Preparedness Critical to Disaster Recovery

LONG-TERM RESPONSE OFTEN OVERLOOKED IN PLANNING PROCESS

BY JOHN ROY

MUNICIPALITIES ARE GENERALLY PREPARED TO RESPOND TO THE immediate aftermath of disasters, and most states mandate that local governmental entities have an emergency management plan. However, many municipalities have not paid close attention to, or planned for, the complicated and expensive long-term recovery process.

It can take months, or even years, for a community to recover when a disaster causes serious property and infrastructure damage. Municipal leaders must face the reality that long after the brush is cleared and water and electricity have been restored, they will face the challenge of rebuilding their community. Including long-term disaster recovery planning in their emergency management plan can alleviate some of the challenge and speed the community’s recovery.

FOUR PHASES OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

There are four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

PHASE ONE: MITIGATION

Mitigation efforts are intended to prevent or lessen the cause, impact and consequences of disasters. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, every $1 spent on mitigation yields a savings of $6 in recovery costs. In larger numbers, $1 million invested in pre-mitigation efforts can save $6 million post disaster.

For example, consider the installation of fire doors. While the initial outlay is more expensive than that of wood core doors, the cost of cleaning-up and repairing the damage of a one-room fire is significantly less than the restoration or loss of an entire building.

Mitigation efforts potentially not only reduce the negative effects of a disaster and save money, but also create a more sustainable community. It is important to determine which mitigation efforts best serve the needs and interests of the municipality and its citizens. These could include, for example: • Planning and zoning • Floodplain protection • Property acquisition and relocation • Public outreach programs

PHASE TWO: PREPAREDNESS

While mitigation seeks to lessen the impact of or even prevent a disaster, preparedness is the ability to respond to one. Preparedness is the planning, training and educational activities for events that cannot be mitigated.

Examples of municipal preparedness actions: • Developing an emergency management plan • Installing disaster warning systems • Purchasing radio communication equipment • Conducting emergency response training and drills

PHASE THREE: RESPONSE

With an emergency management plan, municipalities can improve their ability to be ready for the response phase of a disaster, which includes: • Executing disaster response and communication plans • Mobilizing first responders • Addressing threats to people and property • Distributing resources

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY RESOURCES

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides resources to help local governments plan for, respond to and recover from all types of disasters. Local governments should determine how to best utilize federal assistance programs before disaster strikes, rather than in the aftermath of an event.

DISASTER INFORMATION

fema.gov/disaster

PRE-DISASTER RECOVERY PLANNING GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/pre-disaster-recoveryplanning-guide-local-governments.pdf

MITIGATION IDEAS: A RESOURCE FOR REDUCING RISK TO NATURAL HAZARDS

fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-06/fema-mitigationideas_02-13-2013.pdf

LOCAL DISASTER RECOVERY MANAGERS RESPONSIBILITIES

fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/frameworks/ community-recovery-management-toolkit/recovery-planning/localdisaster-recovery-managers-responsibilities

ASSISTANCE FOR GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE NON-PROFITS AFTER A DISASTER

fema.gov/assistance/public

COMMUNITY RECOVERY MANAGEMENT TOOLKIT

fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/frameworks/ community-recovery-management-toolkit

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COURSES AND TRAINING

National Training and Education Division firstrespondertraining.gov/frts

Online Course Catalog: firstrespondertraining.gov/frts/npccatalog

CENTER FOR DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS

cdp.dhs.gov

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE

training.fema.gov/emi

Municipal leaders must face the reality that long after the brush is cleared and water and electricity have been restored, they will face the challenge of rebuilding their community. Including long-term disaster recovery planning in their emergency management plan can alleviate some of the challenge and speed the community’s recovery.

Once emergency issues are handled, municipalities can then shift their focus to immediate cleanup, restoration, repair and reconstruction activities that enable continuity of government and business.

PHASE FOUR: RECOVERY

The recovery phase includes both short- and long-term measures. Short-term recovery efforts return the community to its minimum operating standards. Long-term recovery measures return it to its pre-disaster condition, when possible, and include enhancements that will help build resilience and protect the community from future disasters. Local governments often have not invested sufficient resources in planning how they will recover from a disaster, especially for the long-term recovery process.

In the recovery phase of emergency management, local governments must address the impacts of the disaster and reduce risk and vulnerability to future disasters. This is achieved by: • Dealing with short- and long-term interruption to services and resources • Rebuilding what was destroyed and building safer, stronger infrastructure that meets the community’s modern needs • Obtaining federal, state and local disaster assistance funding

In developing an effective disaster recovery plan, municipalities must establish clear leadership roles and plan for early and consistent communication throughout the recovery phase to boost public confidence in its leaders.

Municipal leaders must also plan for the effective identification of recovery needs and how they will minimize costs while maximizing opportunities for disaster funding and building resilience into the recovery process.

OTHER EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RESOURCES

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

ada.gov/emerg_prep.html

CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

emergency.cdc.gov

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STORMREADY® PROGRAM

weather.gov/StormReady

SPB

sbpusa.org/who-we-help/policy-makers sbpprotects.org/resources/navigatingfema-and-the-sba-process-pdf

STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES

usa.gov/state-emergency-management

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

hud.gov/program_offices/comm_ planning/cdbg-dr youtube.com/watch?v=Lrmwz8IXXdQ

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/ disaster-assistance The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Disaster Recovery Framework strongly recommends municipalities appoint a Local Disaster Recovery Manager(s) (LDRM) to lead disaster recovery activities. This person(s) should participate in FEMA emergency preparedness training and education for the knowledge and skills needed to help people and support rebuilding the community. (See FEMA sidebar.)

Local officials need to understand that the total amount of federal assistance their municipality will receive from Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through a Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery is directly correlated to the number of maximum FEMA assistance awards ($33,000) provided to the community’s homeowners. This means that when homeowners do not apply for FEMA assistance or if they settle for less than the full amount, the municipality receives less funding. Having LDRM(s) who can help residents with the FEMA assistance process to receive the maximum award helps ensure the municipality receives more relief funding.

Taking steps now to ensure your community has detailed emergency management plans will help protect lives and property, save money, maximize disaster funding, and speed the community’s long-term recovery after a disaster.

John Roy is a senior risk control field representative for Tokio Marine HCC – Public Risk Group.