Transcript Community Connections: Before and after a Disaster

Emergency Management, Long-Term
Recovery Organizations, YLD Hotline, and
other resources
Leslie N. Powell
June 2009
National Resources
 ABA/LSC/NLADA/probono.net co-sponsored disaster
website:
 www.disasterlegalaid.org
 National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters:
 www.nvoad.org
 Federal Emergency Management Agency
 www.fema.gov
State Resources
 Florida Emergency Management
www.floridadisaster.org
 Florida Legal Services Disaster Group
http://www.fladvocate.org/disaster/
 Florida Legal Services Disaster Manual
http://www.flabarfndn.org/resources/disastermanual/
Local Resources
 County/Regional Emergency Management
http://www.floridadisaster.org/County_EM/ASP/county.
asp
 American Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org/where/chapts.asp
 Long Term Recovery Organization
http://www.findflorida.org/files/LTRODirectory0408.pdf
 Local Bar Association
Defining a disaster
1) Governor declares disaster – defines areas and needs.
Advises FEMA/President of need for federal
assistance.
2) President determines whether federal assistance will
be granted and what kind.
3) Disaster Recovery Centers are activated (DRCs).
Why is this important?
Shelters open first
DRCs may not happen until a week or more after the
actual disaster. Shelters tend to be harder to access for
confidentiality/privacy reasons.
Most LTROs and/or ARC chapters provide volunteer
training and drills. Participate in these opportunities
to improve access to these entry points to inform the
community of their legal rights.
Legal Problems don’t come first
Response – Recovery – Mitigation
Remind the community, including long-time
community partners and media, that legal services will
be available when it is needed.
Brochures
Community Education
Readying staff for intake
Disaster Readiness as a Year-Round
Part of Your Community Outreach
 Who has mitigation funds in your area?
 Contractor education opportunities
 Who provides assistance to persons with disabilities?
 Special Needs Registration
 Legal Preparedness as part of financial stability
 Insurance education – forced-place insurance
 Title problems
 Education – McKinney-Vento protections if a child becomes
“homeless”
Special Needs Registration
 The Special Needs Registry: Individuals who may need
assistance during a disaster because of physical, mental, or
cognitive impairments; or because of sensory disabilities.
 - Pre-qualifies the individual for Special Needs shelters
 - Allows the individual to pre-authorize emergency responders to
enter their homes during search and rescue operations.
 Register through various community-based providers or the
emergency management office.
 www.floridadisaster.org/disability
LTROs – What do they do?
http://www.findflorida.org/files/ltro.pdf
 Create leadership and organization around recovery efforts
 Allow for receipt of various pots of mitigation and
rebuilding funds, and sometimes even for supportive
services
 May allow for transition of temporary housing
 Create combined effort for not just recovery, but
preparedness resources as well
LTRO Role in Affordable Housing
 Pre-disaster:
Can assist in identifying the stock of
affordable, low-income housing
 Post-disaster:
Can assist in determining what is left
and defining what is needed to restore affordable
housing to pre-disaster levels or better.
 CDBG funds – can help ensure these are used to
restore affordable housing
Pro Bono Initiatives
YLD Hotline: Referrals will likely be made
from these volunteers to legal
services programs.
Local YLD: Opportunities to provide
education to local attorneys who will
likely take referrals from the hotline
Who else?
Identify other attorneys who
specialize in areas needed after a
disaster (construction, insurance, etc.)
Conclusion
Your disaster plan will run more smoothly if making
these contacts and engaging with these agencies is a
part of it.