Disaster response and recovery for flooding in Texas
A strong storm struck Texas on July 4th, causing significant flooding, over 100 fatalities, and significant damage to infrastructure in and around Kerr, Travis, and Williamson Counties. Our thoughts are with communities and first responders suffering the impacts of the floods in Texas, including our colleagues and their families.
First steps after a disaster for local governments
1. Stabilize and assess situation
Immediately following the disaster, begin assessing damage to assets site-by-site. Understand the difference between immediate emergency repairs and permanent repairs. Document each respectively so repairs can later be reimbursed by federal agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
2. Activate contractors to assist
If you have pre-positioned contract(s), activate them making sure to document all actions and amendments, and ensure the work performed is within the scope of the contract. If you don’t, initiate an emergency procurement to cover immediate needs. Typical contractor services include: FEMA Public Assistance Program recovery services, debris removal, architectural and engineering contractor, and building stabilization/water extraction services.
3. Document everything
To shorten reimbursement timelines, have all documentation pulled together and ready. This includes documenting damage to each individual site including photography, video documentation with geolocation services enabled, detailed timesheets, and equipment hours.
Funds available for local governments (FEMA, HUD, and more)
- FEMA Public Assistance: Covers certain recovery costs for state, tribal, territorial, and local governments and some private nonprofits.
- HUD Disaster Resources: Information and immediate assistance for individuals, families, housing providers, and industry partners.
- USDA Disaster Resource Center: Information and assistance for communities, small businesses, farmers, and ranchers.
- State Resource Finder: Filter by state to find location-specific disaster declarations and available assistance.
Related pages
How to maintain compliance with disaster funding programs
- Understand federal regulations: Familiarize yourself with federal regulations governing disaster recovery, such as FEMA Public Assistance, HUD Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR), and the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200).
- Develop strong internal controls: Implement best practices for internal controls and financial management practices to monitor proper use of funds and compliance with program requirements.
- Subrecipient monitoring: Establish procedures for monitoring subrecipients to make sure that they meet all applicable requirements. This includes risk assessments, clear communication of terms and conditions, and maintaining accurate records.
- Training and communication: Provide training and clear communication to all stakeholders involved in the disaster recovery process to ensure they understand their roles and responsibilities.
- Regular audits and reviews: Conduct regular audits and reviews to identify and address any compliance issues promptly.
- Closeout procedures: Follow best practices for closing out grant programs, completing all documentation and maintaining compliance with federal requirements.
Our hearts are with the communities across Texas impacted by the recent flooding
As a company dedicated to disaster management and resilience, we know the road to recovery is long. And deeply personal. We have ICF team members on the ground and have launched an internal giving campaign to support local relief efforts. We're committed to helping however we can—as partners, neighbors, and members of the community.