As states and local jurisdictions have learned, the availability of long-term housing during disaster recovery is crucial to rebuilding a local economy after disaster strikes. In reviews of various disasters throughout the nation catastrophic housing response efforts has shown to be a consistent area for improvement. Within the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Region 10, there is also the need to identify long-term disaster housing capacity in response to a Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake disaster. The State of Idaho would most likely be asked to house not only first responders but citizens in our neighboring states as well, during a period while rebuilding efforts are underway on the West Coast.

In Fiscal Year 2021, the Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) received a Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant from FEMA to develop a State Catastrophic Housing Response Framework. Innovate Emergency Management (IEM) was contracted to work with IOEM, various state, local, and volunteer organizations to develop a framework for how the State of Idaho would respond to requests for long term housing support following a disaster.

This combined effort resulted in not only a Catastrophic Housing Statewide Framework but a Local Long-Term Housing Template and Quick Response Checklist for county use as well. In the event of such a disaster, local jurisdictions now have a template they can use to mold into their plans and operations that dovetails into the Statewide Framework.

The columniation of this effort was a four-hour tabletop exercise on Tuesday, March 26 bringing together federal response agencies, state emergency response, county commissioners, emergency managers, first responders, the American Red Cross, state and private housing agencies amongst others. The framework was put through it’s paces, validated, and all lessons learned will be incorporated back into the framework.  

For those interested to learn more about Idaho’s State Catastrophic Housing Response Framework, please reach out to your local Emergency Manager to find out what they are doing with the template. IOEM plan to work the framework into the Office’s exercises and it will be updated biennially. IOEM is currently looking at creating a local sheltering and family reunification plan that will bridge the Disaster Recovery Plan and the Catastrophic Housing Framework. 

IOEM is grateful to all of the organizations that participated in this development and the exercise wrapping up this effort!