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DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

The ISC Team is nationally recognized for its disaster response and recovery programmatic contributions and successes. ISC staff has responded to scores of disasters across the nation, providing timely technical and operational support for assessing damages and disaster recovery assistance.

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ISC’s core personnel have rapidly mobilized our team to respond to over 40 federally declared disasters and emergencies, including several of our nation’s most catastrophic events. These events include the 9/11 World Trade Center Attacks, the 2004 and 2005 Florida hurricanes, Hurricane Katrina, the 2008 Midwest Floods, 2012 Hurricane Sandy and 2017 Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. These catastrophic events are all rated as the top 10 costliest disasters, with estimated losses of over $500 Billion.

ISC provides technical assistance in identifying post-disaster damaged facilities, performing cost estimates of the damaged facilities, and identifying those costs that would be eligible for funding through the Section 404 and 406 Hazard Mitigation Measures. The ISC Team’s experience in providing innovative, cost-effective solutions to modern urban infrastructure problems has been a valuable asset to FEMA’s Response, Recovery, and Mitigation Programs.

Disaster Impact Forensics

The passing of the Sandy Recovery Improvement Act, and the resulting changes to the FEMA PA Program, has resulted in new needs and opportunities for local and state governments. The Sandy Recovery Improvement Act (SRIA) of 2013 and the accompanying Disaster Relief Appropriations Act, 2013 allows for grants for public assistance permanent work projects on the basis of fixed estimates for the timely or cost-effective completion of work. As an incentive, FEMA is offering in-lieu contribution on the basis of estimates for repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement of a public facility and management expenses and the use of all or part of the excess grant funds for cost-effective activities that reduce the risk of future damage, hardship, or suffering from a major disaster. Although these programmatic changes provide new opportunity for local and state governments, they also require the need for more sophisticated methods for local and state applicants to thoroughly and quickly document damages.

Recognizing this fundamental programmatic change, ISC has mastered the development of 360-degree panoramic damage assessments. Our team of disaster recovery specialists and licensed drone pilots have the technical skills to create high-level, detailed, 360-degree panoramic damage assessments of damaged facilities or devastated communities in a matter of minutes. This emerging technology allows for our clients to establish detailed historical records to document damages and justify cost estimates and other incentives allowed under the SRIA.