Recovery is defined as decisions and actions taken after a disaster with a view
to restore or improves life and assets of the stricken community, while encouraging
and facilitating necessary adjustments to reduce disaster risk. Recovery and
Reconstruction (R&R) or comprehensive rehabilitation is the last step in the cycle of
disaster management. In addition, this is the phase of new cycle, where the
opportunity to reconstruction and rehabilitation should be utilized for building a better,
safer and resilient society.
Strategies for Restoring Physical Infrastructure and Lifeline Services
This may be:
Build Back Better:
This ensures greater resilience, preparedness; and minimum loss in an event of future disaster.
Participatory Planning:
Infrastructure improvement measures need to be balanced with, or at least be in line with, the social and cultural needs and preferences of beneficiaries
Coordination:
A plan of recovery will help better coordination between various development agencies. Damage Assessment and Need Assessment shall be the basis of recovery planning, various sectors for recovery process may be:
- Essential Services: Essential Commodities (eatables), Health, Water, Sanitation Power, Communication & Transport
- Infrastructural: Housing, Public Buildings and Roads
- Livelihood: Employment, Agriculture, Cottage Industry, Shops and Establishments.
Basic services such as power, water supply, sanitation, etc. should be
restored in shortest possible time. Alternate arrangement of water supply, temporary
sanitation facilities can be sought with the help of special agencies. Special
arrangements for provision of essential services should be ensured. It can include
creating temporary infrastructure for storage and distribution of water supply, running
tankers, power supply and sanitation facilities
Sector-wise Damage Assessment Formats
After an event of disaster, every intending Department shall communicate the
damage-loss assessment to the district authorities, through proper channel, on the
devised formats as given in District Disaster Management Plan
Long Term Recovery Pragramme
Disaster recovery typically occurs in phases, with initial efforts dedicated to
helping those affected and have immediate needs for housing, food and water. As
homes and businesses are repaired, people return to work and communities continue
with cleanup and rebuilding efforts. Many government agencies, voluntary
organizations, and the private sector cooperate to provide assistance and support.
Some individuals, families and communities that are especially hard hit by a
disaster may need more time and specialized assistance to recover, and a more
formalized structure to support them. Specialized assistance may be needed to
address unique needs that are not satisfied by routine disaster assistance programs.
It may also be required for very complex restoration or rebuilding challenges. 24 | P a g e
Community recovery addresses these ongoing needs by taking a holistic, long-term
view of critical recovery needs, and coordinating the mobilization of resources at the
community levels.
Oftentimes, committees, Taskforces or other means of collaboration formed with
the goals of developing specific plans for community recovery, identifying and
addressing unmet or specialized needs of individuals and families, locating funding
sources, and providing coordination of the many sources of help that may be
available to assist. Some collaboration focuses on the community level and relies on
the expertise of community planning and economic development professionals. Other
collaborations focus on individual and family recovery and are coordinated by social
service and volunteer groups. All such efforts help to lay the groundwork for wise
decisions about the appropriate use of resources and rebuilding efforts.
Under the National Response Framework, Emergency Support Function (ESF)
Community Recovery coordinates the resources of federal departments and
agencies to support the long-term recovery of States and communities, and to reduce
or eliminate risk from future incidents. While consideration of long-term recovery is
imbedded in the routine administration of the disaster assistance and mitigation
programs, some incidents, due to the severity of the impacts and the complexity of
the recovery, will require considerable inter-agency coordination and technical
support. ESF efforts are driven by the authorities, focusing on permanent restoration
of infrastructure, housing and the local economy
Matrix Form of Short Term and Long Term Recovery Programme
Disaster recovery has three distinct but interrelated meanings. First, it is a goal
that involves the restoration of normal community activities that were disrupted by
disaster impacts – in most people’s minds, exactly as they were before the disaster
struck. Second, it is a phase in the emergency management cycle that begins with
stabilization of the disaster conditions (the end of the emergency response phase)
and ends when the community has returned to its normal routines. Third, it is a
process by which the community achieves the goal of normal life.
