Whole Community Post-Disaster Local Long Term Recovery

The effects of natural and manmade disasters have become more frequent, far-reaching, and widespread. As a result, preserving the safety, security, and prosperity of all parts of our society is becoming more challenging. Our nation’s traditional approach to managing the risks associated with these disasters relies heavily on the government. However, today’s changing reality is affecting all levels of government in their efforts to improve our resilience while grappling with the limitations of their capabilities. Even in small- and medium-sized disasters, which the government is generally effective at managing, significant access and service gaps still exist. In large-scale disasters or catastrophes, government resources and capabilities can be overwhelmed.

After a disaster has occurred there is often a time of confusion about how recovery happens. When a disaster affects a home it is hard for some people to plan a way back to their new “normal.” Insurance coverage, FEMA and other government assistance, in combination with personal resources and finances may not be enough to fully recover. An important concept for discussion is the idea of whole community which is a means by which residents, emergency management practitioners, organizational and community leaders, and government officials can collectively understand and assess the needs of their respective communities and determine the best ways to organize and strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests. By doing so, a more effective path to societal security and resilience is built. In a sense, whole community is a philosophical approach on how to think about conducting emergency management.

Mike Riedy and Matt Cedar will provide an overview of the four phases of emergency management: preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Next, will be an introduction of the concept of the local long-term recovery groups, how they can facilitate meeting the unmet needs of survivors when all other resources are exhausted, and why disaster case management is critical to that success. It will also include differences between community recovery and individual recovery and the different partners working from one or both arenas. Finally, suggest ways to support the long-term recovery group process, why financial contributions are best, why it is always needed most for rebuilds, and the importance of holding on to it for the long-term recovery phase of the disaster.

There are several documents that we can provide: Whole Community Approach to Emergency Management from FEMA, FEMA State of Disaster Philanthropy 2014-2016, and National VOAD Long Term Recovery Guide

Together we will address several questions, including:

• How do we collectively strategize and help prevent vulnerable populations from being worse off than before the disaster started?
• How do we help both communities and individual families fully recover and lead them to a brighter future?
• How can we learn from prior disasters of ways that foundations can maximize their impact on recovery efforts?

Meeting Details:

• Dial-In: Dial-in/log-in information will be provided upon registration.
• Eligibility: This program is appropriate for Philanthropy Northwest members, including state nonprofit associations. Non-member philanthropic institutions are also invited. This event is not open to public.

Agenda for May 2017 Call:

10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Introduction

• Round Robin – Who is on the call?
• Peer Updates

10:45 - 11:50 a.m.  Whole Community Post-Disaster Local Long Term Recovery

10:45 – 11:05 a.m. The 4 phases of emergency management: Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation

11:05 – 11:25 a.m. Long Term Recovery Groups / unmet needs / disaster case management

11:25 – 11:45 a.m. Long term recovery - why financial contributions are best

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Closing/Wrap-Up

Michael (Mike) Riedy, CEM currently holds the position as the regional Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) in the Recovery Division of FEMA Region X working specifically with each of the State VALs and State VOADs (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Prior to that he spent 3 years as the Operations Branch Director for the National Incident Management Assistance Team White working out of FEMA HQ. He also spent 5 years in the Mitigation Division working with local communities in implementing the NFIP (National Flood Insurance Program) floodplain management requirements. Mike also spent a short time in the Recovery Division of FEMA Region X in Individual Assistance, as the Mass Care Specialist. He has also been in leadership positions directing others in the management of both Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Programs in numerous disasters with the Washington State flooding, Alaska ice jam flooding, tornado outbreak in Southeast US, Joplin EF5 Tornado, Hurricane Irene, Virginia Earthquake, Tropical Storm Lee, Hurricane Isaac, Super Storm Sandy, Missouri flood, and the Great Flood of 2016 in Louisiana. He was also activated and worked out of the NRCC to support the Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Power Plant incident which included moving radiological air monitoring units throughout the pacific for situational awareness. He attained the Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification in 2012 through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). Mike also is an Emergency Management Professor with Edmonds Community College, Edmonds, WA where he teaches emergency management classes. He also earned his MA in Emergency and Disaster Management from American Military University.

Matthew (Matt) Cedar is currently a Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) in the Recovery Division with FEMA Region VIII working with Colorado, Montana, N. Dakota, S. Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. Matthew began getting involved in the disaster world by volunteering on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 while studying Philosophy & Earth Science at SUNY Oneonta.  He later joined the AmeriCorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team as a member, coordinating and leading volunteer crews for numerous floods, ice storms, tornadoes, hurricanes; responding to wildland fires, and participating in forestry conservation efforts in Missouri, Illinois, and Montana. After 2 years of service with AmeriCorps, Matthew was a volunteer recruiter & coordinator for the St. Louis City Department of Public Health and later he worked as a residence councilor for a group home for adults with developmental disabilities.  Matthew joined FEMA’s Reservist program in 2010 and served as FEMA’s Donations & Volunteer Management Specialist in NY for Hurricane Sandy.  After serving with the American Red Cross as a Community Recovery Specialist in Long Island, NY; Matt joined FEMA Region VIII as a Voluntary Agency Liaison, and has worked on recovery from the Colorado Floods of 2013, and federal disaster DR-4237-OST (Oglala Sioux Tribe) in Pine Ridge, South Dakota.

About FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is the Executive Branch agency responsible for coordinating the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror. FEMA works through strong public and private partnerships at the Federal, State, Tribal and local levels.

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