24 hours 
Damage assessments deployed 
after a disaster event 
50% faster
Permit turnaround even at 
peak post-disaster volume 

When disaster strikes, delays cost communities more than time

Paper-based assessments, siloed systems, and overwhelmed staff slow every step of recovery. 
Accela replaces the chaos with a connected platform that keeps operations running from day one. 

Kept running through the storm 

“Disaster Recovery made sure we stayed running, even when a major disaster takes place like a hurricane. This was an issue with our prior infrastructure and the security components run in the background without impacting our system performance.” 

Benjamin Dunn

Building Division Director, 
Polk County, FL
Permitting on day one after Hurricane Ian 

“The day after Hurricane Ian came through, only 3 of 14 permitting techs and supervisors had power. Because of Accela, I was able to permit bringing in signs, electrical permits, and other emergency needs and the reviewers were able to get started on their pieces right away.” 

Dana Winters

Permitting Supervisor in Development Services, Manatee County, FL
Continuity through the pandemic 

“Because we already had processes in place to collaborate between agencies within the county using Accela, we did not skip a beat through the entire pandemic. In fact, we even improved our level of services because we didn’t have customers coming into the office, freeing us up to do reviews more quickly and keep those people in the industry working.”

Claire Jubb

Assistant County Administrator, 
Charlotte County, FL

One platform. 
Every phase of disaster recovery. 

Deploy damage assessments within hours

Mobile tools let inspectors capture damage data in the field the moment disaster strikes. No paper, no manual re-entry. Every assessment is logged, geo-tagged, and visible to your team in real time from any device. 

Stand up emergency permitting immediately

Launch streamlined contractor registration and emergency permit workflows the day a disaster is declared. Applicants apply online, fees are calculated automatically, and reviewers can approve from anywhere, even with limited staff available. 

Keep residents informed throughout recovery 

The Citizen Access Portal gives property owners and contractors real-time status on assessments, permits, and inspections. Fewer phone calls, less confusion, and faster community confidence that recovery is moving forward.

Coordinate across every department from 
one system 

Recovery touches building, code enforcement, planning, public works, and more. Accela keeps all departments on the same record, with shared workflows and concurrent review so nothing waits in one department’s queue while others sit idle. 

Maintain full operations even when staff capacity is limited 

Cloud-based infrastructure means your team can process permits, route inspections, and communicate with contractors from home, in the field, or across the county, even if your office is inaccessible or operating with a skeleton crew. 

End-to-end lifecycle coverage

Powering your Civic Velocity Advantage...Supercharged by CivicAI
A graphic of a lifecycle process moving from the citizen experience – which comprises citizen idea, initial engagement, application submission and payment – through the staff experience – which comprises back office reviews, plan review, permit/license issuance and inspection and/or renewals.

Ready to move license applications faster? 

See how Accela helps licensing departments do more with the staff they have.