Readying for Recovery: Strategies to Support Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning

2 D I SAS T E R R ECOVE RY TODAY.COM damaged infrastructure. Therefore, leadership is necessary at the local level to ensure that progress remains steady and does not stall. This requires foresight, a collaborative approach, and a thoughtful understanding of the diverse vulnerabilities of a community and the unique resources that can be brought to bear. So, why plan? Communities of all sizes and geographical locations are at risk from experiencing a disaster and therefore should plan their potential recovery, starting immediately. The most effective way to support recovery is through discussions prior to a disaster. It is important to identify lead agencies or departments and preemptively identify those public, private and volunteer organizations with skills and resources to support the recovery effort. While resources are limited, the alarming fact is that the rate of disasters is increasing. The time to plan is now! Lessons Learned The NDRF was established in 2011 because disasters showcased a need for a focused recovery leadership at every level of government; a strategic approach to addressing a wide range of recovery needs; and an effective structure for coordinating and supporting federal resources to support disaster-impacted communities. Following the historic disasters of 2017 and 2018, the need for the further adoption of these principles remains. Multiple after-action reports from the major disasters highlighted the need for The Time is Now Though many recovery programs are available at the federal level, it is up to the impacted community to implement those programs. The need for additional pre-disaster recovery planning has been highlighted in FEMA’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022. It emphasizes that resources at the state, local and federal level for pre-disaster recovery planning, hazard mitigation and preparedness activities are often constrained. In addition, the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) remains a relatively new concept that community partners have limited exposure to and understanding of how it supports recovery efforts. 4 The overarching challenge is that comprehensive community recovery after a disaster is unique and complex. It expands beyond simply building back FEMA/Walter Jennings