NFSHW26: More than FEMA: Building True Rural Disaster Resilience
Summary: This presentation is designed to shift the focus of agricultural and rural stakeholders from reliance on FEMA toward proactive, community-led disaster preparedness. By debunking the myth that disaster recovery is primarily a federal responsibility, the session introduces the “Chain of Recovery” framework, clarifying the roles of individuals and local and state leadership while demystifying FEMA’s legal constraints. The presentation emphasizes building local resilience through under-utilized resources—such as USDA programs, NGO support, and peer-to-peer networks—to equip attendees with actionable strategies for securing their communities long before a disaster strikes.
Intended Audience: Agricultural health/safety professionals, Extension staff, rural community leaders, and farmers.
Objectives: At the end of this webinar, participants will be able to….
- Reframe Disaster Roles: Articulate why disaster recovery is a local, community-led process rather than a federal-dependent event and identify the failures inherent in the “Wait for FEMA” mindset.
- Navigate the “Chain of Recovery”: Demonstrate an understanding of the sequence of disaster declarations, including the legal responsibilities of local and state leaders in activating resources.
- Understand Legal Constraints: Explain the fundamental operations of FEMA under the Stafford Act, specifically distinguishing between federal capabilities and the limitations of their mandate.
- Utilize Rural-Specific Resources: Identify and categorize under-utilized support systems, including USDA assistance programs, local non-profits, and faith-based organizations that provide critical recovery support.
- Implement Local Resilience Strategies: Adopt a “connect to be protected” approach by identifying specific, actionable ways to build local peer-to-peer networks and engage community leadership before a disaster occurs.
Presenter: Ian Costello, MSEM, Keswick Village Community Resilience Coalition, Founder
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Continuing Education: The University of Cincinnati, Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Education and Research Center offers 1.0 contact hours for this activity. Upon completing the evaluation, learners will receive a certificate of completion. This course can meet continuing education requirements for a variety of professionals including: BGC criteria for IH/CIH professionals, BCSP criteria for safety professionals, CPH criteria for public health professionals. Please contact your accrediting agency regarding questions about receiving credits for this activity.
A special thank you to our NFSHW sponsors:
