Deb Ingram, Assistant Administrator, Recovery
In the wake of this year’s deadly tornadoes, storms and flooding, we’re working diligently with a wide array of partner agencies and organizations to support communities recently impacted by disasters (such as Joplin, Mo., Smithville, Miss.; and Cordova, Ala. as well as many others) as they work down the path towards long term recovery and reconstruction. With these thoughts in mind, this week, FEMA hosted a Sustainable Communities Workshop – A Peer-to-Peer Discussion on Recovery in Greensburg, Kansas.
See Video summary of the workshop http://blog.fema.gov/2011/07/video-strengthening-relationships-for.html
Friday, July 1, 2011
Smithville recovery effort is a long term project
SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) - It will go down as a true learning experience for Smithville's mayor and town officials. Touring and learning about Greensburg, Kansas.
That town has a lot in common with Smithville.
While touring the town they were able to get a better understanding of how to rebuild, recover and avoid certain hazards.
"We learned up there even as tragic as it was, the tornado created opportunities," says Gregg Kennedy, Mayor of Smithville. "It's up to us to explore and take advantage of these opportunities that we have."
More...
That town has a lot in common with Smithville.
While touring the town they were able to get a better understanding of how to rebuild, recover and avoid certain hazards.
"We learned up there even as tragic as it was, the tornado created opportunities," says Gregg Kennedy, Mayor of Smithville. "It's up to us to explore and take advantage of these opportunities that we have."
More...
Officials hope to form community group to draw recovery map
A steering committee could be formed today to establish a framework for planning a recovery road map for the 30 percent of Joplin that was wiped away by the May 22 tornado.
In a statement released Wednesday, the city said the “process will integrate a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and volunteers supporting recovery planning, comprehensive planning and economic development strategies.”
Community participation will be a key component. Residents’ views will be sought in public meetings that should begin in mid-July.
A session to organize the public meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. today at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a framework that FEMA has used, beginning with Greensburg,” said Rob O’Brian, president of the chamber, referring to the Kansas town that was decimated by an EF-5 tornado in 2007. “You set up a broad-based advisory group and get them organized. Then you begin the sessions to generate citizen input and involvement.”
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In a statement released Wednesday, the city said the “process will integrate a multi-disciplinary team of professionals and volunteers supporting recovery planning, comprehensive planning and economic development strategies.”
Community participation will be a key component. Residents’ views will be sought in public meetings that should begin in mid-July.
A session to organize the public meetings will take place at 5:30 p.m. today at the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s a framework that FEMA has used, beginning with Greensburg,” said Rob O’Brian, president of the chamber, referring to the Kansas town that was decimated by an EF-5 tornado in 2007. “You set up a broad-based advisory group and get them organized. Then you begin the sessions to generate citizen input and involvement.”
More...
Hackleburg, AL | Tornado-ravaged town starts thinking about world to come
Published: Friday, July 1, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
HACKLEBURG - Hackleburg residents held the first of four planned meetings Thursday night to envision what the town will look like after it is rebuilt from the destruction wrought by the April 27 tornado.
The community planning session was something out of the realm of most residents who have little expertise in city planning. But the process will be used to guide the rebuilding of Hackleburg and could affect the community for decades to come.
Before the process could begin, however, one irate Hackleburg resident wasn’t convinced to start the future recovery.
More...http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110701/news/110639985
Before the process could begin, however, one irate Hackleburg resident wasn’t convinced to start the future recovery.
More...http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20110701/news/110639985
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Leaders from tornado-hit towns getting lessons from Greensburg
June 29th, 2011 | GREENSBURG, Kansas (KSN) – A FEMA-sponsored workshop brought together city leaders from communities in five states to Greensburg to compare notes on tornado recovery after one of the most active tornado seasons on record.
“This conference is giving us a chance to not only view the devastation that has transpired here in Greensburg but in four short years how they have come back,” said Gary Box with the Joplin Chamber of Commerce...
Abby Attoun, guest columnist: Planning should be led by residents, businesses
June 25th, Joplin Globe
With the tornado that demolished a third of the community now more than a month in the past, Joplin must look to the future.
The way the city rebuilds today will affect not only current residents but residents for generations to come. Joplin will never be the same. There will be families who decide not to rebuild and businesses that never reopen, but with vision and sound city planning Joplin can lay the foundation for a vibrant future. This effort should be facilitated by trained city planners, but it should ultimately be led by residents, civic groups and business owners.
Read more...
With the tornado that demolished a third of the community now more than a month in the past, Joplin must look to the future.
The way the city rebuilds today will affect not only current residents but residents for generations to come. Joplin will never be the same. There will be families who decide not to rebuild and businesses that never reopen, but with vision and sound city planning Joplin can lay the foundation for a vibrant future. This effort should be facilitated by trained city planners, but it should ultimately be led by residents, civic groups and business owners.
Read more...
Duquesne - Corps awards $1 million temporary public facilities contract for school
JOPLIN, Mo. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today awarded a $1 million contract to Hunter Modular Construction Company Inc., a SBA certified, woman-owned, Hub-Zone small business, based out of Jonesburg, Mo., for modular facilities to be used as a temporary school.
Hospital head imparts advice to Tuscaloosa visitors
Before taking her Reading and Tuscaloosa guests on a tour of her new $19 million hospital, Kiowa County Memorial Hospital Administrator Mary Sweet gave a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the tornadic destruction of her former facility while imparting lessons learned from her rebuilding experience.
Sweet began by recalling the practicality that can only be learned by on-scene observation. ...
Funding sources are multiple…
Asked by Tuscaloosa’s Director of Planning, John McConnell, as to where the rest of the rebuilding funding came from, and whether design needs to take a back seat to functionality, Sweet responded that “going for LEED Platinum” increased the cost estimate by “about $800,000 which isn’t bad as a percentage of $19 million.”
Sweet went on to say, “We used insurance proceeds, help from FEMA and the State (Dept of Emergency Management) and donations but were still about $4.2 million short.”
She went on to say that remaining gap was met by a “50/50 funding from USDA (Rural Development) in that half was a grant and the other half a loan.”
Other lessons learned…
Sweet imparted several other tips for her Alabama visitors, such as:
>Don’t agree to arrangements with open-ended financial details…Sweet spoke of the being told a “tent hospital” was available to her shortly after the storm for $2.5 million. “I told the State we didn’t have that kind of money and they said, ‘Just take it and we’ll figure it out later,’” Sweet said. “Don’t make that mistake by being in too big a rush to get something in place. We had to go to modular units because you can’t control temp and humidity in a tent very well, so we couldn’t even run a lab there.”
FEMA Sponsors Sustainable Communities Workshop – a Peer-to-Peer Discussion on Recovery
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A Sustainable Communities Recovery Workshop will be held in Greensburg, Kansas June 28 and 29. Participants will discuss long-term recovery processes, projects, successes and challenges facing communities struck by severe weather events like the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri May 22.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Long-Term Community Recovery team will coordinate the peer-to-peer workshop.
Over the past few months a series of record tornadoes, including the Joplin, Missouri event, hit Midwest and southeast states and communities, resulting in major impacts to all sectors of community life - economic development, permanent housing and infrastructure.
"As devastating as disasters are, they provide an opportunity for a community to re-envision itself, address unique challenges, find inspiration and improve upon conditions that existed prior to the disaster," said Steve Castaner, Branch Chief of FEMA's LTCR team.
..."I'm excited about being able to network with other city, state and federal officials and understand experiences of other communities struck by disasters," said Jonathan Raiche, Planning / Community Development Specialist with the city of Joplin, Missouri.
Public’s repair ideas sought for tornado recovery Town hall meeting addresses rebuilding
TUSCALOOSA | The group tasked with creating a plan for Tuscaloosa’s recovery from the April tornadoes is ready to hear directly from the public.
Facts
Town hall meeting
Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force’s town hall will be at 6-8:30 p.m. today at the Bryant Conference Center. Residents are invited to offer input.
