate flood risks. These homes remained undamaged during the 2024 hurricane season, proving the value of such construction.
Community Safe Rooms/Shelters: In tornado-prone areas, like Ohio, FEMA-funded safe rooms in communities and parks have provided critical shelter and saved lives during multiple tornado events.
Community-Based Disaster Programs in America and Around the World
Successful community-based disaster programs often focus on empowering residents with knowledge, establishing early warning systems, and building local capacity for self-sufficiency during a crisis.
Here are some other notable examples:
1. The Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) in Bangladesh
Description: Operating in a country highly vulnerable to cyclones, the CPP relies on a vast network of 55,000+ trained community volunteers and a strong infrastructure of over 4,000 multi-purpose shelters. Volunteers use megaphones and sirens to disseminate warnings and assist with mass evacuations when a cyclone is approaching.
Success: This program has dramatically reduced the death toll from cyclones over the decades. The effectiveness of this system was particularly evident during Cyclone Sidr in 2007, where the early warning and evacuation efforts saved thousands of lives.
2. Community-Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR) in the Philippines
Description: This approach involves a comprehensive cycle of risk assessment, planning, implementation, and monitoring led by the local community. It often focuses on addressing underlying vulnerabilities, such as food security, sustainable livelihoods, and access to basic services, in addition to direct disaster prep.
Success: Programs like the one implemented by the Center for Disaster Preparedness (CDP) have shown that communities can better withstand and recover from frequent typhoons and flooding by taking ownership of the entire process, leading to increased self-reliance and reduced dependency on external aid.
3. "Adopt-a-Building" Seismic Retrofit Program (e.g., in Seattle and Vancouver)
Description: This innovative program encourages communities and businesses in earthquake-prone areas to collectively "adopt" a vulnerable, unreinforced masonry building (URM) and raise funds for its seismic retrofitting. It combines public awareness with tangible action.
Success: It provides a scalable and community-driven approach to addressing a widespread structural vulnerability that governments often lack the resources to fix entirely. It fosters a sense of collective responsibility for public safety.
4. Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) in Vietnam
Description: Implemented in rural, flood-prone areas, these programs use simple, locally appropriate technology like rain gauges, river level markers, and community alert systems (bells, flags, or local radio) managed by trained community members.
Success: By providing timely and understandable information at the village level, these systems enable residents to evacuate livestock and property, and move people to safety before floodwaters arrive, minimizing economic losses and saving lives.
5. Neighborhood Emergency Teams (NETs) in Portland, Oregon
Description: Similar to CERT, the NET program trains citizens in essential disaster response skills. However, it specifically emphasizes neighborhood-level planning, including mapping local resources (e.g., people with medical skills, generators, safe houses) to be self-sufficient for up to two weeks post-disaster.
Success: This localized mapping and planning ensure that when official resources are overwhelmed following a major event like a Cascadia earthquake, neighborhoods can function as self-supporting units, providing immediate aid and support.
In addition to the aforementioned programs, a variety of other successful community-based initiatives exist, many of which are tailored to specific local hazards or needs:
1. "Do 1 Thing" (Lansing, Michigan)
Description: This program focuses on making emergency preparedness less daunting by breaking it down into small, manageable monthly steps. The campaign uses various communication channels to encourage individuals, families, and businesses to complete one action each month (e.g., getting a first aid kit, making an evacuation plan).
Success: This simple, incremental approach has successfully increased preparedness levels in the community by making the process accessible and less overwhelming.
2. Partners in Preparedness (New York City, NY)
Description: An initiative by the NYC Office of Emergency Management, this program engages private businesses, non-profits, and other non-governmental organizations in emergency planning. Members receive support and resources to develop continuity of operations plans and engage their employees in personal preparedness.
Success: By integrating the private sector into the overall city plan, the program has strengthened the city's overall resilience, ensuring essential services and business operations can resume more quickly after a large-scale event.
3. Community Resiliency Hubs (Various locations)
Description: These are trusted community facilities (like community centers or libraries) that provide resources and support services before, during, and after a disaster. They are often equipped with features like solar energy, battery storage, and communication tools, ensuring they remain operational during power outages.
Success: These hubs provide critical gathering spots, cooling centers during heatwaves, and access to essential services and communication, particularly for vulnerable populations, as demonstrated by their use during recent hurricanes and power outages.
4. The Independent Living Centers (Joplin, Missouri)
Description: Following the devastating 2011 tornado, this center focused on providing support tailored to people with disabilities. They helped coordinate aid, find accessible housing, and ensure individuals received the specific care and equipment they needed.
Success: This program highlighted the importance of inclusive disaster planning, ensuring that the needs of all community members, particularly vulnerable groups, are met during the response and recovery phases.
5. Indigenous/Tribal Community Programs
Description: Many tribal nations have developed their own culturally relevant disaster preparedness and response plans, often leveraging traditional knowledge and community-based social structures. For example, some tribal organizations focus on adapting national health programs to suit unique cultural needs, including caregiver support and senior services.
Success: These tailored approaches ensure that disaster management efforts are effective and appropriate for the specific cultural and social dynamics of the community, fostering greater trust and participation.
These programs illustrate the diversity of effective community-based approaches, from building social support networks to leveraging local businesses and addressing the specific needs of vulnerable populations.
