Disaster Relief

Substantive Disaster Relief Lobbying

Carmen Group specializes in creating strategies to guide clients through complex legislative, regulatory, jurisdictional, and proposal processes to accomplish projects of merit related to disaster recovery. Our policy experts apply Carmen Group’s Proven Process and unrivaled experience with the federal funding process and the operations of federal relief agencies to create fast, effective responses that contribute meaningful progress.

The Gulf Hurricanes have created recovery needs in every category. Carmen Group is active in the Gulf helping:

  • A university secure federal funding and insurance, while also handling their public relations, and student outreach communications
  • A national contractor to work with federal response agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers, addressing their need for experienced disaster responders
  • A local, minority owned contractor to obtain a prime contract from an award that had previously been controlled by a single, large contractor

Our experience includes:

  • Helping local financial institutions seek federal relief to survive the S&L crisis
  • Helping the contractors who rushed to aid at the ground zero site without insurance to obtain indemnification through a captive insurance fund
  • Helping a metropolitan hospital recover uncompensated costs for providing emergency services after 9/11
  • Helping a major airline association successfully advocate for compensation and loan guarantees for airlines after 9/11

Carmen Group works closely with our clients, state delegations, federal agencies and local constituencies to implement innovative approaches informed by a thorough understanding of government programs, policies, and processes. We are dedicated to meeting our client's urgency and making a real difference.

Record of Success for:

  • Universities and Education Systems
  • Infrastructure: Construction, Transportation, Water and Environment
  • Banks and Financial Institutions
  • Local, Country and State Public Agencies
  • Hospitals

Special Expertise:

  • Targeted Relief Legislation
  • Insurance Delivery
  • Long-term Program Appropriations
  • Federal/Local Partnerships
  • Competitive Grant Strategies
  • Federal Agency Coordination

Proven Record of Working Effectively with:

  • White House
  • Office of Management and Budget
  • U.S. Congress
  • FEMA
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Napa River Case Study
Carmen Group specializes in providing local and state agencies long-term disaster prevention. While we represent flood protection agencies across the country, one of our key successes is the development, approval and funding of the $250 million Napa River Flood Protection Project. This state-of-the-art flood project, now half-way through construction, had serious design, formulation, community acceptance and funding issues stemming from a preliminary federal recommendation for 15-foot high walls in downtown Napa as the flood protection project. Through our efforts, we helped break through barriers in Congress, the federal agencies and the White House and secured funding and approvals. Today, this project is considered one of the premier Corps’ projects in the country and the leading example of an environmentally sensitive flood protection project.