Shuttle buses will be available at three locations between 5 and
6:30 p.m. to take attendees to the meeting. The buses will return between 8 and 9:30 p.m.
The locations are:
-- Former Locklear Dodge site, 3200 10th Ave.
-- Leland Shopping Center, 10th Street East and 26th Avenue East
-- University Place Elementary School, 2000 First Ave.
Shuttle buses will be available at three locations between 5 and
6:30 p.m. to take attendees to the meeting. The buses will return between 8 and 9:30 p.m.
The locations are:
-- Former Locklear Dodge site, 3200 10th Ave.
-- Leland Shopping Center, 10th Street East and 26th Avenue East
-- University Place Elementary School, 2000 First Ave.
The Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force is hosting a town hall from 6-8:30 p.m. today at the Bryant Conference Center.
“The entire public is invited to attend,” said John McConnell, chairman of the task force and head of the city’s Department of Planning and Development Services.
Earlier this month, residents were asked to suggest ideas for rebuilding Tuscaloosa on the task force website,http://townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com.
HACKLEBURG Input sought on rebuilding town
Residents of Hackleburg are invited to bring their best ideas for rebuilding a safer, stronger community.
A public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church, 525 Walker Street. A dinner will be provided by the Salvation Army.
The Hackleburg Revitalization Advisory Council, partnering with FEMA’s Long-Term Community Recovery team, will host the workshop where residents can share ideas for a renewed Hackleburg — one that can withstand future storms, incorporate some of the best new ideas in construction and make the most of what the community has to offer.
Ideas and input are needed on a wide range of redevelopment projects, including downtown businesses, parks and schools.
All residents are encouraged to come and bring their thoughts about the future of the community. For more information, call Dave Cantrell of the advisory council at 205-395-1049.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Searching for answers and feedback- Smithville and 3 Other Communities to Visit Greensburg, Kansas
SMITHVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) — The mayors of three communities reeling from powerful tornadoes have received an invitation to tour a town in Kansas.
FEMA extended an offer to them so they can explore and learn how a town in the Midwest made its way back to a more prosperous lifestyle.
Smithville Mayor Gregg Kennedy is one of three mayors invited by FEMA to take a trip to Greensburg, Kan., on June 28 to see how that town has made a successful recovery from an EF-5 tornado.
"We're travelling up there with a FEMA crew just to look and see how they rebuilt," Kennedy said. "(We can see) how they do it and get some ideas, a blueprint, of how they went about rebuilding and restructuring their town."
FEMA extended an offer to them so they can explore and learn how a town in the Midwest made its way back to a more prosperous lifestyle.
Smithville Mayor Gregg Kennedy is one of three mayors invited by FEMA to take a trip to Greensburg, Kan., on June 28 to see how that town has made a successful recovery from an EF-5 tornado.
"We're travelling up there with a FEMA crew just to look and see how they rebuilt," Kennedy said. "(We can see) how they do it and get some ideas, a blueprint, of how they went about rebuilding and restructuring their town."
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Salvaging our forests: Alabama’s losses from April tornadoes estimated at more than $266 million and could get higher
June 25, 2011
April’s tornadoes mowed down miles of Alabama’s forest and timberland, like this area in Peterson. The Alabama Forestry Commission estimates losses from the April 15 and April 27 storms at more than 204,000 acres and more than $266 million
April’s tornadoes mowed down miles of Alabama’s forest and timberland, like this area in Peterson. The Alabama Forestry Commission estimates losses from the April 15 and April 27 storms at more than 204,000 acres and more than $266 million
(Reuters) - When community leaders in tornado-ravaged places such as Joplin, Mo., consider the future, they look to Greensburg, Kansas.
Destroyed by a powerful tornado on May 4, 2007, Greensburg is renowned for its rebirth as a community of sustainable living. The town has energy-saving buildings and landscaping at every turn, drawing curious public officials and tourists from around the world.
"Greensburg is certainly a great story," said Steve Castaner, a long-term recovery manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "It's a laboratory for how you can take advantage of opportunities to reinvent yourself."
