Course (Free): Design Thinking for Problem Solving. DisasterReady

Leadership and Management Solve Problems with Design Thinking Learn a new approach to program and organizational strategy called Design Thinking. This proven method brings teams together to solve problems and innovate. Watch these short videos and find out if design thinking could help you solve important issues in your organization. Get Started Forgot your password? Click here to create a new one. Learner Review "I really enjoyed this course for a few reasons. It broke down Design Thinking and simplified it so that the strategy can be applied to any problem and understood by anyone. I enjoyed that it was broken down into mini-training sessions with examples, a mix of reading and video content, and that participants really apply the knowledge learned to create their own solutions. LOVED IT!" —Sarah K. SHARE THIS COURSE WITH YOUR FRIENDS Share Tweet Post ABOUT DISASTERREADY.ORG In 2013, the Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation started DisasterReady with a simple mission: To better prepare humanitarian and development workers for the critical work they do by providing high-quality, relevant online learning resources at no cost. DisasterReady is provided in English, Arabic, French and Spanish. NEED HELP? Get answers to frequently asked questions, change your language, and more. Go to help page → Copyright © 2018 Cornerstone OnDemand Foundation, All rights reserved.

No more business as usual. 21st Century Solutions to 21st Century Problems.

Next Generation Leaders. 

No more.

No more business as usual. 21st Century Solutions to 21st  Century Problems.

"It is my belief that the best results in business come from a creative process, from the ability to see things differently from everyone else, and from finding answers to problems that are not bound by the phrase

'we have always done it this way.' "  Wayne Rogers

Make the change. 

CDS

Black Emergency Managers Association            International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097
bEMA International

     

Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis

Shelter, Home, and Homelessness. If it struck tomorrow, would you be prepared?

Loss of home from disasters, living in shelter or temporary housing is a devastating crisis physically and emotionally.

A disaster can leave an individual or family and on even a larger scale communities homeless.

Homelessness is a serious issue globally in every major city.

From shelter to permanent housing must be a part of the planning and resiliency building process not only from disasters, but as a major consideration to address overall homelessness.

Can disaster\emergency management principles be used to address social issues that lead to major crisis of man-made disasters?  Yes.  Something for communities to consider.

