Illustration: FEMA Tribal Affairs U.S. Tribal Nations have historically been disproportionately affected by disasters but without access to vital resources before, during, and after calamitous events. The risks to Tribal Nations only increase in the face of climate change, which will further exacerbate inequities and pose new challenges for Tribal communities. The National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) of the Climate School, Columbia University, has been awarded a $1.5 million three-year grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Training and Education Division (NTED) entitled “Training Solutions: Enhancing Tribal Nations’ Readiness and Resilience“. NCDP will partner with the National Tribal Emergency Management Council on the creation and delivery of new trainings. “Tribal Nations work proactively with a variety of partners to integrate new training programs. However, institutional barriers often limit many communities’ adaptive capacities. Additionally, many non-Tribal training providers have not had full access to resources and programs to integrate doctrine, and approaches for building Tribal capabilities that are so essential for making a lasting community impact. To address
December 19, 2023
NCDP has a rich history, from the early preparedness efforts for governmental and non-governmental systems to the complexities of population recovery, the power of community engagement, and the risks of human vulnerability. Below are reflections and commentary from members of the NCDP team.
October 26, 2023
The beginnings of NCDP - We felt naked and unprepared in the face of terrorism at a scale never before
October 23, 2023
The Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) is running dangerously low as the busiest time of the disaster season arrives and as
September 25, 2023
The state’s energy supply chain was unable to withstand the sustained low temperatures, as generation resources were strained due to cold weather tripping units, natural gas supply curtailments, and wind power generation outages.
March 27, 2023
President Biden stopped short of declaring a national emergency for climate change in his most recent executive actions. But he may still do so in the future, and some of his advisors have indicated that he will do so, although it is unclear if this is still in play with the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Indeed, the passage of this landmark legislation is a welcome reprieve from executive actions that are limited, challengeable, and reversible as the political winds shift.
August 22, 2022
Testimony to the House of Representatives Committee on Rules’ Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process for the Hearing: Using Budget Principles to Prepare for Future Pandemics and Other Disasters Testimony Submitted January 16, 2022
January 19, 2022