13 THOUGHTS FOR RECOVERY
DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING
There are four phases of the Comprehensive Emergency Management Planning (CEMP) process.
Mitigation, Planning, Response, Recovery. It is a cycle, and you can be in more than one phase at a time.
A good portion of Eastern Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, just to name a few are currently involved in the Recovery Process.
Developing an Emergency Action Plan actually demands the development of multiple plans.
Planning for disaster recovery can be stressful, emotionally and intellectually taxing. Asking the right question and taking action before you need too is preferable to seeking assistance after the fact. And it will not be complex if you have a plan.
Evacuating during Irma was a simple straight forward event because I had a plan, the hard questions were already asked and answered. I am fortunate, the Mobile Home is still here with minor damage. If it was gone, I had a plan.
The primary thought now is recovery from multiple back to back Hurricanes that have affected millions of people. Hopefully most of these people will decide it is time to develop a working Emergency Action Plan for future use.
A couple of the below curated articles focus on Business recovery. Read them anyway, change the terms to fit your needs. And the concepts will become clear.
1. Disaster might not discriminate, but recovery does
Southern Poverty Law Center – September 02,2017
wr_harvey_rescues_ap_17240749664716.jpg
There was nowhere to go from the kitchen counter.
Trina Moore had already called the Coast Guard. The four children in her care were stretched out on top of the dishwasher, clutching pillows almost as big as they were while they slept. One little girl, hooked up to a ventilator, sat awake: She was watching the brown, murky water still rising towards her. It was 4:30 in the morning.
https://www.splcenter.org/news/2017/09/02/weekend-read-disaster-might-not-discriminate-recovery-does
Community Disaster Response: “We realized that when a disaster happened, whether an earthquake, storm or terrorist activity, the people on the scene were actually the first responders and, in a major event, they were often the only responders for possibly long periods of time.– Frank Lucier,San Francisco FD Retired
2. In Disaster Recovery, Social Networks Matter More Than Bottled Water and Batteries
Daniel P. Aldrich Feb 14, 2017
Survivors leave Tohoku a day after the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Warren Antiola/Flickr
Standard advice about preparing for disasters focuses on building shelters and stockpiling things like food, water, and batteries. But resilience—the ability to recover from shocks, including natural disasters—comes from our connections to others, and not from physical infrastructure or disaster kits.
3. Faith groups provide the bulk of disaster recovery, in coordination with FEMA
Paul Singer, USA TODAY Published 3:10 p.m. ET Sept. 10, 2017 | Updated 6:05 a.m. ET Sept. 13, 2017
If you donate bottles of water, diapers, clothing or any other materials to hurricane victims in Texas or Florida, your donation will likely pass through the hands of the Seventh Day Adventists before it gets to a storm victim.
International Red Cross: “Disasters Will Outstrip Aid Effort. There is a natural limit somewhere to what humanitarian assistance can do; we are afraid that there will be a point where we can no longer provide assistance.” – Peter Capella, The Guardian of London June 29, 2001
4. Proper Debris Management: Key to Disaster Recovery and FEMA Assistance
Kevin Cahill – Disaster Recovery Today
Over a recent five-year period, “debris” accounted for approximately 27 percent of the total cost of a disaster. Yet debris management remains one of the most overlooked and least-planned-for components of disaster response and recovery. The removal of debris after a disaster is funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program under Category A, Debris Removal.
https://adjustersinternational.com/publications/disaster-recovery-today/proper-debris-management/0/
5. Facts for Families
Helping Children After A Disaster
Copyright © 2014 by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
A catastrophe such as an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, fire, flood, or violent acts is frightening to children and adults alike. Talking about the event with children can decrease their fear. It is important to explain the event in words the child can understand, and in a way that will not overwhelm them.
6. Disaster recovery plan (DRP)
Search Disaster Recovery Posted by: Margaret Rouse
A disaster recovery plan (DRP) is a documented, structured approach with instructions for responding to unplanned incidents.
This step-by-step plan consists of the precautions to minimize the effects of a disaster so the organization can continue to operate or quickly resume mission-critical functions. Typically, disaster recovery planning involves an analysis of business processes and continuity needs.
http://searchdisasterrecovery.techtarget.com/definition/disaster-recovery-plan
7. 7 steps to hurricane-ready disaster recovery
By Ryan Francis, Managing Editor, CSO | Jun 3, 2016 3:32 AM PT
Batten down the hatches
Hurricanes leave whole states, even entire regions of the country, boarding up the windows, piling sand bags, and evacuating homes and businesses.
8. Recovering From Disaster
FEMA Are You Ready Chapter 5 Recovering from Disaster.
Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home, your community, and your life back to normal.
https://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/20130726-1549-20490-4912/recovering_from_disaster.pdf
9. Recovery Resources
Links to recovery resources on how to cope with disaster, how to help pets, types of assistance available following a disaster, how to find missing family and friends, how to reopen your business or farm after a disaster, how to remove mold and mildew from your home, how to find a place to stay, and community resources to help you recover.
https://www.fema.gov/recovery-resources
10. Financial Assistance After a Disaster
Find out how to get financial assistance from the government if you’ve been the victim of a disaster.
https://www.usa.gov/disaster-financial-help
11. Disaster Recovery Center Locator
Apply Online for FEMA Assistance or Apply/Check your status by phone 1-800-621-3362.
A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is a readily accessible facility or mobile office where you can go for information about FEMA or other disaster assistance programs, or for questions related to your case.
To search for the nearest DRC enter your information below. The search results will provide the full address, hours of operation, and services offered.
12. Disaster Distress Helpline
The Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, is a 24/7, 365-day-a–year, national hotline dedicated to providing immediate crisis counseling for people who are experiencing emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster. This toll-free, multilingual, and confidential crisis support service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories. Stress, anxiety, and other depression-like symptoms are common reactions after a disaster. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746 to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline
13. Are You Ready?
Getting started is very simple go to https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/7877
And download; Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. This is a perfect place to start your Emergency Action Planning process. If you already have a plan, this is a perfect place to review the content of your plan.
Mother Nature has made it very clear that a denial mindset will be detrimental to your existence. It does not matter where you live. A disaster is waiting to come and talk to you.
Share this post with your friends and family. And request the State of the Unions Un-preparedness report. I know, you know someone who will benefit from the information posted here.
Till next time
“Be Safe”
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