The Disaster Contractors Network
An Innovative Partnership for Disaster Recovery


Janet Dilling
Director
Florida Public Affairs Center and Center for Disaster Risk Policy
Florida State University

Audrey Heffron
Director of Business Operations/Faculty
Florida Public Affairs Center and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy
Florida State University

October 8, 2003 -- 12:00 Noon Eastern Time


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Related Websites:
About the DCN
Disaster Contractors Network
Florida Public Affairs Center


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JANET DILLING

Janet Dilling is the Director of the Florida Public Affairs Center and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University where she specializes in emergency management, program evaluation and organizational development. With over twenty years experience in government and emergency management, she has been active on numerous state, regional, and national boards and task forces. Janet is also the Director of the Emergency Management Graduate Certificate Program at Florida State University where she is a principal faculty member for the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy’s emergency management curriculum.


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AUDREY HEFFRON

Audrey Heffron is Director of Business Operations and a member of the research faculty at the Florida Public Affairs Center and the Center for Disaster Risk Policy at Florida State University. She specializes in emergency management, and knowledge management platforms. Formerly with FEMA and the Americorps National Civilian Community Corps, Ms. Heffron has served on several national boards including a national task force on Volunteer Response During Disasters. She currenty teaches classes on Terrorism at the Askew School of Public Administration at Florida State University. Ms. Heffron is a graduate of Wells College, The University College of Oxford, and Florida State University.



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ABOUT THE DCN

The Disaster Contractors Network is a group representing all the major construction industry associations in Florida, in an effort to assist in building back better after a major disaster. It is an unprecedented agreement between the construction industry and the emergency management community to provide timely and more effective services to victims of natural disasters.

This innovative and unique partnership makes the management of construction needs and services after a disaster a significant part of Florida’s emergency management system.

This partnership resolves a critical need. In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, there was no coordinated system in place to manage the rebuilding of homes, and identify and distribute construction needs such as the shortage of lumber and other materials, manpower, equipment and specialized services. Unscrupulous, unlicensed contractors victimized many individuals a second time. In addition, most builders attempting to help victims of the storm had no experience working in the disaster environment, and had no significant role to play in the federal, state and local disaster management system.

Funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region IV and the Florida Department of Community Affairs, the DCN is in it’s third year. For more information please visit the web site at www.DCNonline.org.


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