Excellent new article in the Environmental Law Reporter. See: Superstorm Sandy at Five: Lessons on Law as Catalyst and Obstacle to Long-Term Recovery Following Catastrophic Disasters, by Donovan Finn and John Travis Marshall.

Note: The Diva has a copy of the full article and can share it with a limited number of people. Please email her with your request.

New, free ebook from the National Academy of Sciences: The State of Resilience; A Leadership Forum and Community Workshop:

See this CNN article: FEMA Shifts Focus to Local Governments for Disaster Preparedness.

Your comments are invited!

I have heard this call many times in past years.  I remain skeptical that localities and states that have suffered extreme damage can assume extra responsibilities for response and recovery.

New GAO Report: Emergency Management: Implementation of the Major Disaster Declaration Process for Federally Recognized Tribes

According to tribal officials GAO surveyed and interviewed, there are several factors they considered when deciding whether to make a direct request or to join a state’s request for a major disaster declaration. Key factors that tribes reported considering were the (1) importance of tribal sovereignty, (2) financial matters such as the timeliness with which they receive funds, (3) the level of support they anticipated receiving from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and (4) their own emergency management capacity. For example, survey results showed that tribal officials’ confidence in their capacity to manage the declaration was a key factor in determining whether to make a request directly. Specifically, various elements of emergency management capacity, as illustrated below, could affect tribes’ ability to manage a declaration.

This is not a new publication, but one worth noting:  FEMA P-1000, Safer, Stronger, Smarter: A Guide to Improving School Natural Hazard Safety (2017)