2018-19 Disasters

EDA is working with regional economic development districts to assist communities and businesses impacted by 2018-2019 disasters, including Hurricanes Michael and Florence, the Kilauea volcano, and the Midwestern floods. In November 2018, EDA deployed staff support under the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) to Tallahassee, FL, to lead economic recovery activities in the wake of Hurricane Michael and in 2019 EDA sent economic recovery teams to Nebraska and Missouri for on-the-ground support. Our Recovery Team will remain in Missouri through mid-March 2020. Please see an article about EDA’s work in MO, as well as the new MO Disaster Recovery Resources Guide (PDF), with tools and potential resources. EDA has made available $587 million for disaster recovery grants for communities experiencing economic distress or harm from Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, and of wildfires, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019.

2017 Disasters

EDA has made available $587 million for disaster recovery grants in communities experiencing economic distress or other economic harm resulting from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria and wildfires and other federally declared natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2017. EDA also has provided regions and communities on-the-ground Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF) assistance for 2017 disasters under the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF). For example, please see the Hurricane Harvey Long-Term Economic Recovery Workshops Report (PDF), a summary of seven economic recovery and resiliency workshops held in Florida, following Hurricane Irma (PDF), as well as the Recovery Support Strategy (PDF) produced by Federal Agencies and the State of Florida for Hurricane Irma; the Economic RSF Findings (PDF).

For information about Major Disaster Declarations for affected counties, please visit: www.fema.gov/disasters. For information about EDA disaster recovery activities, please contact: [email protected].

Disaster Assistance Resources and Other Information

EDA’s Regional Offices are working closely with Economic Development Districts (EDDs), Federal, state and local officials and other partners in areas impacted by natural disasters to accelerate economic recovery from the disaster. Contact the EDA Regional Office serving your state.

• Read EDA's Disaster Recovery Press Releases
• 2020 Disaster Assistance Brochure: Leading Economic Recovery in Disaster-Impacted Communities (PDF)

Contact the FEMA Helpline if you have questions about:

• The help offered by FEMA.
• How to apply for assistance.
• Information in your account.

Call 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Eastern Time, 7 days a week:

• 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362)
• TTY 1-800-462-7585
• 711 or VRS 1-800-621-3362

How to Register with FEMA:

• English (PDF)
• Spanish (PDF)

Additional disaster recovery information is available online: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/

Other Information

• State Emergency Management Agencies Directory:
• https://www.fema.gov/emergency-management-agencies
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD)
• NVOAD Telephone: (703) 778-5088

Overview

EDA has a long history of successfully supporting disaster recovery and resiliency efforts. EDA's role in disaster recovery is to facilitate the timely and effective delivery of Federal economic development assistance to support long-term community economic recovery planning and project implementation, redevelopment and resiliency. EDA is uniquely positioned to coordinate regional disaster recovery efforts in partnership with its extensive network of Economic Development Districts (EDDs), University Centers, institutions of higher education and other partners in designated impact areas. EDA has published the FY19 Disaster Supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity making $587 available to eligible grantees serving communities with a Presidentially declared major disaster in 2018, and Floods and Tornadoes in 2019. Funding to eligible parties for 2017 Presidentially Declared Disasters is also available. Information about major disaster declarations can be found on the FEMA website.

Economic Recovery Support Function

Executed in March 2011, Presidential Policy Directive (PPD)-8: National Preparedness directs all federal government departments and agencies to collaboratively design and implement “a systematic effort to keep the nation safe from harm and resilient when struck by hazards, such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism and pandemics.”

Under the direction of PPD-8, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) established the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) to facilitate coordinated interagency capacities across all disaster-related mission areas: Prevention, Protection, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.

The NDRF established six Recovery Support Functions (RSF) to facilitate interagency and intergovernmental “problem solving, improve access to resources, and foster coordination among State and Federal agencies, nongovernmental partners and stakeholders.” Each RSF is led by a Coordinating Agency, with direct assistance from primary and support agencies to execute the RSF mission. The 6 RSFs include:

• Community Planning and Capacity Building (PDF)
• Economic (PDF)
• Health and Social Services (PDF)
• Housing (PDF)
• Infrastructure Systems (PDF)
• Natural and Cultural Resources (PDF)

Each RSF is led by a Coordinating Agency, with direct assistance from primary and support agencies to execute the RSF mission. EDA serves as the Coordinating Agency for the Economic Recovery Support Function (RSF) on behalf of the Department of Commerce (DOC). In this capacity, EDA provides leadership, coordination and oversight for primary and support agencies, all of which share a role in the provision of grants, loans, training and other forms of assistance to support economic recovery efforts in disaster-impacted communities and regions.

Post-Disaster Economic Recovery Resources

The post-disaster economic recovery environment can be exceptionally challenging. EDA has captured the following resources that may be useful for disaster recovery managers both in preparation for and in response to catastrophic disaster scenarios.

EDA-Supported Disaster Recovery Tools

EDA partnered with the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) to produce a suite of economic recovery informational tools, which can be found at RestoreYourEconomy.org. Examples include:

• Leadership in Times of Crisis toolkit for resources and information, as well as links to recovery information.
• A webinar recording on prioritizing economic recovery after a major disaster features efforts after the Joplin tornado and Jefferson Parish’s recovery from Katrina.
• A webinar recording on securing capital for recovery and redevelopment is available for listening on RestoreYourEconomy.org.
• A webinar recording on building organizational capacity in rural areas features economic recovery efforts in communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill, and an EF-3 tornado.

EDA Disaster Resilience and Recovery Reports

• Economic Recovery Support Function Field Operations Manual, FEMA (in close collaboration with EDA), March 2019. This practical guide details the inner workings of interagency disaster recovery and tips for deployed personnel.
• The Hurricane Harvey Long-Term Economic Recovery Workshops Report, April-June, 2018 (PDF)
• Economic Resiliency Review for Colorado Following the Sept. 2013 Floods (PDF)
• Economic Resilience Strategy Report for Oklahoma Following the May 2013 Tornadoes (PDF)

Industry Sector-Specific Considerations

• Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, and Life Sciences (PDF)
• Advanced Manufacturing (PDF)
• Health Care (PDF)
• Financial Services (PDF)
• Leisure, Hospitality, and Retail Services (PDF)
• Information Technology (PDF)
• Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution (PDF)

Economic Data Tools and Resources

• How to Prepare for Natural Disasters: A Pre-Disaster Toolkit for Small- to Medium-Size Communities (Urban Waters Learning Network)
• U.S. Cluster Mapping Data Tools (PDF)
• EDA Stats America: Data and analysis tools to support regional competitiveness in a knowledge-based economy (PDF)
• Community Resilience Economic Decision Support Guide (EDG), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
• Regional Resilience Toolkit: 5 Steps to Build Large Scale Resilience to Natural Disasters, USEPA, FEMA, Association of Bay Area Governments, July 2019.
• The National Mitigation Framework – focused on resilience and reducing disaster risk
• FEMA Disaster Recovery Toolkits and Resource Guides
• Regional Resilience Report: National Association of Development Organizations (NADO), April 2012 (PDF)