Are you working with families affected by a natural disaster? If so, these videos are here to help!
The Financial Recovery After Disaster video series can be used alone or in combination with your other disaster recovery efforts.
These videos are based on the award-winning resource, Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit. They are produced in partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension and the North Dakota State University Extension Service.
The videos will help you:
- Better understand the challenges that families face when working toward financial recovery.
- Start conversations with families on disaster recovery efforts.
Watch the videos
If you have the time, use one or more of the full-length videos. Use the shortened promotional videos when you have limited time. Or use them to market the video series or toolkit.
Review how resiliency can help families through the disaster recovery process.
Finding the right help is key to short- and long-term financial recovery following a disaster.
Get action steps that can help you better understand your financial picture, and how to make the best decisions for your family.
Look at how insurance coverage operates and how it relates to the disaster recovery journey.
Explore the role that government organizations like FEMA and SBA play in disaster recovery efforts.
Get an overview of the different options you may encounter during disaster recovery.
About the disaster videos project
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), "From 2020–2021, there were 42 weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion (CPI-Adjusted) each to affect the United States. These events included 2 drought events, 2 flooding events, 24 severe storm events, 11 tropical cyclone events, 2 wildfire events and 1 winter storm event.”
Explore how this video series can be used to help prepare for disaster BEFORE it strikes. This Hibbing Public Access video features Extension educator Lori Hendrickson. Watch it now: Before it Happens: Financial Recovery After Disaster Video
Listen to this introductory webinar about the development of the videos. Get tips on using the videos and more. Watch it now: Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit On-Demand Videos Webinar
Additional marketing resources are available, including a flyer, poster, bookmark, and Twitter messages. To access these marketing resources, contact Lori Hendrickson (lhend@umn.edu; 218-327-5958 x3007).
Disaster survivors face tremendous challenges while making financial recovery decisions. Financial recovery is complex and programs vary depending on disaster circumstances. In a study of hurricane Hugo survivors in South Carolina, Rubin & Popkin (1990) found many survivors were low-income and illiterate. Access to videos which provide verbal explanations may have helped survivors better understand financial recovery options.
Use of social media and devices providing internet access has expanded significantly. Ardalan, et. al (2008) found just-in-time videos to be a well-received and utilized resource for disaster survivors, volunteers and professionals following disasters. North Dakota State University Extension Service documented success with a short video on building a sandbag dike, which was viewed 9,292 times via the internet during the active disaster period of the 2011 flood.
University of Minnesota Extension and North Dakota State University Extension Service had joined together with Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, to develop the Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit in 2010. Given the research and the complex challenges families face after experiencing a disaster, they wanted to partner again to bring the disaster toolkit “to life” with easy-to-access videos.
University of Minnesota Extension and North Dakota State University Extension Service received a Smith-Lever Special Needs Grant in 2012 through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Family Financial Recovery Program. These funds were used to create a series of short just-in-time videos to enhance the Recovery After Disaster: The Family Financial Toolkit, helping disaster survivors make the best financial decisions for their unique situation.
The development team included:
- Lori Hendrickson, Extension educator in family resource management at University of Minnesota Extension
- Sara Croymans, Extension educator in family resource management at University of Minnesota Extension
- Lori Scharmer, family economics specialist at North Dakota State University Extension service
- Patricia Olson, program leader in family resiliency at University of Minnesota Extension
- Scott Swanson, video editor at North Dakota State University Extension service
- Bruce Sundeen, video editor at North Dakota State University Extension service
- David Haaser, graphic designer at North Dakota State University Extension service
An advisory board of disaster survivors and professionals guided video development to ensure:
- Accuracy of content.
- Respectful portrayal of financial circumstances faced during recovery.
Six videos were created to cover the most “high need” areas such as finding help and insurance coverage. After the videos were created, they were tested and finalized. Shorter versions were created for those short on time and for promotional purposes.
All final videos were placed on this website as well as both partners’ YouTube channels:
An impact evaluation was conducted in Fall 2015 to understand how the videos were being used and shared.
- See this infographic summary: Financial Recovery After Disaster Video Series: Impact Evaluation Results
- See the white paper: Financial Recovery After Disaster Videos: Preliminary impact evaluation results summery
- See this journal article: Extension Builds on Tradition of Meeting Community Needs by Using Technology in Disaster recovery — Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences; reposted to our website by permission.
Review information from our evaluation. The Impact evaluation white paper (PDF) is also available.
Ardalan, et. Al. (2010). Post-disaster quality of life among older survivors five years after the Bam earthquake and implications for recovery policy. Ageing & Society.
National Climatic Data Center. (2013, January 8). National overview: Annual 2012. Ashville, NC: National Climatic Data Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Rubin, C. B, & Popkin, R. (1990, January). Disaster recovery after hurricane Hugo in South Carolina. Boulder, CO: Natural Hazards Research and Applications Information Center, Institute of Behavioral Science — University of Colorado.
Reviewed in 2018