1. PPA 573 – Emergency Management and Homeland Security Lecture 6 – Recovery From Disaster

2. Introduction Advanced planning for recovery yields significant benefits in the event of a disaster. The recovery period is a valuable opportunity to influence the community’s future development. The recovery planning process virtually requires local officials to study the experience of other communities that have recovered from disasters. Support for mitigation tends to be highest immediately after a disaster, and local officials must be prepared with specific plans and policies to take advantage of the opportunity.

3. Overview of the Recovery Process

4. Framework for Local Recovery In communities where the speed and quality of recovery was higher, local officials found ways to: Ensure more productive intergovernmental relationships; Compete effectively for scarce resources; and Better manage community-level decision- making during the postdisaster period.

5. Key Elements of the Recovery Process Personal leadership. Local decision-making. Priority of intergovernmental relations. Redevelopment of damaged areas. Long-range view of built community. Ability to marshal internal and external resources.

6. Key Elements of the Recovery Process Ability to act. Availability of state and federal resources. Reliance on local rather than external resources. Local administrative and technical capability. Horizontal and vertical intergovernmental relationships.

7. Key Elements of the Recovery Process Knowing what to do. Local knowledge of requirements for state and federal assistance. Identification of sources of assistance. Realistic, flexible, and current preparedness plans.

8. Federal and State Assistance Disasters of 2002. http://www.fema.gov/library/diz02.shtm. http://www.fema.gov/library/diz02.shtm Disasters of 2003. http://www.fema.gov/library/diz03.shtm. http://www.fema.gov/library/diz03.shtm Disasters of 2004. http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema?year=2004. http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema?year=2004 Federal aid. Individual assistance. http://www.fema.gov/rrr/inassist.shtm. http://www.fema.gov/rrr/inassist.shtm Public assistance. http://www.fema.gov/rrr/pa/. http://www.fema.gov/rrr/pa/ http://www.fema.gov/rrr/pa/overview.shtm. http://www.fema.gov/rrr/pa/overview.shtm

9. The Red Cross and Other Voluntary Assistance The most likely source of immediate assistance following a disaster is the American Red Cross. Also Salvation Army and Mennonite Disaster Services. Work with victims on a one-to-one basis frequently. The Red Cross congressional charter gives the organization broad authority during a disaster.

10. The Red Cross and Other Voluntary Assistance Red Cross will provide assistance regardless of presidential disaster declaration. Their definition of a disaster is broader. After a federally declared disaster, Red Cross almost becomes an arm of the federal government.

11. The Red Cross and Other Voluntary Assistance Red Cross also has a statement of understanding with FEMA outlining its responsibilities during a disaster where FEMA is present. Functions: Mass care (shelter and food); Direct financial and material assistance to families; Emergency health care; Assistance with rebuilding and repair; and Comprehensive damage assessment.

12. Post-disaster Mitigation Mitigation has been defined as “deciding what to do where a risk to health, safety, and welfare of society has been determined to exist; and implementing a risk reduction program.” Since most natural disasters result from known agents, some anticipation can take place.

13. Post-disaster Mitigation Mitigation requirements. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Act of 1988. Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. http://www.fema.gov/regions/v/newsletter/news_n3.htm. http://www.fema.gov/regions/v/newsletter/news_n3.htm Obstacles of mitigation. Complexity. Long lead time. Resistance to mitigation. Local government capacity and will.