Federal Emergency Management Agency

• Residents in communities hit by Hurricane Idalia, the Maui fires or other recent disasters have a long, tough journey ahead.
• I am a law professor who focuses on disaster recovery and preparedness and has created several legal clinics to assist survivors.

Declaring a disaster

• The level of damage will determine whether the president approves a major disaster declaration or simply an emergency declaration.
• That information is then used to determine the extent of the disaster, its impact on infrastructure and the type of aid needed in the request for a federal disaster declaration.
• Once the federal government issues an emergency or major disaster declaration, individuals can apply for disaster recovery funding.

Documenting the damage

• Amid the grief and the rush to find temporary housing and rebuild lives, it can be hard to focus on meticulously documenting what was lost and dealing with insurance.
• As soon as possible, disaster survivors should take photos of the damage and record every affected area of their property.
• That includes capturing details of damage to structures, personal belongings, vehicles and any medical equipment.
• FEMA recently amended its policy to also allow affidavits to prove ownership of homes passed down through generations, known as heirship property.

Finding disaster aid

• People generally have four options for aid: insurance coverage, FEMA benefits, community or nonprofit funding, and private funding, including loans.
• Disaster survivors must apply for their relevant insurance payouts before FEMA will pay benefits.
• The agency provides up to $41,000 for housing assistance after emergencies or disaster declarations.
• To cover the costs that go beyond FEMA’s limits, survivors may need to secure private loans or disaster loans, such as Small Business Administration disaster loans, to bridge the gap.

Community partnerships are crucial

• Amid the complexities of disaster recovery, the importance of community planning and collaboration cannot be overstated.
• These disaster recovery centers can be the cornerstone for long-term recovery groups that help a community both recover and build resilience.
• Five years after Hurricane Maria, community groups were still on the ground in Puerto Rico providing aid and resources to the local community.

• Constant and Associates, Inc. (CONSTANT) has been featured on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America's fastest growing companies.
• With three-year revenue growth of 181%, CONSTANT is thrilled to announce that we rank no.
• "We are honored to be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list," said Michelle Constant , Chief Executive Officer of CONSTANT.
• We are proud that the Inc. 5000 recognition reflects the hard work and passion of CONSTANT and the trust of our clients.

• PITTSBURGH , Aug. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International , a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that the firm has acquired Tidal Basin , a leading comprehensive emergency and disaster management consulting firm.
• Tidal Basin will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity and will complement Michael Baker's efforts to support the nation's recovery efforts and rebuild infrastructure to be safer and more resilient.
• "We are excited to welcome Tidal Basin as a sister company to Michael Baker.
• Michael Baker and Tidal Basin have a history of working together on projects throughout the country, including planning projects targeting wildfires in California and infrastructure projects in Colorado and New York.

• DES PLAINES, Ill., Aug. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year, extreme weather events impact millions of homeowners and business owners nationwide.
• The damage caused by these catastrophic natural events unfortunately provides an opportunity for dishonest contractors to victimize and defraud homeowners who suffer disaster-related damages.
• This is why the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is partnering with local, state, and national law enforcement and government agencies to provide tips to help consumers avoid getting scammed after a hurricane or tropical storm by dishonest contractors and scammers.
• Last year, insured catastrophic losses totaled more than $99 billion with five to ten percent, or upwards of $10 billion, lost to contractor fraud.