BEMA International

How HUD Could Help More Families Affected by Natural Disasters By Alys Cohen – Government Executive https://www.govexec.com/excellence/promising-practices/2018/10/how-hud-could-help-more-families-affected-natural-disasters/152363/?oref=govexec_today_pm_nl After the winds die down and the flood waters recede, natural disaster survivors begin the long process of putting the pieces of their lives back together.  But for low-income homeowners, this period can exacerbate economic vulnerabilities, causing too many survivors to lose their homes amidst the struggle to rebuild.  Earlier this year, HUD developed a new “disaster standalone partial claim” program to help homeowners who have mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration avoid foreclosure.  However, unnecessary barriers to enrollment and the limited scope of the program place this critical lifeline out of reach for too many families struggling after recent storms and other disasters. HUD introduced its new program in response to the 2017 hurricanes and wildfires to help borrowers impacted by natural disasters continue to make their mortgage payments and stay in their homes.  Through this program, disaster survivors can access an interest-free second mortgage loan to cover up to one year of missed mortgage payments.  Borrowers generally repay the loan when they sell the home or refinance, and their initial mortgage terms remain unchanged.  For those who can access it, the program can be a life-saver. For the partial claim option to work, mortgage servicers must be prepared to make eligibility determinations for an unexpected surge of homeowners when a disaster hits.  But rather than streamlining the process, HUD’s recently updated program retains unnecessary roadblocks, potentially leaving many vulnerable homeowners out in the cold. For example, FHA homeowners with variable incomes, including small business owners and hourly service workers, are likely to have trouble with a requirement that their wages be equal to or greater than their wages prior to the disaster.  Small business owners often have to temporarily close their businesses during a disaster and its aftermath.  Typically—and understandably—their income goes down post-disaster.  The same goes for their employees and other retail and service workers who depend on a steady stream of customers to make ends meet.  Those who have lost some of their wages as a result of a natural disaster, but who are able to make mortgage payments again—the very people who most need assistance keeping their homes—are unnecessarily blocked from the program’s benefits.  HUD should establish a reasonable threshold below 100 percent of previous income to expand access to the program. HUD’s process is also duplicative.  Applicants must show they can afford their mortgage payments in addition to showing that their current income meets the department’s requirements.  But if they were able to make their mortgage payments before the disaster, and their current income equals or exceeds their pre-disaster income, it should be obvious that they can still afford to make their payments, and HUD should not require them to prove that.  Even if HUD were to adopt a threshold below 100 percent of pre-disaster income, it should be based on data analysis demonstrating likely affordability.  Moreover, HUD requires excessive documentation of income and expenses for homeowners seeking hardship assistance.  Department officials should act now to reduce this red tape, which can delay much-needed assistance. HUD recently made improvements to the disaster standalone partial claim program, (i.e.  expanding the number of months of back payments that can be covered by the program) but only for the survivors of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico and the U.S.  Virgin Islands.  The improvements should also apply to disasters in other states and territories.  Texans impacted by Hurricane Harvey and Californians impacted by the wildfires, for example, are unable to access this revised program to help deal with storm-related back payments.  Survivors of Florence in the Carolinas and Hurricane Michael in Florida also are left out. HUD’s new partial claim program must be broadly available to survivors of natural disasters who could use it to stabilize their mortgages in areas where the recovery is slow.  Until access to the partial claim option is expanded and further streamlined, survivors who can afford their current payments but need help catching up will be more likely to lose their homes and face further devastation. Alys Cohen is a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center focusing on mortgage lending, foreclosure prevention, and low-income homeownership.  She also directs the Center’s disaster response work.

Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.   Lisa Ellis

Distribution of Relief Goods. DisasterReady October 23, 2018

Logistics and Distribution

Distribution of Relief Goods

In this short course, learn the steps and considerations involved in distributing relief goods.

Get Started

Food Security: National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association. Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner. Dec. 13-14, 2018

Climate Change and Disaster Assistance.

If in the Washington, D.C. area join me for The Rural Coalition of Black Farmers, and the National Latina Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association (NLFRTA) Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner at the National Press Club December 13-14, 2018.

Additional updates and information can be found at:

            Rural Coalition of Black Farmers:  https://www.ruralco.org

                        and

NLFRTA:  http://www.nlfrta.org 

CDS

The Rural Coalition & The National Latino Farmers & Ranchers Trade Association Annual Winter Forum and Networking Dinner: Celebrating 40 Years of Rural Resilience Washington DC - December 13-14, 2018 Thurs. Dec 13 (9:00 AM –  5:00 PM - Location TBA) Forum Program (tentative) Fri. Dec. 14 (9 AM – 4 PM - Location TBA) Forum Program (Tentative) Morning – Building a Future for Agriculture for our Youth A delegation will attend NASS Hall of Fame Event (https://www.nass.usda.gov/About_NASS/Hall_of_Fame/index.php ) Afternoon-  Dialogue with our Partners and Allies on our shared work and the solutions we are building with communities. Closing Session on Learning from our Histories. Panelist During Days Event Discussion:  Climate Change & Disaster Assistance -Eugene Pickett.  Black Farmers & Ranchers of New Mexico -Joel Segal.  Justice Action Mobilization Network -Charles Sharp.  Black Emergency Managers Association International Fri. Dec 14 (6 PM – 10 PM at National Press Club) – Networking Dinner at the National Press Club.

Black Emergency Managers Association            International
1231  Good Hope Road  S.E.
Washington, D.C.  20020
Office:   202-618-9097
bEMA International

     

Change without Sacrifice is an Illusion.  Lisa Ellis