National Preparedness Month is observed every September to encourage individuals, families, and communities to prepare for disasters and emergencies. It’s a great opportunity for libraries to educate patrons about disaster preparation while also making sure staff are ready to support the community in the aftermath of a disaster. Some libraries create displays featuring disaster preparedness information and kits, while others offer educational programs in partnership with their local emergency management office or health and human services department.  Ready.gov offers free resources and practical tips for preparing for natural disasters including low and no-cost ways to prepare. One thing that’s overlooked is the important documents you’ll need after a disaster as you begin the recovery process. The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center has compiled a list of those documents.

The legal challenges that follow a disaster can be overwhelming. WebJunction has a three-course series, Navigating Civil Legal Issues of Natural Disasters, which includes practical resources to help library staff feel confident in supporting patrons through crisis times.

When disaster strikes, libraries often become trusted community hubs. These free courses can help library staff build the knowledge to connect patrons with trusted information, legal resources, and community referrals throughout every stage of recovery. 

The first course introduces the civil legal issues that are likely to arise after natural disasters, using the framework of the four phases of the Emergency Management Cycle - Mitigation, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery. It focuses on the importance of building your network of disaster responders well before disaster strikes – the Preparedness phase. It’s likely that your community has some level of emergency response planning in place, but do the key community stakeholders recognize the role the library can play when integrated into their planning cycles? This course highlights practical steps libraries can take to build relationships, identify partners, and put strategies in place before disaster strikes, so that they can help patrons know what to expect and what to have on hand to navigate the civil legal issues that often arise after an emergency. This course is a great introduction to this topic. Simply learning more about where to find local legal aid and making some connections for strong referrals is an excellent first step. This flyer is a helpful resource for libraries looking to support patrons’ access to justice.

The second course covers the Response and early Recovery phases of the Emergency Management Cycle. The first part of this course addresses trauma-informed care in the aftermath of disaster. While library staff will not be providing legal advice, they are often the first place people stop when they are overwhelmed after a natural disaster. Many patrons will be experiencing trauma. One of the most valuable things you can offer is an empathetic listener. Tiela Chalmers from the Disaster Legal Assistance Collaborative in California shares some words of wisdom for library staff in this position.

This course also includes a useful handout of Pocket Phrases for learners to customize and have at the ready for these difficult patron interactions.

The second part of the course covers the primary funding sources for disaster recovery. If the disaster is federally declared, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA) may provide financial assistance for a variety of disaster-related needs. Library staff can benefit from knowing basic information about the application and appeals processes, timelines, and dependencies of these assistance programs so they can guide patrons to appropriate resources and set realistic expectations. Figuring out FEMA is a seven-page brochure that you can print and distribute to patrons. The Issue Spotting for Library Staff handout is a great learning tool to help staff identify the legal issue behind a patron’s question and make the right referral.

The third course focuses on the later phase of Recovery and delves into Mitigation. The crisis atmosphere may subside after six weeks or so, but the civil legal aspects of a natural disaster recovery can extend well beyond six months. The effects of trauma often last long after the immediate crisis has passed. . Issues around housing, finances, family, and education can all become more difficult after a disaster and can take months, and even years to resolve. This is also an important time for the community to think about reducing the impact of future disasters. When library staff recognize the potential long-term impacts of a disaster, they will be prepared to provide information and referrals for legal issues that can surface months—or even years-- later.

These courses give library staff the knowledge and confidence to connect patrons with trusted information, legal resources, and community partners when they need them most.