Resilient Recovery: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness
Natural disasters pose complex challenges to communities and governments around the world, disrupting infrastructure, endangering lives, and straining emergency response systems. To strengthen national preparedness and recovery frameworks, this International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) brought 10 Brazilian professionals from government, emergency management, and civil engineering sectors to the United States for a focused exchange on disaster preparedness and response.
Through visits to American cities with recent experience managing severe flooding, participants observed firsthand how public safety agencies, community organizations, and municipal leaders prepare for, respond to, and recover from disaster scenarios. The project provided a practical and timely forum for the exchange of policies, protocols, and innovations aimed at enhancing emergency readiness.
Project Objectives
- Examine U.S. systems for disaster preparedness and emergency management at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Observe coordination between first responders, emergency medical services, and volunteer organizations during crises.
- Explore tools for flood response, public alert systems, and risk assessment.
- Share strategies for improving interagency communication and post-disaster recovery planning.
Project Design
Asheville, NC: At Riverlink, a regional nonprofit, visitors discussed the importance of effective waterway and infrastructure management in reducing the impact of flooding. The organization’s integrated approach to flood planning emphasized the role of long-term risk assessment in local preparedness. Participants also met with Linville Central Search and Rescue, a team known for their rapid response and community outreach following the destructive floods caused by Hurricane Helene. Discussions highlighted rural search and rescue coordination and the integration of community volunteers in recovery operations.
Louisville, KY: While in Louisville, the Ohio River began to flood—offering participants a rare opportunity to witness active emergency operations in real time. During briefings with the city’s EMS leadership, participants examined field response tactics, resource deployment strategies, and public communication protocols used during weather-related emergencies.
New Orleans, LA: With a long history of disaster response experience, New Orleans provided a case study in emergency preparedness at scale. Meetings focused on coordinated evacuation planning, shelter management, and efforts to build more responsive recovery systems for future incidents.
Impact and Next Steps
Following the program, participants are expected to:
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- Incorporate elements of U.S. emergency coordination models into municipal preparedness drills.
- Adapt search and rescue techniques observed in the U.S. for use in flood-prone rural areas in Brazil.
- Strengthen interagency protocols for disaster alerts and public safety communications.
- Foster ongoing collaboration with U.S. counterparts to exchange resources, training materials, and post-disaster evaluation tools.
Project summary
| Resilient Recovery: Enhancing Disaster Preparedness | |
|---|---|
| Number of Visitors: | 10 |
| Regions: | Western Hemisphere |
| Countries: | Brazil |
| Impact Areas: | Global Health |
| Program Areas: | Global Leadership |