Resilient Counties Initiative
Hurricanes, wildfires, economic collapse and other disasters can be natural or man-made, acute or long-term, foreseeable or unpredictable. Preparation for and recovery from such events requires both long-term planning and immediate action.
NACo works to strengthen county resiliency by building leadership capacity to identify and manage risk, and allow counties to become more flexible and responsive. Through the use of sustainable practices and infrastructure, counties will be better prepared to address these issues in a manner that can minimize the impact on local residents and businesses, while helping counties save money.
Through the initiative, NACo:
- Develops strategies to foster economic growth and competitiveness;
- Educates counties on techniques for implementing resiliency and sustainability strategies;
- Provides tools for counties to educate their communities on resiliency initiatives;
- Identifies ways to leverage changing conditions and take advantage of new technologies and innovation; and
- Facilitates an open exchange with the private sector.
Resource
Emergency Management in County Government: A National Survey
New disaster recovery grants now open to support county economic development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has launched the Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, making $1.45 billion available to help communities recover from natural disasters and build long-term economic resilience. Counties affected by major disaster declarations in 2023 or 2024 are eligible to apply for funding to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen local economies and prepare for future disruptions. This program goes beyond immediate recovery, aiming to transform local economies and foster sustainable, long-term economic growth.
Deadly tornadoes pummel counties across the South
Southern Kentucky counties bore the brunt of a May 16 tornado outbreak, with at least 17 fatalities confirmed as of last week in Laurel County alone.
Fire and emergency response grants now open for counties
On May 20, FEMA announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program and the Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program, which support fire departments and firefighter organizations in increasing staffing and improving safety nationwide.
County Countdown – May 19, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features reconciliation bill advancement, a FEMA reform proposal and more.
House draft bill text proposes FEMA reform package with major wins for counties
This week, the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee released draft bill text for a sweeping Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reform package aimed at improving disaster response, streamlining aid and increasing local flexibility—reflecting many long-standing county priorities.
Eyes on the Surge: Harnessing AWARE Flood Sensors via NACo PPP–Safeware for Hurricane Readiness & Rapid Recovery
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET
Discover how counties can deploy the AWARE Flood System—rugged, solar-powered IoT sensors available through the competitively bid NACo Public Promise Procurement Safeware contract—to turn rising water into actionable intelligence. We’ll show how each lightweight node tracks depth, temperature and barometric pressure, pushes real-time alerts over cellular or Iridium satellite link, and keeps reporting for seven days even without sunlight. Learn the simple “piggy-back” procurement steps inside Public Promise Procurement (PPP), funding streams that pair with FEMA categories and see a live dashboard demo that lets EOCs map flood conditions before, during and after landfall.
Faster, Smarter Disaster Relief: How LA County Used AI & Geospatial Mapping to Deliver $20M in Aid
Key Takeaways:
- Strategies for incorporating geospatial technology in disaster planning and response.
- Techniques for using identity verification tools to balance security and accessibility.
- Best practices for building public-private partnerships in times of crisis.
Stay Up-To-Date on the Resilient Counties Initiative
Program Contact
Danny Tomares
Sponsors