Next week [on June 29th], FEMA will host a "sustainable communities workshop" in Greensburg, attended by people from Joplin and two southeast U.S. communities recently damaged by tornadoes. They will learn how to follow Greensburg's example. ...
...The visit by officials from Joplin and the communities of Smithville, Miss. and Cordova, Ala., comes on the heels of an earlier visit by a delegation from Tuscaloosa, Ala., heavily damaged by a recent tornado.
Greensburg City Councilwoman Erica Goodman said Greensburg is ready with a message of hope for other communities.
"We can't tell you want to do," Goodman said. "We can only tell you what we have done and hopefully you can take that home and start your recovery.
Read More...
Other Greensburg news and info
"Greensburg is certainly a great story," said Steve Castaner, a long-term recovery manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. "It's a laboratory for how you can take advantage of opportunities to reinvent yourself."
Next week [on June 29th], FEMA will host a "sustainable communities workshop" in Greensburg, attended by people from Joplin and two southeast U.S. communities recently damaged by tornadoes. They will learn how to follow Greensburg's example. ...
...The visit by officials from Joplin and the communities of Smithville, Miss. and Cordova, Ala., comes on the heels of an earlier visit by a delegation from Tuscaloosa, Ala., heavily damaged by a recent tornado.
Greensburg City Councilwoman Erica Goodman said Greensburg is ready with a message of hope for other communities.
"We can't tell you want to do," Goodman said. "We can only tell you what we have done and hopefully you can take that home and start your recovery.
Read More...
Other Greensburg news and info
Alabama tornadoes: Summit offers disaster help for businesses
The Birmingham Business Alliance, Charter Business and The Birmingham News are presenting a half-day business-to-business summit Monday June 27th, on the April tornadoes and disaster preparedness.
The "After The Storm: Small Business Recovery Summit" is scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel starting with registration at 11 a.m. Business owners directly impacted by the storm may attend at no cost, but must provide a FEMA number.
Read more...
The "After The Storm: Small Business Recovery Summit" is scheduled to take place at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel starting with registration at 11 a.m. Business owners directly impacted by the storm may attend at no cost, but must provide a FEMA number.
Read more...
Alabama tornadoes: American Institute of Architects to help rebuild Pratt City
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The American Institute of Architects has formally agreed to help lead the planning and rebuilding of Pratt City and other tornado-devastated areas of Birmingham, the first time the national organization has taken on a project in Alabama, Mayor William Bell announced Thursday.
Read more...
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Mayor asks citizens for input on rebuilding Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa residents, mark your calendar for next Thursday if you'd like to give your input on how the city should rebuild the tornado-stricken sections of T-town. Shuttle buses will be provided to allow storm survivors without transportation the chance to attend the public meeting. Mayor Maddox issued to following information about the upcoming Tuscaloosa Forward public workshop:
Tuscaloosa Forward will hold a public workshop on Thursday, June 30th, 2011 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm at the Bryant Conference Center, 240 Paul Bryant Drive. Citizens are encouraged to attend this workshop to share their ideas on how to rebuild tornado-impacted areas, and help establish a long-term vision for the future of Tuscaloosa.In order to assist those impacted by the storm, transportation will be provided for those that wish to attend. Shuttle buses will pick up from 5:00 – 6:30pm and drop off from 8:00 – 9:30pm at the following locations:
- Former Locklear Dodge Site - 3200 10th Avenue
- Leland Shopping Center – Intersection of 10th Street East and 26th Avenue East
- University Place Elementary School - 2000 1st Avenue
For more information, visit www.tuscaloosaforward.com
The mayor's office also announced that the Volunteer Reception Center will be closed on Sundays effective immediately. The hours of operation for the VRC are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Tornado recovery will take years, FEMA says
...“This is not something we will see an overnight recovery from; it will be very long term,” said Katherine Ennis, Northport planning director and a vice president of the American Planning Association.
“It will be years before we see a complete recovery.”
