Disaster recovery should be measured in completed work and public trust
Anthony Carrillo, Esq.
NAPREC Founder and Chairman
Issue commentary · Disaster recovery · September 15, 2026
Disaster recovery is a sequence of decisions, not a single funding announcement. Communities need to know which projects have been approved, which are under construction, and which have actually restored a service or reduced a hazard.
One part of the federal recovery framework is USDA’s Emergency Watershed Protection program. The NRCS Caribbean Area page describes technical and financial assistance to help communities address imminent threats to life and property after natural disasters. That example illustrates why residents must identify the correct program: recovery assistance has different purposes, applicants, and requirements.
NAPREC should advocate for a public project record that follows money and results together. A useful record identifies the responsible agency, the location, the scope of work, major milestones, and the reason for any delay. It should separate initial estimates from awarded funding and completed construction.
Recovery also should reduce the chance that the same community will face the same failure again. Residents deserve explanations of maintenance plans, resilience choices, and how public input influenced the final project. Accessibility and language should be considered throughout the process.
People who have lived through a disaster should not have to decode an administrative system to learn whether help is coming. Ask officials for a project-specific update with dates and accountable contacts. The public deserves evidence of progress and an honest explanation of what remains unfinished.
Source and further reading: Official agency resource. Resource checked September 15, 2026.