ISD supports public-private partnerships for community resilience like Together for LA that bring together leaders to develop plans and practice ways to work together in the event that disaster strikes.

ISD deploys practitioners across a range of community development and disaster management disciplines to answer questions and build capacity for local communities. We identify local needs and compile business, nonprofit, and government resources to match them.

ISD calls attention and encourages break-through technologies and innovations like Kind Designs 3D-printed coastal infrastructure that make communities more resilient and sustainable for the future.

ISD staff and fellows are thought leaders across a range of issues. ISD's after action review of Hurricane Harvey led to significant breakthroughs in providing more assistance to small towns and rural communities. ISD also pioneered the development of state revolving loan funds for infrastructure and corporate small business disaster grant programs.

As the federal government reduces disaster recovery support and shifts responsibilities to states, the need for state-led capacity has never been greater. FEMA has excelled at supporting better nationwide emergency management, its efforts have significantly reduced casualties that even the worst extreme events cause. However, the current model has not always served the states in terms of risk management, displacement, cost avoidance, or speedy recovery.