Yesterday, FEMA released an updated version of its Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) Guide along with its accompanying PDA Pocket Guide. The PDA guide was updated based on public feedback FEMA received over the past year and the guide goes into effect on October 1, 2021. Government officials at every level utilize a preliminary damage assessment to determine the impact and scale of damage following a disaster. The “guide includes a concept of operations, defined roles and responsibilities, recommended methodologies, and the documentation and data required to validate damage,” according to FEMA. Additionally, the guide provides emergency management officials with a methodical approach for determining whether or not damage from a disaster warrants a disaster declaration request under the Stafford Act. Joint PDAs with FEMA that take place on or after October 1, 2021, must use the new PDA Guide, which supersedes FEMA’s current 2020 PDA Guide. Access the guides at FEMA.