Assessing the role of states in disaster recovery: applying plan quality techniques to state recovery plans
Creators: name: Sandler, Dylan Lee
Publisher: name: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries
Year: 2011

description: Following natural or human-induced disasters, communities begin the challenging process of restoring, rebuilding, and reshaping the physical, social, economic, and natural environments (Smith and Wenger 2006). The process of recovery, which includes both pre-event planning and post-event action, is a set of loosely related activities occurring before, during, and after a disastrous event (Eadie et al, 2001). Relative to the other phases of hazards management - mitigation, preparedness, and response - recovery is the least studied and understood (Berke, Kartez, & Wenger, 1993; Smith & Wenger, 2006; Rubin, 2009). Disaster recovery involves a multitude of stakeholders and actors, including public sector, non-profit, and private sector organizations, as well as individuals and households (Smith, forthcoming). While recovery ultimately occurs at the local level, states play a pivotal role, serving as a linchpin between local communities and the assistance provided by federal agencies and other external organizations (Durham and Suiter, 1991). However, the role of states in recovery is less understood than that of federal agencies or local governments (Waugh & Sylves, 1996; Smith & Wenger, 2006). The purpose of this study is to increase knowledge about the role of states in disaster recovery. The study uses the approach developed in the field of plan quality analysis by developing a tool to evaluate recovery plans according to standards of planning practice, and subsequently applying the tool to a sample of existing state recovery plans. In addition to the general findings and best practices from the evaluation of plans in this study, the tool may be used to guide the preparation of future state recovery plans. Several recent initiatives at the federal level suggest that disaster recovery planning is gaining greater recognition and support: 1) FEMA established a Long-Term Community Recovery Cadre to provide guidance for communities engaging in recovery, including assistance in the development of post-disaster recovery plans; 2) the Government Accountability Office published multiple reports emphasizing the value of pre-event planning for post-disaster recovery and the need for federal support of recovery planning; 3) Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act of 2006, requiring the creation of a National Disaster Recovery Framework that is currently in a draft form; and 4) the White House created a Long-Term Disaster Recovery Working Group composed of Secretaries and Administrators of more than 20 departments, agencies, and offices to provide guidance for recovery organizations and make suggestions for future improvements (Smith, forthcoming). Given the increasing level of disaster-related losses and the emerging interest from the federal government regarding disaster recovery, the study of state recovery planning is timely and lends itself to application in practice and policy-making.