Multiple damage assessments may be warranted when an area receives damage from severe weather.  Quick assessments (referred to as windshield surveys) of governmental damage and private damage generally are performed

1. As soon as the wind dies down, Public works will be activated.  Florida DOT will concentrate on Interstate highway (I-75), the Turnpike, and Federal funded highways (US 301, US 441) and in that order.  The County Public Works will focus on highways that will get the businesses re-opened and traffic flowing including high priority locations such as flow to and from shelters, Urgent Care, and Hospitals. (SR44, 471, 475). They will be clearing blocked roads, bridge damage, etc.

2.  Radio operators may be asked by their agency Supported to do a snapshot survey for assigned areas such as businesses, neighborhoods, sub-divisions, and off main roadways.  They may be identifying streets with no power, damaged structures, establishing boundaries for flooded areas, location of people that might be up to no good, and a variety of other situations.  Serious situations identified would be immediately reported by radio to a Net Control.  Beforehand, the radio operators should receive a briefing detailing what information is needed, issued team logs to be completed, and when the task or shift is complete, there will be a agency debriefing from the team.  The log may note the address and the type of situation. 

3. Previously trained representatives from the local, county, state governments, will also verify and/or participate in a damage assessment if the county may have enough damage to qualify for a state or federal declaration (Preliminary Disaster Assessment).  This assessment has four levels that are found at the bottom of the page.  This is compared against the tax value listing of the property to an estimated damage value.  These are then added together.

4. Volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross (CANS system), Salvation Army, and the faith-based community normally may obtaining information to provide individual and family support (shelter, food, clothing, long term recovery. Many of those identified are people with no insurance or saving, rent, etc. that fall "between the cracks" after disasters.  Red Cross criteria are different from FEMA's and, therefore, can no be used for the above Preliminary Disaster Assessment.

5.The National Weather Service personnel will respond to verify the cause of damage, if needed.  Thorough assessments by professionals (such as building inspectors, tax assessors, and storm water management personnel) may be necessary later.

A group, or team of individuals, who are assigned to an area, that have been briefed with the objectives, provided with data collection forms, have previous training which allows them to ability to split up within their area and quick assess the damage is the preferred technique. Once the individuals have canvassed the area, regrouping at a pre-determined location so the data can be compiled into a single report for addressing the identified problems.

Levels of Disaster Damage   FEMA DEFINITION (Use this criteria when making reports)