Comprehensive Long-Term Recovery Plan for Disaster-Affected Communities

1. Long Term Recovery Presentation for Communities affected by Disasters beginning the process into Long Term Recovery

2. Incident Response Emergency/Relief Phases of Disaster Recovery Short/Long Preparedness Mitigation Communities are always in one phase of a disaster cycle, but most people tend to think of disasters as a line of activity rather than a circle and for most that line starts with the incident.

3. Disaster Recovery Timeline Weeks http://www.vanderbilt.edu/vector/research/recoveryphase.pdf

4. Recovery Two phases occur within recovery: Short Term - Most emergency and relief work is completed, infrastructure restored, community identifies local resources to form a long term recovery team and planning for permanent housing begins - occurs in weeks usually months Long Term – Transition from national organizations to State and local community, disaster case management and recovery initiatives are administered by the local community, construction activities for homes occurs and daily “new normal” life resumes – often takes years

5. Everyone needs to apply for assistance Regardless of the size of the incident or whether insurance is a factor, by working through case management accurate numbers can be recorded to maximize reimbursement to the community. Also people tend to move around after a disaster, so registration provides current contact information to case managers when they are trying to connect assistance with survivors for: Immediate needs (medical, food, clothing, shelter) Housing Emotional and Spiritual care

6. Count every volunteer hour

7. Organize Long Term Recovery Committee in the preparedness phase Assure that your community: Is educated about the process and resources for recovery Maintains local control by joining the county Emergency Management Plan Keeps donations (material/cash) local Decreases reliance on state and national resources for case management Shortens steps between short and long term recovery phases

8. Insured and Uninsured Property owners, whether it’s a personal or rental asset, need to understand their policy and save all receipts. They need to understand the coverage limits, deductibles and additional options that may need to be included for complete coverage. Renters also must understand the benefit of insurance coverage. Uninsured residents are only covered if FEMA steps in with individual assistance grants. If a mortgage is on the property, additional education regarding payoff should be reviewed.

9. Disasters and Disaster Recovery need to be approached as a business Decisions need to be made without emotion but they must also represent the human side of a disaster No one ever wants to think about a funeral, but more people are recognizing that pre-planning relieves your family of having to make important financial decisions during a period of great stress and grief. The same is true in disasters. When decisions are made objectively in the preparedness phase, the easier it will be to move forward once the incident occurs. Including recovery in the Emergency Management Plan assures that the necessary decisions are made beforehand.

10. The business of recovery Similar to a start-up business Executive Summary – explains the fundamentals for the proposed recovery group General Company Description – mission statement Products and Services – address the community needs Marketing Plan – how are you going to alert survivors about your services Operational Plan - location of assistance and services Management and Organization – board of directors, advisors, staff Personal Financial Statement – bios of the board members and staff Startup Expenses and Capitalization – projected expenses to get recovery group up and going Financial Plan – budgets (12 month and 2-3 year projections) Appendices – brochures, construction plans, MUI’s, etc. Refining the Plan – for funders and grantors

11. Tip for a successful LTRC • The success of your LTRG will be judged by how well it located resources (money, facilities, volunteers, personnel, in-kind donations), and how well it served the community (survivors helped, homes repaired and rebuilt, measurable impacts, etc). • At the most basic level the long term recovery process involves: • 1. Identifying individuals and families with unmet needs in your community • 2. Providing case management in order to prioritize how those needs will be met • 3. Delivering goods, services and funds to meet those needs

12. SETTING UP THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR LTRC • It will become clear after your first meeting that some kind of organizational structure will be needed in order to be successful. The form that your LTRG takes can be highly structured (formal organization with board of directors, management team, and staff) or less structured (committee made up of representatives from local agencies involved in the recovery). There are challenges and benefits to each approach. • The key is to identify stakeholders who are committed to the recovery of their community, and to the long term recovery process. This group should then deliberate the challenges and benefits and decide on the structure that works best for your community.

13. Suggested Long Term Recovery Committee Positions • Positions needed to create a long term recovery committee: • Committee Chair • Case Management Supervisor • Data Management Supervisor • Construction Management Supervisor • Communications Supervisor • Volunteer Coordinator • Suggest that these be local people. State organizations will join the committee and assist these positions.

14. Questions! Contact the following Anna Tangredi, Voluntary Agency Liaison Texas Division of Emergency Management Texas Homeland Security Texas Department of Public Safety Office: 512-424-2588 Mobile:  512-284-2205 Anna.Tangredi@dps.texas.gov www.txdps.state.tx.us • Marla Bearden, Chair, Texas VOAD Recovery Committee • Disaster Recovery Specialist • Cell: 214-537-7359 • Email: marla.bearden@texasbaptists.org