When the situation changes quickly, clear communication matters
Disasters change priorities in an instant. Agencies have to respond quickly, communicate accurately, meet federal requirements, and make decisions while the people they serve may be dealing with damaged homes, disrupted lives, and enormous uncertainty.
Hollaway has worked alongside public agencies before, during, and after major disasters—providing emergency public communications, risk communications, environmental review, recovery compliance, and long-term community engagement.
We understand the pace of this work and the responsibility that comes with it. Information has to be accurate. Processes still have to be followed. Federal funding requirements have to be documented. And communities need clear, timely information about what is happening and what comes next.
Our team can mobilize quickly, work as an extension of client staff, and stay with the effort as immediate response gives way to recovery and rebuilding.
Our Capabilities
Environmental Planning + NEPA
We help agencies navigate the environmental review and documentation required for federally funded disaster recovery and resilience projects, supporting responsible recovery while helping projects continue to move forward.
- Environmental review and constraints analysis
- NEPA documentation (Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, and Environmental Impact Statements)
- Section 106 and cultural resources coordination
- Protected species and natural resource evaluations
- Environmental permitting support
- GIS and environmental data analysis
- State and federal agency coordination
Federal Recovery Compliance
Federal disaster funding comes with significant documentation, environmental, and regulatory requirements. We help agencies understand those requirements, build them into recovery efforts early, and maintain the documentation necessary to support funding and implementation.
- FEMA environmental and historic preservation review support
- HUD environmental review support
- Federally funded recovery program compliance
- Environmental documentation and records management
- Regulatory and agency coordination
- Recovery project environmental review
- Compliance tracking and documentation
Public Involvement + Stakeholder Engagement
Recovery decisions can directly affect where and how people rebuild, the infrastructure communities depend on, and how neighborhoods change after a disaster. We help agencies communicate those decisions clearly and create meaningful opportunities for communities to participate throughout recovery.
- Public involvement, communications, and engagement strategies
- Stakeholder identification
- Community and property owner outreach
- Public meetings, hearings, and workshops
- Virtual and hybrid engagement
- Elected official and agency briefings
- Multilingual community engagement
- Public comment management and documentation
- Long-term recovery communications
Crisis + Risk Communications
During an emergency, people need information they can understand, trust, and act on. We help public agencies communicate quickly and accurately as conditions change, while maintaining consistency across audiences, platforms, and organizations.
- Emergency public information and communications support
- Crisis and risk communications strategy
- Rapid-response messaging and materials
- Public information coordination
- Community alerts and updates
- Media and stakeholder communications support
- Executive and elected official communications support
- Recovery and resilience messaging
- Issues and misinformation response
Creative + Digital Communications
Emergency and recovery information has to be easy to find and understand. Our creative team helps agencies translate changing conditions, technical information, recovery programs, and public processes into accessible communications across digital and traditional platforms.
- Emergency and recovery websites and digital platforms
- Interactive mapping and informational tools
- Infographics, fact sheets, and public information materials
- Project videos and animations
- Social and digital communications content
- Public meeting and recovery program materials
- Multilingual and accessible communications materials
Before, During + After the Storm
Hollaway’s disaster experience was built during real events, with real consequences.
During and after Hurricane Harvey, our team provided emergency public communications for the Harris County Flood Control District 12 hours a day, seven days a week, for three consecutive months. Working as an extension of Flood Control District staff, we helped communicate rapidly changing information to the public while also supporting communications for their FEMA-funded Home Buyout Program.
Our experience with emergency and risk communications began well before Harvey. During the Addicks and Barker Dam Safety Program, Hollaway provided public education and risk communications during an active dam safety response. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized that public education and communications strategy approach as a National Best Practice in 2010.
And we understand what comes after the immediate emergency.
Our environmental team supports federally funded recovery programs with the environmental review, regulatory coordination, and documentation necessary to move recovery dollars responsibly and advance rebuilding efforts.
Together, that experience gives Hollaway an understanding of the full arc of disaster response and recovery—from communicating risk before an emergency to supporting communities during a crisis and navigating the long work of recovery that follows.
