Building Resilient Communities: FEMA Public Assistance Training & Regional Mitigation  

On February 26, 2025, Centralina Regional Council hosted a Centralina Learns event focused on “Bolstering Community Resilience and Public Assets from Hazards.” This session brought together local leaders and federal, state and local emergency management professionals to discuss strategies for strengthening economic resilience and the protection of taxpayer assets from future disaster events.

Highlights from the Webinar

Participants gained valuable insights on:

• Local disaster preparedness training options – Learned how to train and develop proactive staff strategies and policies to protect taxpayer investments, utilities and infrastructure to ensure rapid recovery.

• Best practices and shared knowledge – Identified opportunities to strengthen digital access and foster partnerships between local governments, emergency management leadership and first responders, and learned about how to best coordinate with state and federal partners and community organizations.

Next Step: FEMA Public Assistance Disaster Recovery Financial Administration Training

Training courses are designed to assist local government staff set the stage for expedited disaster recovery and economic resilience before the next hazard event. The next in-person training in our region will be held on April 8 at Piedmont Triad Council of Governments in Kernersville, NC. eLearning courses will be available this spring for on-demand access. Please send interest and inquiries to ncarcogtraining@hscllc.net

Insights & Resources 

To support local governments in disaster recovery and resilience planning, Centralina has developed a series of regional resilience and collaboration pages, providing access to key resources, tools and strategies:

• Centralina regional resilience collaboration site – A collection of partners and tools focused on strengthening regional disaster preparedness and response.

• Helene-specific resources – Access to guides, regulatory documents and key resources to help navigate FEMA Public Assistance and financial administration requirements.

• Regional digital opportunity – Strategies designed to eliminate barriers to access and use, promoting digital participation in resilience initiatives.

Stay Connected & Prepared

Local governments and emergency management professionals are encouraged to take advantage of these upcoming training opportunities to build their economic resilience by enhancing their ability to recover from disasters efficiently.

For more information, contact Christina Danis, Director of Community Economic Development.

Let’s continue working together to build stronger, more resilient communities.