Note to readers: For more than a decade I’ve used this platform provided by the Center of Excellence for Homeland Security /Emergency Management to discuss issues of import to the emergency management profession. In upcoming blogs I intend to emphasize two government initiatives that local and even state governments can undertake, absent a coherent federal policy regarding disaster management. The first of these focuses on public preparedness.

“A Recovery Model for Local/State Governments“

By Jim Mullen

Sometimes good ideas that didn’t catch on can be reintroduced for a new era. In my last blog I resurrected my proposal to engage with the public in disaster exercises. Here I posit another initiative related to post-disaster recovery. Full disclosure: I tried without success to advance these notions while an active emergency manager, but just maybe their time is now. Readers, you be the judges.

Virtually everybody has a stake in the successful implementation of recovery post-disaster.  Following a major disaster, among the priorities are to improve and revitalize the lives of citizens; rebuild public and private institutions; and ensure renewed economic vitality for the affected jurisdiction(s). Such a broad objective is easier to proclaim than to accomplish in most communities today. But what if a jurisdiction were to organize before a disaster, embark on an educational program to assure prudent administration of the recovery process by seeking active involvement and engagement with elected officials, the private sector, and the general public to work together to develop and endorse the priorities and strategies which would form the framework for achieving recovery and revitalization of the jurisdiction?

Disaster recovery teams must be inclusive: elected officials should enlist their more responsible opponents; private sector competitors could surely set aside their rivalries sufficiently to ensure that the community’s restoration proceeds. “Worst case” exercises would illuminate decisions that would otherwise have to be made in haste, and under extreme duress. Critical tasks post-disaster might include restoration of communications systems, transportation priorities , re-entry to critical areas, including neighborhoods; Identification of legal authorities necessary to move swiftly to restore normal services, pay immediate costs, etc. Special attention must be paid to the information flow the public is receiving during and post-disaster; consider enlisting local media in deliberations on how best to  direct attention to credible sources to combat the likely misinformation that seems to follow disasters.

While such an organized effort ideally  would be sponsored by the governor, nothing prevents mayors or county executives from initiating this approach on a local level. Understandably, elected officials already have a lot on their respective plates. It will take courage, perseverance and patience on their part to build and sustain a recovery-oriented organization before it is needed. The federal government seems determined to abruptly shift a major share of the post-disaster burden to their local and state counterparts. A catastrophic disaster may find crucial federal assistance spitefully delayed or merely mishandled. The more politically, socially diverse and united local and/or state leaders are – across partisan lines- the better the chances that affected jurisdictions can pound the table with a bigger fist when it’s time to deal with the feds.

After Katrina, as State EMD director, I led a team of local and state personnel to meet with leaders of the Mississippi recovery. Their advice was while they tried to do everything right after the fact, the issues were so complex that they struggled to catch up. Their advice to us in 2006 is worth repeating : START Recovery Planning NOW!

Editor Note:

Washington State Emergency Management Division has created lists to help everyone start resilience lists and resources for preparedness: Grab and Go Lists to 2 Week Ready and Yearly. The below link will take you to the site.

Gather Supplies Create Go Bag List