Small cities and counties, with populations under 20,000 people, have been catastrophically impacted by Hurricane Harvey’s high winds, flooding, and tornados, but do not have access to the same resources as larger cities like Houston. Over 200 of these small communities have received a federal declaration, yet they barely have the capacity and necessary resources to build back, much less the expertise to build for a more resilient future. Immediate assistance is needed in these small communities to assess damages and develop plans that will inform the longer term recovery process.

CNU is joining, Strong Towns and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, in supporting Collaborative Communities' efforts to deploy Free Assistance Support Teams (FAST) to communities affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas.

FAST Teams will deploy over the next 8 - 12 weeks (longer if needed and capacity allows) to prepare small communities for their FEMA Project Worksheet preparation. Each Team will consist of three individuals, each with an area of expertise, who will be deployed to a community for 2 days.Through the FAST program, municipal governments will receive free assistance to ensure they have the necessary tools and information to adequately navigate the FEMA Project Worksheet.

NOTE: Pending available funds, FAST Volunteers may receive a small stipend to cover travel expenses.

For additional information, please contact Kristen Dunphey at kdunphey@cnu.org

Thank you for volunteering your time and expertise!