Why the disappointment? The reaction of readers to the offer of an in-depth index and summary of key recovery documents for the past 4 years was truly underwhelming.
The Diva writes this blog to informally provide educational material about the disaster recovery process. She is not a journalist and does not write to entertain readers or pass the time. This past week, the Diva spent a great deal of time and money to index 4 years of postings on this blog in order to have a lasting document useful to those with an ongoing interest in recovery.
The lack of interest is baffling, since the first index, completed last year, was quite popular and helped generate interest and donations for the blog. And it’s not as if there are many other sources of info on recovery; there are not.
So, considering the lack of response at the present time, I have to ask Why Do I Bother?
I welcome your comments.
Recovery Diva 
I understand your discouragement, but don’t give up!
Your blog (and the e-mail updates I receive) are a useful guide to what’s happening in the disaster recovery world and I read and refer to many of them. Yet, I must admit, there are also many I skip over. It can be overwhelming, this long rollcall of destruction and its aftermath. Sometimes we need a break–well I do–but it doesn’t mean the information you share isn’t important. I don’t know of anyone else who rounds up recovery information the way your blog does and I would miss it.
Dear DIva
I look forward to your blogs. Some are relevant and I look at the original source, some are far from my main interest (coastal concerns) and I skim your summary or check the headline. But, since joining about 15 months ago, I’ve been a keen follower. Thanks for the work — and I do know that it there is work involved in pulling your posts together..
Claire,
I haven’t even opened Friday’s emails yet, so please don’t be discouraged. I’m sure there are many that may be in the same boat as I am. More pressing details just at the present time. I really do find your blogs helpful, and as I start a new journey as a housing inspector, I’m sure I will be relying on you more and more.
Regards,
Donna
Claire,
Thank you for the index. I saved it on my computer, and plan to put copy to my flash drive, in my FEMA travel bag. Your articles have been extremely helpful to me. I am so glad to have this resource to available, and the links so accessible.
All the best,
Barbara
Thanks for writing. That is the idea — to have a resource that captures the best of the daily posts for the past 4 years. Otherwise, you never have what you need when you need it quickly.
Claire:-
Just got back from HI at noon yesterday, and got the email about the index today. As we all agree, you are a tremendous resource.
One of the reasons “recovery” doesn’t get the attention it deserves is that it doesn’t fit neatly into any bureaucratic schemes. Too many hands are needed around the bag. Personally, while I’m not wild about HUD being in “control” (well, sort of) after Sandy, I think recovery is a poor fit for FEMA. We’d all be better served if Commerce handled recovery. Recovery is redevelopment; Commerce handles development reasonably well.
I agree that it is not a good fit anywhere. Sadly, the economic and urban development aspects have not been well developed over the past decades. Commerce and its EDA could definitely have a more significant role.
I am sorry to hear you are frustrated. I am very grateful for your efforts. I too write a blog and know how much time and effort it takes. I am a graduate student and I know I speak for my fellow students when I say we appreciate the work you put in and you are an inspiration to many of us studying recovery.
Long long overdue is my many thanks to you Claire and others for your absolutely wonderful blog RECOVERY DIVA!
RECOVERY HAS LONG BEEN A STEPCHILD IN BOTH FEMA AND ACADEMIC CIRCLES IMO! You have filled that gap significantly. What is needed is a revision of the Robert T. Stafford Act. That original statute [Public Law 100-707] revised in part, superseded in part, and added to the DISASTER RELIEF ACT OF 1974 [Public Law 93-288]. That latter statute became law in May 1974 so is now over 40n years old.
What is needed is clearer distinctions in those statutes of technical and financial assistance. And better definitions. President Obama’s PD-8 provides definitions that should be included in the above statutes and perhaps to no one’s surprise the definitions in Title VI of the Stafford Act tracking back to the repealed Federal Civil Defense Act of 1950, as amended, [Public Law 920 of the 81st Congress] are more comprehensive than those in the Stafford Act, as amended.
One of the reasons RECOVERY remains a stepchild is that the Public Works Committees in the Congress has no real thought of disaster relief except as PUBLIC WORKS.
Given its all-hazards status in the federal system, the Stafford Act should contain a CIVIL DMESTIC CRISIS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM and Civil chain-of-command for civil crisis management where large-scale events threaten directly STATES AND THEIR LOCAL GOVERNEMENT, civil populations, and critical infrastructure whether public or private.
RECOVERY DIVA! PLEASE KEEP UP THE OUTSTANDING WORK ON YOUR BLOG. ITIS A GEM AND IRREPLACEABLE!
William R. Cumming
President
The VACATION LANE GROUP, INC.
Claire, I agree with the other commentators! Do not feel discouraged. Your info & links are very important!
I work in public health and while we have no cases of Ebola in our county we are heavily engaged in ensuring we are well prepared. Meetings are constant – airpirt, hospitals, clubs, our own incident management team. Then guidance pours in from CDC and the state. I used to have Thurs off but not now. Just received an email with attachments on a new Ebola Response Plan. Having to push to keep other routine projects moving forward. I appreciate the work you put in and have often found gems I can use. Right now though I don’t have much extra time.
Claire:
Please do not be discouraged! Your materials are critically important to those of us trying to do our little part create a safer more resilient world.
Due to other pressing commitments, I have not had a chance to look at the Index; but am mighty glad to know it is there.
You are truly a “National Treasure”!!
Very much agree with what Christopher Tingus & Dr. Tom say.
Please keep going.
Highest Regards!!!
Ed Thomas
Thank you for all your efforts and commitment in conveying such valuable information and keep many of us here on “Main Street USA” better informed! Your work is invaluable to the community and many of us encourage you to continue in your discipline and far many than you think look forward to your blog!
Thanks for your support. Sometimes I wonder if anyone is out there paying attention to the blog.
Claire
I, too, appreciate your work but I have not yet had time to download the index.
Claire, The new index is super! I only received it on November 6th, hardly enough time for folks to respond. My Program Manager at the FEMA EMI Leaders Academy, upon hearing about it from me, has forwarded a recommendation to our new course contractor to make it available to all Leaders Academy participants. I suspect they will contact you about how to rightly do this.
Again, the index is fantastic. It should generate support, given a little more time.
Best regards, Dr. Tom
Thanks Tom. I appreciate the support since I was feeling lonely and neglected here.
I guess my timing was the not the best, since the notice of the index got released on Friday.
Regards,
Claire