The Recovering from a Disaster Team, convened by the Office of Management and Budget, is being recognized in Category 2: Delivering Excellence in Digital Services at the 2025 Service to the Citizen Awards for its groundbreaking efforts to transform how government supports individuals and communities in the aftermath of natural disasters.

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In response to the overwhelming challenges disaster survivors face, from complex application processes to inconsistent information, the team launched a nationwide initiative to listen directly to survivors and FEMA personnel. Insights from these listening sessions led to a series of targeted improvements, including a simplified application process on DisasterAssistance.gov that reduced registration time by more than 15 percent, a new data-sharing system that eliminated the need for survivors to repeatedly submit the same information, and streamlined trauma-informed resources designed for both individuals and business owners. Additional enhancements included improved call center coordination, visual progress tracking, and consistent, accessible information across platforms.

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To ensure survivors receive not only efficient but also compassionate care, the team developed trauma-informed training materials for federal emergency staff, delivering workshops, guidebooks, and videos that have already reached more than 500 personnel across four agencies. Remarkably, 90 percent of participants reported an improved understanding and effectiveness in serving impacted communities.

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Through cross-agency collaboration and a survivor-centered approach, the team has made federal disaster assistance more accessible, compassionate, and efficient - ensuring recovery is not simply a process, but a meaningful path to healing.