Before, During & After

On today's episode, we have a really exciting conversation that we'd like to highlight for you. FEMA was thrilled to recently host a joint FEMA virtual town Hall with our colleagues at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency - CISA. FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell joined CISA director Jen Easterly for a special fireside chat where they discuss the crossover in our two mission spaces and our shared commitment to resilience and unity. FEMA and CISA often work hand-in-hand to keep communities across our nation safe. An issue surrounding cybersecurity and infrastructure security continue to be increasingly important areas of focus for all emergency managers. So, to that end, we wanted to represent their conversation for you here on today's episode. I hope you enjoy this fantastic conversation.

In the aftermath of disasters, when FEMA's assistance begins to phase out, the critical role of philanthropic organizations becomes increasingly apparent. In this episode, we explore how disaster philanthropy functions from the initial response phase to long-term recovery and resilience building. We'll delve into real examples of how philanthropic support has made a difference in communities across the country—from providing immediate aid to vulnerable populations to investing in long-term recovery initiatives. We'll discover how these organizations work hand in hand with local stakeholders to build resilience and create sustainable solutions and uplift communities on their journey towards recovery and resilience.

We're diving into a monumental topic for August, which is National Resilience Month, and it is all things Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant programs, or HMA grants. These programs play a critical role in helping communities across the nation reduce the impacts of disaster. So, we're gonna be exploring how the grants work, the types of assistance available, the benefits they bring to the communities, and understand the application process to highlight successful projects. We'll cover everything you need to know about leveraging these grants for disaster mitigation and resilience. So, whether you're a community leader, emergency management professional, or simply interested in the disaster resilience project and what FEMA and the federal government have to offer, you're gonna have an opportunity to be informed and engaged throughout this episode.

If financial resiliency is an individual or family's ability to handle financial shocks and adjust to financial changes, there is no greater shock than a disaster. They cause both short and long-term financial challenges for survivors. While at times complex, financial resiliency is also full of opportunity to improve our ability to adjust and overcome those challenges that directly impact our ability to recover from emergencies. So, on today's episode, we focus on building financial resiliency before, during, and after disasters, and how financial resilience is far beyond building a savings account.