Course Overview:

This course provides learners with information on conducting a post-disaster housing impact assessment. Key areas covered include how to collect information regarding housing impact and how to complete damage assessments with key partners.  An overview of the Disaster Assessment Manual and the disaster declaration process will also be presented.  Finally, a review of relevant housing policies or statutes will be provided as well as an explanation on how they impact housing recovery. 

Scope:

This awareness-level course will focus on conducting damage assessments after a disaster occurs.  This includes a detailed overview of the FEMA Damage Assessment Manual.  This course addresses the Recovery Mission Area, Core Capability of Housing. 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the Awareness Level training, all learners will be able to fulfill the following learning objectives: 

1. By reviewing a chart presented from the course, the learner will identify the short- and long-term effects that disasters have on housing, with 80% or greater accuracy on the post-test.  
2. Given a matrix of intercorrelations from the FEMA Damage Assessment Manual, the learner will identify key resources available to help conduct a post-disaster housing impact assessment, with 80% or greater accuracy on the post-test. 
3. Given a description of the Disaster Declaration Process, the Robert T. Stafford Act, and HUD's CDBG-DR program, the learner will identify relevant housing policies or statutes that impact housing post-disasters and the role played by damage assessments in determining eligibility, with 80% or greater accuracy on the post test. 
4. By reviewing course chapter summarizations, the learner will reiterate the steps that should be included in a post-disaster housing impact assessment, with 80% or greater accuracy on the post-test. 

This project is supported by Cooperative Agreements EMW-2020-CA-00064, EMW-2021-CA-00092, EMW-2021-CA-00093, and EMW-2022-CA-00037 administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Points of view or opinions expressed in this document are those of the author and do not represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.