Disaster Resources

This page includes information about disaster management and planning resources that may assist tribes in addressing climate-related disasters.

Title Sort descending Year Organization Description Geography Website
Getting Ready in Indian Country: Emergency Preparedness and Response for Native American Cultural Resources 2010 National Institute for Conservation

Getting Ready in Indian Country is an invitation to consider emergency preparedness specifically for Native American interests. Developed with support from the National Park Service and the Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance of the Department of the Interior, this new initiative is intended to advance emergency preparedness, stimulate discussion, and inspire new projects for the care and protection of tribal heritage. This website features a brief report summarizing key issues, an inventory of disaster resources for cultural heritage, and a question list designed to help tribal archives and cultural centers maintain emergency preparedness.

National Link
Hazard Mitigation Assistance 2022 FEMA

This page provides general information on hazard mitigation and the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.

National Link
Inter Tribal Long Term Recovery Foundation 2019 NGO

The ITLTRF is a tribal non profit with a mission to strengthen and coordinate disaster services on tribal lands in Southern California. Their mission is to help American Indian people and Tribal Nations in California affected by wildfires and other disasters recover and become resilient.

Southwest, California Link
Land Use and Wildfire: A Review of Local Interactions and Teleconnections 2015 University of California, Berkeley

This study discusses, "the role of fire and fire risk as a driver of land use change, the ways land use changes impact drivers of fire, and suggest that the integration of land use teleconnections into the fire/land use discussion can help us better understand and manage the complex interactions between fire and land use". It discusses California's fire and land management systems and local planning endeavors.

California, American West Link
Mitigation Best Practices 2021 FEMA

Mitigation Best Practices are stories, articles or case studies about individuals, businesses or communities that undertook successful efforts to reduce or eliminate disaster risks. They demonstrate that disaster preparedness decreases repetitive losses, financial hardship and loss of life.

National Link
Mitigation for Tribal Governments 2020 FEMA

This 4-day course provides tribal representatives with an understanding of reducing potential losses from natural or other hazards using mitigation opportunities and techniques, examples of mitigation success stories, and an overview of available FEMA Mitigation Programs. Primary emphasis is on helping tribal emergency managers and planners identify mitigation planning requirements and identifying mitigation opportunities to protect their communities.

National Link
Mitigation Planning for Tribal Communities 2021 FEMA

This 6 hour course provides provide tribal officials, planners, emergency managers, and other partners with the information necessary to prepare and implement a Tribal hazard mitigation plan. The emphasis is on getting the right people to the table and working through the full planning process. There are no prerequisites required.

National Link
National Incident Management System (NIMS) Trainings 2018, 2019, 2020 FEMA

The FEMA Emergency Management Institute has independent study courses to teach about the Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS). Courses recommended to be taken for community disaster prevention and hazard mitigation include:ICS-100: Introduction to the Incident Command SystemICS-200: ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action IncidentsIS-700: National Incident Management System, An IntroductionIS-800: National Response Framework, An IntroductionMore advanced courses are available and may require an instructor.

National Link
Northwest Emergency Management Council 2022 NWTEMC

NWTEMC is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization that was initially formed in 2004 as a consortium of Tribes in the Northwest region of Washington State to help Tribes participate in Homeland Security and Emergency Management preparedness efforts. Currently the NWTEMC is composed of and serves Tribes in Washington, Oregon Idaho and Alaska for the purposes of information sharing and solidarity in dealing with homeland security/emergency management/public health issues as they pertain to Native Nations. NWTEMC's Charter and other Incorporation-related documents can be found on our About page. Please look around our website. We are constantly updating and enhancing it, so if you would like to see something added please let us know. If you have training events, meetings or other events, we will be glad to add them to our Calendar. If you would be interested in joining NWTEMC please send an e-mail to: info@nwtemc.org.

Washington, Northwest Link
Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters 2018 CDC

The right message at the right time from the right person can save lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Joint Information Center (JIC), as part of CDC’s Incident Management System (IMS), developed a key messages document while activated for the 2017 hurricane season response. The 2017 Hurricane Response Key Messages served as a tool to communicate critical health messages and response updates to partners. The JIC worked with CDC subject matter experts to develop key messages that addressed emerging challenges, including food safety, carbon monoxide poisoning, waterborne diseases, and mold. Having an accessible, online document provided jurisdictions with the most up-to-date science to communicate accurately and effectively about exposure and health risks—as well as protective measures—associated with hurricanes and flooding. After the hurricane response, CDC expanded the scope of the key messages document to include messages on preparedness, safety, and recovery. The purpose of the Preparedness and Safety Messaging for Hurricanes, Flooding, and Similar Disasters is to provide a preparedness and response resource for all jurisdictions. Jurisdictions can add the preparedness and safety messaging document as a resource to their communication plans that address hazards expected from extreme weather involving strong wind and high water, like hurricanes and floods.

