Disaster Recovery
March 2024, Resilience Workshop Planning Guide, NADO Research Foundation. The Guide assists Regional Development Organizations (RDOs) and Economic Development Districts (EDDs) to plan, coordinate and implement resilience workshops in their regions. Produced by the Economic Development District (EDD) Community of Practice, managed by the NADO Research Foundation (NADO RF) under a cooperative agreement with EDA, this resource walks readers through the steps of organizing workshops and features tips for creating valuable regional convenings including ensuring effective project implementation post-workshop. As natural disasters are becoming more frequent and devastating across the country, regions and communities can’t afford to not prepare and plan for future natural disasters, economic downturns, or other shocks to local economies and systems. Learn more about EDA supported Communities of Practice, including resources, peer networks and learning opportunities for economic development practitioners at: https://www.eda.gov/strategic-initiatives/communities-of-practice
March 2024 - EDA held meetings in Hamilton County, FL, to learn about the community’s recovery needs from Hurricane Idalia and to help support their efforts to become more resilient to future disasters.
To learn more about EDA’s work on the ground, helping communities recover from disasters and become more resilient, please see “Where We Work”. Please see the story on our recovery work in Florida, following Hurricane Ian. Please also read about EDA’s grant investment in North Carolina to help the state better prepare for disasters and become more climate resilient.
September 2023, “EDA’s Disaster Support is both Immediate and Long-Term,” EDA Blog Post
Please see here for FEMA assistance for Hawaii and Guam. Please see an update from the Small Business Administration on federal disaster loans available to Hawaii businesses and residents.
US Census data to assist disaster recovery from recent disasters
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 resilience. EDA is uniquely positioned to coordinate federal support for regional disaster recovery efforts in partnership with its extensive network of Economic Development Districts (EDDs), University Centers, and other stakeholders in designated impact areas. For more information on EDA’s work, please view our Disaster Recovery brochure (PDF).
Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF)
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.”
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 a total of six Recovery Support Functions (RSF) to facilitate interagency and inter-governmental “problem solving, improve access to resources, and foster coordination among State and Federal agencies, nongovernmental partners and stakeholders.
EDA serves as the Coordinating Agency for the Economic Recovery Support Function (ERSF) (PDF) 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. To assist interagency coordination, EDA established an Economic Recovery Working Group (PDF) of federal partners.