CoachCase said:
First, either at federal or state level, there needs to be some sort of immediate "on ground" recovery assistance after the local level responders have done the initial rescue and recovery operations. What I mean and where the frustration kicks in as that in massive disasters where many people are long term displaced, either level of government does not have adequate resources to begin immediately housing people whether it be trailers or hotels. Red Cross - a NGO - can only house people so long in school gyms. So, that would be a start in the right direction. Second, eliminating lengthy paperwork and bureaucratic red tape for those applying for assistance would be another positive step. Third, eliminate any loop holes that would allow politicians at any level to play politics with any disbursements.
All reasonable goals.
The quick, semi-permanent housing (as you say, not cots lined up in gyms or fellowship halls) piece is a huge one. We shouldn't have anyone in tents months after a natural disaster, unless it's just their preference.
As is the need to expedite/facilitate permitting for permanent rebuilds so that small town planning and development departments, whose staffs themselves are likely impacted by the local disaster, have the necessary support to review plans, issue permits, and inspect rebuilds and new construction at a pace and scale they're almost certainly understaffed and ill-equipped for.
I know the City of Raleigh Development Services staff has been volunteering and pushing into WNC communities to help offer their support and I'm sure many other communities are as well but it would be nice for that to be a more prescribed and centrally commanded process.