National Link
Projected Sea Level Rise in Washington State: A 2018 Assessment 2018 Washington Coastal Resilience Project (WCRP)

The Washington Coastal Resilience Project (WCRP) is a three-year effort to rapidly increase the state’s capacity to prepare for coastal hazards, such as flooding and erosion, that are related to sea level rise. The project will improve risk projections, provide better guidance for land use planners and strengthen capital investment programs for coastal restoration and infrastructure.

One of the objectives of the WCRP is to develop an updated assessment of projected sea level change for coastal Washington State and its relationship to coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion. Washington State has two previous assessments of sea level rise; one published in 2012 by the National Academies of Science (NRC, 2012), and another in 2008 (Mote et al., 2008). This report provides an updated set of sea level rise projections that incorporates the latest science, provides community-scale projections, and is designed for direct application to risk management and planning. Subsequent reports will describe new findings related to storm surge, waves, and efforts to integrate sea level rise in coastal planning and management.

Washignton State Link
Public Health Disaster Research in U.S. Territories, Tribal Areas, and Rural Communities 2022 Natural Hazards Center, CDC, National Science Foundation

Deadline passed. Most recent deadline: October 7, 2022. The Natural Hazards Center, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Science Foundation, is calling for proposals focused on studying public health preparedness, response, and resilience to disasters in inhabited U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, tribal areas, and rural communities across the United States. Proposals can focus on one location or offer comparisons across regions. Learn more including the steps to apply here.

National, International (US Territories) Link
Rapidly Assessing Social Characteristics of Drought Preparedness and Decision Making: A Guide for Practitioners 2022 USGS

This guide is intended to provide managers, decision makers, and other practitioners with advice on conducting a rapid assessment of the social dimensions of drought. Findings from a rapid assessment can provide key social context that may aid in decision making, such as when preparing a drought plan, allocating local drought resilience funding, or gathering the support of local agencies and organizations for collective action related to drought mitigation.

National Link
Recovering From a Natural Disaster in College 2021 AC Online

Be it a raging wildfire in California, a hurricane in New York or mass flooding in Texas, natural disasters are a fact of life. Between 2000 and 2012, worldwide natural disasters affected nearly three billion people and cost $1.7 trillion in damages. Figuring out what to do in the immediate aftermath of a disaster is a challenge for anyone, but students living away from home from the first time may feel particularly vulnerable. Click the link for more information.

International Link
Sendai Framework for Disaster Reduction 2019 United Nations (UN) Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

The Sendai Framework is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognizes that the State has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.

International Link
Small Community Emergency Response Plan (SCERP) 2022 Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management

The Small Community Emergency Response Plan (SCERP) is a quick reference guide for use before, during, and after an emergency or disaster. The SCERP contains checklists for critical actions at the local level, customized for, and by, your community. The SCERP contains important resource information including local, regional, state, and federal contact information. While this particular program is specific to Alaska, the SCERP could serve as a model for other communities to help prepare themselves in case of emergency. To access the SCERP toolkit guide, click here. To access trainings mentioned in the SCERP, click here.

Alaska Link
Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) 2022 EPA

SWMM-CAT allows users to evaluate climate change impacts on stormwater runoff volume and quality, and to explore how the application of various low-impact development (LID) options can be used to alter these hydrological parameters. SWMM provides a spatial and temporal analysis of runoff quality and quantity by dividing basins into multiple sub-catchment areas and analyzing runoff at different time steps. It covers a variety of different drivers that can cause runoff in urban areas, including rainfall, snowmelt, and groundwater percolation, among others, and also allows for mapping and modeling of different sub-catchment drainage system components, including pipes, channels, diversion structures, storage and treatment facilities, and natural channels.

National Link
Surging Seas: Risk Zone Map 2022 NOAA

Climate Central’s Surging Seas: Risk Zone map shows areas vulnerable to near-term flooding from different combinations of sea level rise, storm surge, tides, and tsunamis, or to permanent submersion by long-term sea level rise. Within the U.S., it incorporates the latest, high-resolution, high-accuracy lidar elevation data supplied by NOAA, displays points of interest, and contains layers displaying social vulnerability, population density, and property value. Outside the U.S., it utilizes satellite-based elevation data from NASA. It provides the ability to search by location name or postal code.

