The Louisiana Association of Planning and Development Districts advocates and works on behalf of its member parishes and municipalities to improve communications and cooperation among Federal Agencies and state/local governments in Post Disaster Economic Recovery. Communication vehicles between different federal agencies and between different levels of government need to be improved, particularly when the local community is receiving federal assistance from multiple agencies. Government agencies often need to improve its efforts of standing operating procedures. This is particularly true in the case of a catastrophe, where communications, collaborations and cooperation will go a long way in spurring recovery while ensuring government funds are used in an efficient manner. Local officials believe there could be improvement in the coordination of efforts on the ground between local, state and federal levels of government. Different levels of government need to understand the roles and responsibilities of one another. If we understand that disasters impact communities in unique ways and that local communities have different socio-political structures that will influence the effectiveness of recovery policies and programs, then local officials need to be at the negotiating table with federal/state government agencies at an early stage. Local input is critical in adjusting federal regulations to … Continue reading? →

IMCAL staff reviewed an existing Continuity of Operations Plan that can be referred to during time of an emergency.  A written plan was then constructed as a framework or template for other planning districts to follow.  It provides a working model for operations, responsibilities, and tasks, and provides a plan of action, assessment, and organization. The template plan when adopted by the planning districts will help to mitigated the negative impacts of preparing, responding, and recovering from a wide variety of disasters… Continue reading? →