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Overlapping environmental disasters put a strain on Gulf communities.

Recovery planning requires substantial analysis and public debate of difficult tradeoffs as decisions are made about how to encourage economic stabilization and development, how to sustain cleanup and restoration of natural systems, what cost-effective hazard mitigation strategies to implement, and how to ensure equitable and just solutions for even the most vulnerable members of affected communities. Recovery efforts need to be carefully sequenced to avoid bottlenecks, enhance efficiency, minimize frustration, and build communities more able to withstand future disasters.

I just read about this organization, which seems to be modeled after the Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters. This organization serves a limited area, but it sounds like an interesting model. See: Tri-state Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD)

The Tri-State Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership-based organization that serves as the forum where organizations from the Southeast Indiana-Northern Kentucky-Southwest Ohio Region share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle—preparation, response and recovery —to help disaster survivors and their communities.

Not-for-profit organizations eligible for membership include those having commitment and resources to meet the needs of people, without discrimination, affected by disaster. Local and regional government agencies having similar commitment and resources are encouraged to become affiliate members.

Natural disasters will be a priority for incoming governors. This article
covers discussion at the recent National Governors Association Conference: