Media reports on recent disasters continue to confirm that underrepresented populations suffer most acutely from the losses associated with natural disasters. Low- and moderate-income individuals and the institutions and businesses that serve them are frequently hit first and hardest by hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, and other natural hazards. These individuals and families recover last, if at all. Efforts by various organizations and municipalities to assist in addressing this disparate impact are underway.

This program brings together a panel of experts from across the country to explore this phenomenon, discuss solutions, and solicit audience input on paths forward for use in the forthcoming ABA book on Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction. The program will address public, private, and NGO legal strategies to improve equitable outcomes and lower recovery cost/time for low-moderate income and underserved populations pre- and post-disaster. The panel will explain how the use of HUD Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Relief funds aided in Hurricane Sandy Recovery in New York.

The panel will also discuss "Community Prosecution", an innovative group within the Dallas City Attorney's Office that uses a variety of legal tools and non-legal strategies to bring properties into compliance with all city codes. This includes land use, floodplain, storm water, building, and property codes. "Community Prosecution" works throughout the city and has a strong presence in low-income areas, working to ensure that structures and properties in low-income areas are in the best condition to withstand whatever disaster may come.

Finally, our faculty will describe Hurricane Harvey recovery in Texas, and discuss some of the positive actions taken by NGOs to assist vulnerable populations in the aftermath of the event.