Page 24 - NC Hurrican Florence Disaster Recovery

o Underground Utilities: This is an area where potential federal and state infrastructure
spending could be extremely effective. Hardening our power grid and associated service
conduits could be a game changer for helping people to recovery quickly or suffer
limited cascading effects from power outages.

o Crowdsourcing Apps: These applications can rapidly bring together resources using the
power of social media and other enabling technologies. One good example of this is

found at www.crowdsourcerescue.com.

o Cell Phone/Internet System: Securing hosted VoIP (Voice over internet, internet
protocol) service. This is a cloud-based internet service that offers redundancy.

o Comprehensive Alert System: System that taps into the Emergency Alert System (EAS)
and sends calls and/or messages to anyone on the network.

o Online Inventory for Needed Items: This concept would use a perpetual inventory of
needed items through a contact system. It could operate much like a cloud-based, real
time inventory management system. The system could track client needs with existing
inventory and inform procurement decisions for replenishment.

o Harden Water Plants/Waste Treatments: Similar to utilities, hardening these services will
make critical resources more resistant to disasters and speed the recovery period.

o E-Gift Card Donations: This could be a means of getting emergency aid to clients through
an emails gift card that works just like a regular physical gift card except that it is provided
and replenished online. A system could be setup to receive donations and the e-gift
cards(digital) can be distributed by email.
Housing Assistance:

The greatest single vulnerability identified is housing assistance. Focusing attention in this area
can ease the suffering associated with housing related needs.

o Temporary Housing/Home: We should explore memorandums of understanding
(MOU’s) to facilitate rapid placement into homes. Adopt a housing first approach.
Emphasize the MOU’s as urgent. Ensure agreements are in place before disasters

to prevent delays in housing placement.

• Portable storage units as temporary housing
• Partnership with mobile home dealers, local hotels, community centers and
schools.
• Mortgage assistance/forgiveness/portability
• Liability assistance
• Home restoration assistance
• Short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.)
• Contract with apartment associations
• Funding to fortify homes before storms

o Waiving pet fees and pet restrictions: This is a major cause of homelessness after
disasters. Many families choose to sleep in cars if they cannot find a place that will
accept pets or if the pet fee is too expensive.

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