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.

Related News

FEMA
Advocacy

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.

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Advocacy

County Countdown – April 21, 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 the ARPA reporting deadline, a budget reconciliation update and more

Crews remove ladder fuels at Land Trust of Napa County’s Linda Falls Preserve in Angwin, CA. Photo by Mike Palladini – Land Trust of Napa County.
Advocacy

FEMA halts disaster mitigation grant program

On April 4, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will not allocate $750 million this year for the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. According to the press release, FEMA will also stop funding BRIC projects that were previously approved and are still underway.

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Advocacy

County Countdown – March 25, 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 budget reconciliation, FY 2025 funding and more.

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Advocacy

NACo testifies on the critical role of counties in disasters

NACo Intergovernmental Disaster Reform Task Force Co-Chair and Harris County, Texas Commission Adrian Garcia testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management.

Upcoming Events

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Webinar

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

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Danny Tomares

Program Associate

Sponsors

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American Gas Association
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Edison Electric Institute
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Hagerty Consulting
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Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS)
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National Association of Home Builders
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NextEra Energy
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Tidal Basin