Local officials, at the local, county, state and federal levels, in many cases have called on local citizens to volunteer their time, money, and sweat equity to address these massive natural disasters that all too often take place.
The routine threats from hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding, and other natural disasters to communities in the United States and elsewhere are well documented and many times predicted in advance. Given the unpredictable weather patterns increasing the probability of large natural disaster events, careful crisis and emergency planning strategies are required for every community.
These principles can also be applied to non-natural disaster situations, such as terrorism. When disasters do occur, citizen groups and coordinated efforts of local volunteers can respond to lessen the impacts and sometimes can build back a better community. Local residents can be and will be first responders.
Many communities are all too often caught off-guard due to a variety of preparedness levels when a disaster hits. The process of organizing local residents to act as first responders in a community must take place before, during, and after such catastrophic events occur for it to have maximum effectiveness.
Community Disaster Resilience Projects
Funding for community disaster resilience projects comes from a variety of sources, including federal, state, private, and international entities.
Federal Government
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants: FEMA offers several key Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants:
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): A primary source of funding that supports states, local communities, tribes, and territories in undertaking hazard mitigation projects, with a strong emphasis on upfront investment in resilience.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): Provides funding for projects to reduce or eliminate the risk of flood damage to buildings and structures insurable under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): Provides assistance to communities for mitigation measures after a Presidential major disaster declaration.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program: Provides flexible grants to help communities recover from presidentially declared disasters, focusing on long-term recovery, mitigation, and infrastructure restoration.
Other Federal Agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and Department of Agriculture (USDA): These agencies offer various grants and programs that can support resilient infrastructure projects, particularly in rural areas or related to specific sectors like water systems and transportation.
State and Local Governments
State-level Disaster Funds: Many states have dedicated funds or set aside a percentage of federal pass-through grants for local resilience initiatives.
Local Bonds and Tax Levies: Communities can vote on local bond measures or establish special tax districts to fund large-scale mitigation and resilience projects like levee construction or wildfire prevention.
Private Foundations and Non-Profits
Foundations:
The Rockefeller Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and various local community foundations: These organizations often provide grants focused on building health equity, social resilience, and community preparedness.
Non-Profit Organizations:
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and National Philanthropic Trust (NPT): They offer targeted grants for nature-based solutions and coastal resilience projects.
International Sources
The World Bank and United Nations (UN) Programs: For communities in developing countries, international bodies provide significant funding, technical assistance, and loans for disaster risk reduction projects.
Private Sector and Individuals
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funds: Large corporations often have grant programs or partner with non-profits to support community resilience projects.
Individual Donations and Crowdfunding: Especially after a disaster, communities rely heavily on donations through platforms like GoFundMe or established relief organizations for immediate recovery needs, some of which also support long-term rebuilding and resilience efforts.
Community disaster resilience projects are supported by a diverse mix of funding sources, including federal, state, and local government programs, as well as private foundations and local initiatives.
Federal Funding Sources
Federal grants are a primary source of funding, typically administered through state or territorial agencies:
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants: These programs provide funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses:
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): This pre-disaster mitigation program funds projects that proactively reduce risk, with a focus on infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and modern building codes.
Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): This funding becomes available after a presidentially declared disaster to help communities rebuild in a way that reduces future losses.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA): Specifically targets projects that reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to properties insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and Mitigation (CDBG-MIT): Provides flexible funding to communities recovering from disasters to aid long-term recovery and implement mitigation activities.
U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA): Offers grants to support economic recovery activities in areas with major disaster declarations, focusing on long-term recovery and economic transformation.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Modernized existing programs, such as the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs), to encourage investments in resilient water infrastructure through low-interest loans and technical assistance.
Department of Transportation (DOT): The PROTECT (Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation) program funds projects that improve the resilience of surface transportation infrastructure against extreme weather.
State and Local Funding
Taxes and Fees: Communities can use local mechanisms such as property or sales taxes, or fees for specific services, to generate revenue for resilience planning and projects.
Bonds and Loans: State and local governments can issue bonds or access revolving loan funds, such as the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund, to borrow money for long-term, capital-intensive projects.
State Programs: Many states have their own grant programs or can provide technical assistance to local communities, often leveraging federal funds.
Private and Non-Profit Funding
Private Foundations: Organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and community foundations offer grants for disaster relief, recovery, and long-term climate resilience initiatives.
Corporate Philanthropy: Many businesses align their philanthropic efforts with their values, providing direct financial contributions or engaging in public-private partnerships to support community resilience projects.
Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs): Large NGOs often have their own funding sources and provide support directly to local communities for specific projects.
Crowdfunding: Online platforms allow communities or local non-profits to raise funds directly from individuals for specific, compelling projects.
Communities often benefit from leveraging and layering these different funding sources to maximize resources and build comprehensive resilience plans.
In recent years, emphasis has been placed on the role of the community in disaster recovery, particularly on the importance of local knowledge, action, participation, and control in determining the nature of disaster response.
It is logical that the local community should be the first line of defense in preparing and responding in the event of disaster. Local residents and groups can best identify their immediate needs, coordinate preparations, supplement official response efforts, implement emergency response programs, and contribute to local decision making for future events. Similarly, local communities many times can provide a sense of connection and decrease the isolation and abandonment that is often felt among residents during times of disaster. Such capacity for providing community services does not always exist but can be cultivated and should be encouraged.
