The HRPDC’s Housing and Emergency Management Departments are collaborating to get the word out about a Housing and Recovery Workshop to be held May 14, 2015, on the campus of Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA. The workshop is being hosted by the Hampton Roads Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Team (RCPT) through a grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). Organizers hope to identify the priority actions and training needs that regional localities require to successfully complete the next steps in developing local housing recovery plans.

“This is a great opportunity for collaboration between housing and emergency management professionals to enhance planning for displaced families following a catastrophic event,” said John Sadler, HRPDC Emergency Management Administrator. 

The workshop is intended for Emergency Managers, Building and Zoning Officials, Housing Representatives, Local Planning Directors, City Administrators that deal with zones and codes, Volunteer Organizations, and anyone else that would participate in housing issues as a result of a catastrophic event.

“Homeowners, rental property owners, and renters without insurance are all potential victims in the event of a catastrophic event in this region,” said Shernita Bethea, HRPDC Housing & Human Services Administrator.

“That is why it is so essential that housing providers are at the table participating in this exercise so that an accurate depiction of recovery assistance for the repair of existing homes or assisting residents in finding alternative housing needs is included in the discussion. Community planning, redevelopment, and mitigation plans will help guide the long-term rebuilding and strategy for community recovery,” said Bethea.

During the day-long workshop, participants will discuss specific scenario challenges to help all regional players have a common operating picture of best practices of local housing and recovery capabilities and capacities in the RCPT jurisdictions, in accordance with the Southeast Virginia/ Northeast North Carolina Regional Catastrophic Housing Strategy Framework, and other plans, policies, and procedures.

Registration for the event is required and available HERE.* The deadline to register is 5:00pm on Tuesday, May 5, 2015.

*Note: Information collected from the registration page will be used to collect questions registrants would like speakers to address during the workshop and announce registration for webinars on the Regional Catastrophic Housing Strategy Framework (to be conducted in April).