Monday, May 23, 2022 | 10:30 am – 12:15 pm
Maggie Palmer Saalfield
Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society
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The legal profession has the opportunity to play an important role in New York City’s resiliency, by helping to ensure the five boroughs remain viable places for all New Yorkers to call home. Between climate change and the city’s aging infrastructure, disasters pose an increasing threat to New York City residents, most of whom lack the resources for meaningful recovery. Lawyers, however, are well-positioned to support fellow New Yorkers so they receive fair reimbursement for their disaster-related damages. This continuing legal education program will familiarize attorneys with how to represent clients who are filing disaster claims with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Speakers will cover:
- The importance of viewing disaster recovery through a lens of justice and equity.
- An overview of the different types of assistance that FEMA offers to victims of a disaster.
- An overview of the FEMA’s claims process and give practice tips for navigating the process.
Upon completing the CLE, attorneys will have the option of being added to a database of lawyers who are available to provide pro bono representation to claimants after disasters.
Program Fee:
Free For Members | $50 For Nonmembers -
Samuel Capasso
Community Infrastructure Branch Chief, FEMAShrushti Y.Kothari
Disaster Grants Program Counsel, Legal Services CorporationHeather McTeer Toney
Vice President of Community Engagement, Environmental Defense Fund -
10:30 pm – 10:40 pm
Welcome & Introductions10:40 pm – 10:50 pm
Overview of FEMA Assistance- Attorneys will learn about the different types of FEMA assistance offered to survivors of disaster and to which individuals FEMA offers assistance to pursuant to the Stafford Act: Public Assistance (Section 406 of the Stafford Act), Individual Assistance (Section 408), and Hazard Mitigation (Section 404), as well as the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018.
Samuel Capasso
10:50 pm – 11:05 pm
Overview of Individual Assistance- Attorneys will learn about the different types of individual assistance that FEMA offers, with a focus on the types of assistance lawyers are expected to help with after a disaster: Individuals and Households Program (Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance); Disaster Unemployment Assistance; Disaster Legal Services; Mass Care and Emergency Assistance; Disaster Case Management; Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program. The speakers will share personal anecdotes of their work during Hurricanes Sandy and Maria.
Samuel Capasso & Shrushti Y. Kothari
11:05 pm – 11:10 pm
Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018Samuel Capasso & Shrushti Y. Kothari
11:10 pm – 11:25 pm
FEMA AppealsShrushti Y. Kothari
11:25 pm – 11:40 pm
Best Practices for FEMA Claims & AppealsShrushti Y Kothari
11:40 pm – 12:10 pm
Suggestions for a More Equitable Future- Attendees will hear suggestions from the panelists about injustices inherent in the system and suggestions for creating a more just system of response and recovery. A featured example will be the way that redlining has created racial disparity in the way FEMA funds are distributed to homeowners. Panelists will also discuss indigenous communities that are being forced to relocate because of climate change. Finally, attorneys will also learn about the importance of ensuring that disaster response and recovery are viewed through a lens of justice and equity.
Samuel Capasso, Shrushti Y. Kothari & Heather McTeer Tony
12:10 pm – 12:15 pm
Question/Answer Session & Concluding RemarksPanelists
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New York: 2.0 Total: 1.5 Professional Practice & .5 Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
New Jersey: 2.1 General
California: 2.0 General
Pennsylvania: 1.5 General
Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys -
Sponsoring Association Committee:
Environmental Law, Bethany Davis Noll & L. Margaret Barry, ChairsSponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
Yelena Balashchenko, Manager, Business Development & Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | ybalashchenko@nycbar.org