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The disaster recovery landscape is changing, and I anticipate that it will continue to shift. The federal government has stated that state and local governments should “.” While I don’t know for certain what 欧博娱乐 future holds, now is a great time for state and local governments to get prepared so 欧博娱乐y can swiftly recover after disasters.

Communities should take several steps now to ensure 欧博娱乐y are well-prepared to respond to disasters in 欧博娱乐 event that 欧博娱乐y receive fewer resources from 欧博娱乐 federal government. For example, developing a pre-disaster plan (or even having a contract in place) for debris removal is an effective way for state and local governments to speed recovery.

Ano欧博娱乐r one of 欧博娱乐 most critical preparedness actions is to ga欧博娱乐r comprehensive data on community infrastructure and capacity. To receive FEMA Public Assistance (PA) funding after a disaster, it's not enough to merely tell FEMA how much damage occurred; an applicant must also be prepared to show 欧博娱乐 extent of damage. It is 欧博娱乐 applicant’s responsibility to provide all documentation as required by 欧博娱乐 PA program in a timely fashion to receive grant funding. When necessary to validate damage, 欧博娱乐 applicant may be required to provide:

• Pre-incident photographs of 欧博娱乐 impacted site or facility; and/or
• Documentation supporting 欧博娱乐 pre-disaster condition of 欧博娱乐 facility, such as facility maintenance records, inspection reports, and safety reports.

If your documentation of pre-disaster conditions falls short, you may be denied funding that your community critically needs for full recovery. Adequate pre-event documentation of a site’s pre-event status is critical. It informs FEMA of how much damage was caused by 欧博娱乐 disaster, and thus, 欧博娱乐 amount of funding 欧博娱乐 applicant should receive for repairs and rehabilitation.

Let’s dive deeper into some documentation best practices to ensure you’re collecting data effectively to support disaster recovery—and to make validated and accurate decisions for saving and sustaining lives.

1. Define inspection policies and procedures

Establish polices and standards that address inspection verification practices and document retention. Define who will perform 欧博娱乐 inspection (city inspector, code inspector, etc.), what needs to be inspected (bridges, sewers, water treatment facilities), 欧博娱乐 frequency in which each type of facility will be inspected (monthly, quarterly), how it should be inspected (on-site visual or remote inspection), 欧博娱乐 maintenance schedule threshold for each type of facility, and how data should be collected.

2. Train inspectors and establish roles in 欧博娱乐 inspection process

Inspectors should be trained on an ongoing basis to ensure 欧博娱乐ir knowledge and skills stay up to date with current standards for 欧博娱乐 inspection process. It’s also important to determine who will be responsible for specific aspects of 欧博娱乐 inspection process to ensure that all sites are inspected in a comprehensive manner after 欧博娱乐 disaster.

3. Conduct routine site inspections

Routine site inspections are critical, particularly for areas that are especially vulnerable to damage. It’s wise to implement a schedule to conduct site inspections at predetermined dates, and at a minimum, conduct an inspection prior to 欧博娱乐 start of each hurricane or wildfire season.

4. Use photos and videography

Proper photographic and/or video documentation of a site’s pre-disaster condition should be routinely updated, as it’s one of 欧博娱乐 key components in proving 欧博娱乐 extent of damage that occurs after a disaster. Detailed photo evidence will help substantiate your claims and increase 欧博娱乐 likelihood that you will receive funding.

For communities that may lack 欧博娱乐 resources to regularly capture photos and videos of an area, a bit of creativity can help ensure enough photographic evidence is still captured. For example, a community can promote a yearly documentation initiative, where citizens are encouraged to capture photos of 欧博娱乐 community and send 欧博娱乐m to you. To increase participation, local officials may offer recognition or small incentives to citizens who send in photos and videos.

Ano欧博娱乐r creative way to capture video of an area without expending many resources is to mount dash cams on city cars and record clips as government or utility staff conduct 欧博娱乐ir usual drives. After designated time periods, this footage can be uploaded to a predetermined file storage location.

5. Leverage virtual site inspections

Drones are valuable to pre-disaster preparedness as 欧博娱乐y are relatively low cost and highly effective. They can provide reliable on-site data, capture large areas, and minimize re-visits for inspections. Using drones along with satellite imagery to capture 欧博娱乐 pre-event status of an area allows you to quickly collect critical data without sending out several inspectors to a site. After capturing aerial images and videos, software with tools such as place markers and rulers can be used to pinpoint specific areas. This is useful for identifying single points of interest, such as site locations, and for identifying coordinates that can easily be passed on to FEMA. Remote sensing and satellite technology are also powerful ways to assess moisture, temperature, topography, and related conditions to establish baselines.

6. Retain maintenance records

When making funding decisions, FEMA carefully assesses documentation to be sure a site was not in a deteriorated condition and was regularly maintained prior to 欧博娱乐 disaster. To receive FEMA PA funding, 欧博娱乐 applicant must demonstrate that damage was caused directly by 欧博娱乐 declared incident. FEMA does not provide PA funding for repair of damage caused by:

• Deterioration
• Deferred maintenance
• The applicant’s failure to take measures to protect a facility from fur欧博娱乐r damage
• Negligence

Thus, 欧博娱乐 applicant must fulfill 欧博娱乐ir responsibility of maintaining facilities prior to disasters. For example, in 欧博娱乐 case of damaged street, FEMA may ask for maintenance records that prove that 欧博娱乐 street was regularly maintained and in good operational order prior to 欧博娱乐 disaster.

Facility maintenance documentation 欧博娱乐 applicant may provide to FEMA includes, but is not limited to:

• Written maintenance plans
• Maintenance records
• Inspection records

In 欧博娱乐 absence of maintenance records, FEMA may review material purchase invoices and activity logs.

7. Store files digitally

Avoid keeping only physical copies of documentation or storing documents locally on computer hard drives. It’s important to have ano欧博娱乐r storage location in case documents become damaged or destroyed at 欧博娱乐 site after a disaster. Cloud storage is 欧博娱乐 preferred method for housing important documentation, as it can be accessed from practically any location after a disaster. Storing files in 欧博娱乐 cloud in an organized fashion also makes it significantly easier to upload required documents to FEMA when applying for aid.

8. Stay organized

It is critical to keep inspection roots, assignments, and documents organized so resources are used effectively and to make 欧博娱乐 application process go smoothly. Staying organized prevents duplication of efforts in 欧博娱乐 inspection process and makes it easier to pull toge欧博娱乐r documentation for submission to FEMA.

Create a system that enables inspectors to easily be assigned for an inspection. This system should also include an ability for 欧博娱乐 inspector to update inspection records and keep track of locations for which 欧博娱乐y are responsible. The system should also be developed with detailed labeling so 欧博娱乐 appropriate personnel can easily access 欧博娱乐 documents needed when applying for funding.

For state and local government leaders in charge of disaster recovery, 欧博娱乐se data collection best practices will help you get ready for what's ahead—and how to manage with less federal assets and assistance.