However, local, state and national officials have taken the first step in the process. Gov. Robert Bentley last week created the Long-Term Community Recovery Partnership, and on Wednesday the participating groups had their first meeting and began sharing information and telephone numbers.
The group’s next meeting is July 7 at the Center for Commerce in Montgomery. ...
“Every community has different capabilities, and one size does not fit all,” said Albie Lewis, the federal disaster recovery coordinator for FEMA.
“The team in Tuscaloosa will be different than Hackleburg.”
Lewis said FEMA may remain in Alabama through Thanksgiving, then turn over recovery efforts to the state.
“This is a marathon match,” he said.
FEMA identified 12 communities with needs ranging from immediate housing to business redevelopment.
Rainsville needs recovery in its business district and for its public and education facilities.
Task forces will be created on planning and capacity building, economic resources, health and social services, housing, infrastructure systems and natural and culture resources.
Citizen Advisory Committee expanded
Maddox adds 3 members to 7-member team tasked with reviewing city's plans
Concerns about a lack of diversity prompted Mayor Walt Maddox to expand a committee created to provide feedback on rebuilding tornado-damaged areas of Tuscaloosa.
EDITORIAL: Tuscaloosa City Council wise in looking at the big picture
6/19/11 ...As has been asserted here before, the Tuscaloosa City Council is acting wisely in looking at the big picture with the help of the nearly 50-member Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force and the Kansas City-based BNIM consulting firm, which specializes in disaster recovery work and which the city hired for its expertise. ...
Read More...
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Gov. Robert Bentley takes lead on tornado recovery, says buck stops with him (AP Interview)
"Just like I have taken the leadership role in the disaster, telling FEMA I'm in charge, we will do the same thing in the long-term recovery," Bentley said in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press.
Read more...
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Tuscaloosa using virtual town hall to start rebuilding process
June 15th, 2011
About six weeks after the April 27 tornadoes ravaged Tuscaloosa, the city is turning to citizens for suggestions on rebuilding the city.
Using the online service Mind Mixer, citizens can attend a virtual town hall located at townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com. The site was set up by Kansas City, Mo.-based consulting firm, BNIM according to the Tuscaloosa News.
Read More...
Town Hall site http://townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com/
About six weeks after the April 27 tornadoes ravaged Tuscaloosa, the city is turning to citizens for suggestions on rebuilding the city.
Using the online service Mind Mixer, citizens can attend a virtual town hall located at townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com. The site was set up by Kansas City, Mo.-based consulting firm, BNIM according to the Tuscaloosa News.
Read More...
Town Hall site http://townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com/
Comments about the Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force meeting 6/16/11
The following comments come from George Harris, VP of Forest Lake Neighborhood Association and member of the Steering Committee on the Tuscaloosa Forward Rebuilding Task Force: The article (in today's Tuscaloosa News) is a pretty good summary of the meeting. I participated on the land use panel and Christine Dietsch is on the housing committee. In the Land use section is should say that businesses near one another should be“allowed” (not required) to share parking space. ...
Tuscaloosa Forward launches "Call Before you Build" initiative
June 15th, 2011
The Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force is helping Tuscaloosa residents, business owners and contractors who are ready to rebuild by compiling information at one central location, the websitehttp://tuscaloosaforward.com. One of the Tuscaloosa Forward's first moves is a virtual town hall, where residents can submit their ideas for the rebuilding process, including investments and improvements. (Visit http://townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com to submit your ideas.)
“The citizens and businesses of Tuscaloosa are ready to start rebuilding and Tuscaloosa Forward is ready to provide guidance to start the rebuilding effort,” said Mayor Walt Maddox in a release.
Another brand new initiative is the Call Before You Build campaign, which seeks to eliminate confusion among people who are seeking to rebuild by answering frequently asked questions. If you are ready to rebuild your business or home, call 205-248-5110 to find out where to begin. For more helpful information, see the list of FAQs.
New construction allowed in recovery zone on conditional basis, task force leaders say
Task force tackles ideas for rebuilding and improving city
TUSCALOOSA, June 17, 2011 | The nearly 50 members of the newly-named Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force spent three hours hammering out ideas for rebuilding five designated areas that encompass the 5.9-mile path of destruction left by the April 27 tornado.
