LTC 459-2017 Community Recovery ProgramMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
No. LTC# 459-2017 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Philip Levine and Member�of the City mmission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manage�
�ArE: September 20, 2017 •
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SUB�ECT: Community Recovery Progra�
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Adopting a"Whole Community" approach, the Department of Emergency Management,
in conjunction with the Office of Housing and Community Services and the Miami Beach
Chamber of Commerce, has developed a program to address community needs
following the impacts of Hurricane Irma. This program addresses immediate needs,
short-term and long-term recovery and resilience. These three entities are collaborating
with community and mental health professionals and other resources through a Disaster
Recovery Group (DRG).
Impacts from disaster can exacerbate additional community health and resiliency issues
that may have been brewing under the surface. The multi-faceted program incorporates
existing services and programs, enhanced by newly-implemented Community Recovery
Centers (CRCs), specialized staff and ongoing interface with FEMA. This program is
being implemented as the City recovers from Hurricane Irma, but the benefits are to be
felt through long-term recovery and components will be incorporated into the City's
Resiliency Strategy as part of our 100RC efforts.
There are three main mission areas under our Community Recovery Program:
1) Business and Industry
With support from the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, we are partnering with local
businesses to share resources, provide assistance and maintain economic stability in our
community. By engaging the business community, we can address needs for materials
and services through existing supply chains and connections. Moving forward, this
partnership enhances our overall ability to bounce back after crisis.
2) Community Outreach and Public Education
DEM is collaborating efforts with the City's Office of Housing and Community Services to
identify, assess and prioritize needs for assistance, starting with our most vulnerable
populations. Assessment and community response teams are led by community health,
mental health and community outreach professionals. In the short term, we are also
including State and Federal partners who bring resources to provide assistance where
appropriate. For the general public not contacted by the outreach teams, walk-in
assistance is available at the two Community Recovery Centers mentioned below.
Additionally, information will be posted to the DEM web page on the City's website,
updating the public on the status of debris removal, links to FEMA resources and other
assistance, and providing relevant recovery information.
3) Volunteers and Donations
For the most part, the need for donations and volunteer assistance has been relatively
minimal. The outpouring of generosity, however, has been significant. As teams identify
local needs, we are routing the donations to where they are most needed. Additional
donations of materials are being sent to other areas that were hit hard by Hurricanes
Harvey and Irma and to the identified agencies that can best appropriate the items.
Through generous donations of space by the property owners, the City was able to
quickly set up finro Community Recovery Centers as locations for donation drop-off,
disaster recovery assistance, some insurance clarification, information on available
resources and any volunteer sign-up efforts. The South neighborhoods in the City are
being served by the location at 1627 Euclid Avenue, just south of Lincoln Road. The
North Beach location is being established at 7430 Collins Avenue. Hours of operation will
be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Community Recovery Centers
wikl be open at least through the first week in October, and may stay open longer, as
need dictates. Please note that the items being col{ected are limited to the following:
• Canned goods
• Water
• Tarps
. Batteries
• Flashlights
• Insect Repellents
• Baby Wipes
• Diapers
Clothing, shoes or perishable food will not be accepted.
.
Hygiene Items
First Aid Items
This approach io community recovery management will mitigate negative mental health,
health and financial impacts of Hurricane Irma. The Whole-Community effort will keep
Miami Beach resources in Miami Beach, build a more cohesive recovery response
capability for the city and return our community to a"new normal" that is more resilient.
JM/CT/SHL