NACo’s “Intergovernmental Collaboration in Disaster Resilience” case study series highlights intergovernmental partnerships that empower local communities to take charge of preparedness, response and recovery, underscoring the critical role of the federal government in strengthening security and resilience nationwide.

Every year, about one-third of the nation’s counties experience and must recover from natural disasters, often more than once. These events pose major risks to the health and safety of the American people, damage critical infrastructure and result in major economic losses. Counties play an important role in the federal-state-local-tribal partnership; but to fulfill our responsibilities, we must often rely on the strategic and financial support of higher levels of government and other entities. NACo’s “Intergovernmental Collaboration in Disaster Resilience” case study series highlights intergovernmental partnerships that empower local communities to take charge of preparedness, response and recovery, underscoring the critical role of the federal government in strengthening security and resilience nationwide. 


The National Association of Counties would like to thank The Pew Charitable Trusts for its partnership on the Intergovernmental Roundtable series.

This content is intended for educational purposes only. The National Association of Counties (NACo) supports policies and programs that equip county governments with the resources and flexibility needed to serve our residents. NACo does not endorse any particular strategy or approach shared in this resource over another. For official NACo positions, please refer to the American County Platform.

Case Studies

Public funds, allocated through federal grants, empower states and counties to implement critical projects that cannot be resourced through local revenue streams.

Jefferson Parish, La

Parishes maximize local, state and federal public funding to invest efficiently and strategically in disaster mitigation efforts that support electrical grid modernization and infrastructure hardening at critical sites that put our security and the physical and economic wellbeing of residents first. 

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Lake County, Calif.

Counties maximize local and federal public funding to invest efficiently and strategically in disaster mitigation efforts that build local planning capacity, harden national security-critical infrastructure and advance a culture of disaster preparedness and personal responsibility among residents.

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Rogers County, Okla.

Counties understand local hazards best and are working within our authorities to implement local policy and practice solutions that will minimize loss in the event of natural disaster.

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