Facts
Community input
To offer ideas on the preliminary plans of the Tuscaloosa Forward Task Force, visit the town hall website at http://townhall.tuscaloosaforward.com.
For more information on the progress of the task force, go to http://tuscaloosaforward.com.
A open town hall meeting to allow more community input into the planning process is set for June 30 at Bryant Conference Center. The meeting will begin at 5 or 6 p.m., officials said.
For more information on the progress of the task force, go to http://tuscaloosaforward.com.
A open town hall meeting to allow more community input into the planning process is set for June 30 at Bryant Conference Center. The meeting will begin at 5 or 6 p.m., officials said.
But the potential plans weren’t confined to the recovery zone. Members of the task force, under the guidance of consulting firm BNIM, looked beyond the borders of the storm in crafting a vision that could change the face of the entire city.
“You’re here not just to represent the task force you’re on, but all the citizens of Tuscaloosa,” said Stephen Hardy, director of planning for BNIM.
The task force was divided into smaller groups that focused on the five areas of redevelopment: Infrastructure, Parks and Public Spaces, Housing, Building Design, Landuse.
Government officials stress safety at summit
TUSCALOOSA, June 14th 2011 | Local and state leaders gathered here Monday were urged to use federal money wisely when rebuilding after the devastating tornado outbreaks in April, and to consider using some of it to pay for community storm shelters and family safe rooms.
Gov. Robert Bentley told a conference of more than 200 federal, state and local officials that he is setting up a task force to help navigate long-term recovery from the April storms, which saw 60 tornadoes rake across Alabama on April 27 and 47 touch down on April 15. Federal money meant to prepare for future natural disasters needs to rebuild Alabama to be better than before the storms, he said.
“We need to make sure that money is spent in the best way possible to protect the lives of as many people as we possibly can,” Bentley said during the “Safer Alabama” summit Monday at the Bryant Conference Center. “We don’t need to spend it frivolously.”
Consultants outline vision for rebuilding city
TUSCALOOSA, June 15th, 2011 | A Kansas City, Mo., consulting firm on Tuesday offered a vision for reconstructing a better city after the destruction of the April 27 tornado that hit Tuscaloosa.
The firm, BNIM, introduced itself to residents during the weekly City Council meeting at City Hall.
But BNIM, which was awarded a $250,000 contract last week by the council, said it has no intentions of shaping the city on its own.
Tuscaloosa group visits Kan. town that rebuilt after tornado
June 12th
The 20,000-square-foot Kiowa County Commons is a LEED platinum status building in Greensburg, Kan., that houses the Greensburg branch of the Kiowa County Library, the County Historical Museum, the Kiowa County Media Center and offices of Kansas State Research and Extension. The building was constructed after a 2007 tornado destroyed most of the town’s structures.
Nearly 1,000 miles and several states separate Tuscaloosa and Greensburg. Only 850 people live in the tiny city situated close to the geographic center of the United States. A 10-member delegation from Tuscaloosa’s Rebuild Tuscaloosa task force visited Greensburg last week, initially worried that they wouldn’t learn anything useful because the cities are so dissimilar.
“It turns out we learned a whole lot,” said City Councilman Bob Lundell.
The 20,000-square-foot Kiowa County Commons is a LEED platinum status building in Greensburg, Kan., that houses the Greensburg branch of the Kiowa County Library, the County Historical Museum, the Kiowa County Media Center and offices of Kansas State Research and Extension. The building was constructed after a 2007 tornado destroyed most of the town’s structures.
Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force meeting notes, June 9th
The Rebuild Tuscaloosa Task Force recently visited Greensburg, Kansas to learn from them on how we can start "Rebuilding It Better". On May 4, 2007 an EF5 tornado hit Greensburg, destroying at least 90% of the community.
Rebuild Tuscaloosa TF now renamed Tuscaloosa Forward
Rebuild Tuscaloosa TF now renamed Tuscaloosa Forward
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