National Link
Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) 2015 USDA Forest Service

The Template for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Management Options (TACCIMO) integrates climate change science into land management and planning. This tool generates reports capturing and organizing information for a specific location and natural resource issue by synchronizing climate change literature with mapping tools and climate models. Learn more about this information delivery tool here.Please note, as of 9/16/22, the TACCIMO site is currently experiencing technical issues.

National Link
The Red Guide to Recovery: Native Edition 2012 TREMA Red Cross, Amerind

The Red Guide to Recovery – Native Edition was created to assist disaster survivors in Tribal communities by making available a single source of pertinent, easy to read disaster recovery information that will walk them step-by-step through the recovery process while raising awareness of the many pitfalls that may present themselves in post-disaster scenarios. - See more here.

National Link
Tribal Declaration and Disaster Assistance Resources 2022 FEMA

On January 29, 2013, President Obama signed the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act of 2013, which amended the Stafford Act. The Act included a provision to provide federally recognized Indian tribal governments the option to request a Presidential emergency or major disaster declaration independent of a state. Tribal governments may still choose to seek assistance, as they have historically, under a state declaration request. Below are some resources to help tribes understand the disaster declaration process, as well as the various disaster assistance programs they may receive. View Tribes with federal disaster declarations here.

National Link
Tribal Green Building Code Guidance: Tribal Green Building Ordinance, Code Language and References 2022 EPA

This Tribal Green Building Codes guidance provides examples of tribal green building ordinance and code language as well as code references.

National Link
U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit 2022 NOAA

A portal designed to support, educate, and enhance the development of information and tools to address climate risks.

National Link
United Nations Enable: Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Situations 2016 UN

Different populations may face similar risks of exposure to the negative effects of environmental and man-made disasters, but their actual vulnerability is dependent on their socio-economic conditions, civic and social empowerment, and access to mitigation and relief resources. Individuals with disabilities are disproportionately affected in disaster, emergency, and conflict situations due to inaccessible evacuation, response (including shelters, camps, and food distribution), and recovery efforts.

International Link
Urban Adaptation Assessment 2019 Kresge Foundation, Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative

The Urban Adaptation Assessment (UAA) is an interactive database funded by the Kresge Foundation and led by the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Initiative (ND-GAIN) that collates a rich dataset within a visual platform to give leaders the data they need to make decisions on how best to adapt and prepare. Encompassing data from over 270 cities within the United States, including all 50 states and Puerto Rico, whose populations are above 100,000, the UAA allows you to explore the connection between vulnerabilities to climate disasters, adaptive capacities, and how these are distributed within a city. Our easy-to-use tool gives you metrics to see your city’s risk and readiness in seconds. It also enables you to download extensive datasets, and examine which neighborhoods to focus your efforts. 

National Link
US Coastal Property at Risk from Rising Seas 2017 Union of Concerned Scientists

This national analysis, by the Union of Concerned Scientists, identifies the number of US homes at risk from chronic flooding over the coming decades due to sea level rise. It also shows the current property value, estimated population, and portion of the property tax base at risk. Information is available by state, community, and zip code. For this analysis, chronic flooding is defined to be flooding that occurs 26 times or more per year, a level of disruption also referred to as chronic inundation. Two time frames are featured. The first falls within the lifespan of a 30-year mortgage issued today. The second extends out to 2100, when more than 2.4 million of today's homes could be at risk. The challenges and choices that come with rising seas are profound and have significant implications for coastal residents, communities, and the broader economy. We explore these implications in the closing section.

US coastlines Link
USDA Disaster Resource Center 2022 USDA

Here you will you find information about specific disasters and emergencies, how to prepare, recover, and help build long-term resilience, as well as information about USDA assistance during disaster events.

National Link
Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) 2015 University of Southern Carolina and others

The Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) process supports planning by local decision makers concerned about coastal management and climate change vulnerability and adaptation.

National Link
Western Water Applications Office (WWAO) 2019 NASA

The mission of NASA’s Western Water Applications Office (WWAO) is to help solve important and pressing water-resource problems that the western United States faces today. To do this, WWAO equips water decision-makers with useful, accessible and sustained remote-sensing-based information. Read more about their work from NASA Western Water Application Office's 2019 Report here.

Western United States Link
What are? Measures of Fire Behavior; Fire Facts 2017 Northwest Fire Science Consortium

"Fire behavior can be characterized as the manner in which a fire reacts to the interaction of fuel, weather, and topography - the "fire behavior triangle." The four main parameters used to describe fire behavior include: rate of spread, fireline intensity, flame length, and flame height."

National Link