Preparing Before Disaster Strikes: Steps your community can take
September 13, 2023 · Insights
September is National Preparedness Month – a month dedicated to promoting and raising awareness about the importance of emergency preparedness and encouraging individuals, families and communities to take proactive steps to be ready for natural disasters and other emergencies. One step private non-profits, state, tribal and local governments can take to prepare for these issues is to procure an on-call contract with a disaster recovery consultant to help respond to federally declared disasters. These contracts are vital for several reasons:
- Rapid Response: On-call contracts minimize recovery time by having response services on stand-by as major storms approach.
- Efficiency: Pre-arranged on-call contracts eliminate the need for time-consuming procurement processes during emergencies and establish pre-negotiated rates. Communities can swiftly deploy contractors to begin response efforts such as debris removal/hauling, debris monitoring and FEMA Public Assistance (PA) and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) management.
- Expertise: Federally funded recovery and mitigation projects can be complex and require specialized skills and policy knowledge. Procuring an on-call contract with GMC’s Disaster Recovery team will ensure your community has subject matter experts to manage your community’s recovery projects and maximize your federal and state reimbursement.
- FEMA Compliance: FEMA has specific procurement guidelines that must be followed in order to receive FEMA grants. Utilizing on-call contracts that comply with these guidelines will ensure that the contracted labor will be eligible for reimbursement.
Procuring on-call contracts for FEMA Public Assistance grant management is an essential planning step for disaster preparedness and recovery. These contracts enable governments to respond swiftly and efficiently to these issues, enhancing the safety and well-being of their communities while maximizing the chances of receiving FEMA reimbursement for eligible expenses to make the recovery process less daunting.
Reach out to GMC’s team of Disaster Recovery experts at disasterrecovery@gmcnetwork.com to discuss your community’s preparedness needs.
Robert Ramsey
Executive Vice President, Disaster Recovery
Tel: 770-952-2481
Email: robert.ramsey@gmcnetwork.com