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Feb. 21, 2025

How Urban Fires Are Reshaping Infrastructure and Design, Fire Recovery, Reimbursement, FEMA, and Rebuilding w/ Jay Blackburn, P.E. & Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Manager Allison James

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Level Design Podcast

This conversation delves into the complexities of community recovery following devastating fires in California, focusing on the emotional toll on municipal staff, the bureaucratic challenges posed by FEMA, and the importance of partnerships in recovery efforts.

We’re joined by Disaster Preparedness & Recovery Manager Allison James as well as Engineers Scott Zurn and Jay Blackburn. They share their experiences with disaster management, the intricacies of debris removal, and the need for effective contracting and procurement processes to ensure successful recovery and rebuilding efforts.

In this conversation, Allison James, Scott Zurn, and Jay discuss the complexities of disaster recovery, focusing on FEMA reimbursements, the importance of documentation, and the emotional toll on communities. They share insights on navigating the recovery process, building resilient infrastructure, and the necessity of trauma-informed care for both staff and residents. The conversation emphasizes teamwork, communication, and the need for proper planning to ensure effective recovery and rebuilding efforts.

If you’ve been affected by the LA fires, don’t hesitate to reach out and discuss how we can help you navigate recovery, FEMA reimbursement, and building back better. Levelengineering.com

Keywords: Fire Recovery, evaluation, reimbursement, FEMA, engineering, rebuilding, California fires, LA Fire, community recovery, FEMA, public works, infrastructure, emotional impact, disaster management, partnerships, debris removal, contracting, disaster recovery, infrastructure, emotional impact, trauma-informed care, community support, reimbursement, rebuilding, resilience

Chapters

00:54 Understanding the Fire Situation

02:49 Community Impact and Emotional Toll

05:57 Public Works and Emergency Response

08:47 FEMA's Role and Bureaucratic Challenges

12:12 Celebrating Recovery Success

15:03 Partnerships in Recovery

17:57 Debris Removal Process

20:59 Contracting and Procurement Challenges

24:01 Building Back Better

27:00 FEMA Reimbursement and Project Management

30:11 Final Thoughts on Community Resilience

39:20 Navigating FEMA Reimbursements

41:31 The Importance of Documentation in Disaster Recovery

43:47 Challenges with Tree Recovery Post-Disaster

45:49 Assessing Infrastructure Damage After a Disaster

48:51 Building Back Better: Infrastructure Resilience

51:33 Emotional Impact of Rebuilding After Disaster

55:57 Trauma-Informed Care for Disaster Recovery

01:01:55 The Role of FEMA in Community Recovery

01:04:58 Teamwork and Support in Disaster Recovery

01:10:40 First Steps for Effective Disaster Recovery

 

If you’ve been affected by the LA fires, don’t hesitate to reach out and discuss how we can help you navigate recovery, FEMA reimbursement, and building back better. Levelengineering.com

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