Your Hurricane Disaster Management Team

The federal government allocates billions of dollars into programs designed to mitigate future damage and make public infrastructure more resilient. Mitigation programs such as the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program and the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) offer eligible applicants funding to protect their public infrastructure both before and after a disaster. However, mitigation opportunities and process improvements are constant efforts that take time to develop and implement. This session highlights common challenges that applicants face when attempting to gain access to these programs, best practices being implemented throughout the United States and Florida, and critical next steps that every applicant can take to better prepare for their chance to receive funding to mitigate their public infrastructure against disaster. Panelists will include subject matter experts from both the public and private sector. Join us for a discussion on the current mitigation outlook, what was noticeable in the past and what communities and experts see now, and where mitigation is going based on recent funding trends.

FEMA’s delivery of the Public Assistance program has undergone significant modifications in the past few years.  With changes such as the introduction of the PAAPG, the FEMA Grant’s Portal, the 428 Alternative Grant’s program and the streamlined grant application to name just a few, it has become increasingly more difficult for potential applicants to stay informed and abreast of recent changes, changes that could significantly impact their agency, municipality, or PnP’s ability to completely recover from a declared event. This presentation will provide the attendees with a basic background in the PA program, an overview of current trends in the delivery of the program, as well as alerting to some potential “pitfalls” or missteps that could hinder a full financial recovery.  Important topics such as proper procurement, eligibility, and adequate documentation will also be covered to highlight the issues that could lead to a de-obligation of a grant or subsequent negative audit finding.

Developing a thorough and objective After-Action Report and Improvement Plan (AAR/IP) is incredibly important. However, that is just the first step. Following up on action items contained in the improvement plan, creating a corrective action plan and program, and operationalizing these activities into all phases of emergency management ensures that a jurisdiction memorializes best practices and lessons learned.  Too often, these activities fall to the emergency manager after the AAR/IP has been developed; but it is a true team effort across all departments and offices.  Attendees can learn how to take the simplest to most complex IP tasks and understand how these are translated into real, sustainable projects leading to a more prepared community and enhance resilience.