Recovery Operations -the Long and Short of it…..

2

Agenda

• Recovery Considerations

• Case Studies -State Level

• Case Studies -Local Level

• Lessons Learned

3

What is “Long-Term Recovery?

The process of recovery that follows a disaster event and may continue for months and years (From the DRAFT National Disaster Recovery Framework, FEMA, 2010)

Examples include the complete redevelopment and revitalization of a damaged area, which could mean:• Returning the area to prior conditions; or • Using the event to build back smarter and more sustainably,

or in recognition of new “real-world” conditions resulting from the event.

4

How is Recovery Different from Response?

Response is Comparatively “Easy”• Short-Term• Trained personnel available (e.g., Fire/EMS, Public

Works)• Established and known funding sources• Limited number of players• Few question resource needs• Needs are obvious• Limited political issues (at least until later!)

5

How is Recovery Different from Response?

Longer-Term Recovery is More Complex• Can last years• Few trained personnel; no established staffing and

management Structures• Different and more stakeholders• Need to leverage many funding sources, often not

designed for recovery• High-Visibility for the issue of limited resources• Needs are more subjective, agenda-driven• Substantial political issues

6

Why is Recovery Planning Needed?

As disaster impacts grow, the need for recovery support increases accordingly

• Not all events require long-term recovery planning and implementation; it’s a function of scale– Timeline to recovery– Breadth of “communities” affected– Impact on housing, infrastructure– Changes to economic patterns and workforce– Loss of governmental capacity– Changes to demographics– Changes in community perception

7

Normal Assumptions Don’t Apply

After a big disaster, normal assumptions about your community and how it supports itself often need to be reassessed– Government capacity / personnel availability– Demographics– Economy– Community plans– Understanding of risk– Need for public involvement

8

During disaster recovery ...

Observations:• There will be lots of new faces, and different

agencies will play new and large roles• Standard management practices and other

processes may not apply• Outside resources may be needed for long periods

of time (staffing, housing, debris, construction, etc., etc.)

• Unforeseen opportunities may arise• There will be pressure to get back to business ASAP

9

During disaster recovery ...

Observations:• Reliable information/data will be hard to get• Citizens will have their own ideas• The business sector will have resources the

State/Local Governments does not• The business sector will have needs and wants• The media will be crucial – and hard to manage• Others?

How do you organize for Recovery Operations?

10

11

Case Study - Iowa

12

Iowa

Situation: Iowa, May-August 2008• May 25: Devastating EF 5 tornado hits Butler and

Blackhawk counties in northeast Iowa• June-July: record heavy rains cause widespread

flooding• August 13: All rivers in Iowa finally fall below flood

stage• Federal Disaster Declaration covered 87 counties, including 700 cities

13

Iowa

Initial Numbers• 18 deaths and 106 injured• 38,000 displaced by tornadoes and flooding• In Parkersburg, 1 in 3 residences were destroyed by

tornado• Governor’s 45-day report (incomplete damage

totals):– $946,000 in unmet housing costs– $3B in small to intermediate business losses– $703M in public building and infrastructure losses

14

Iowa

Organizing for Recovery• June 27, 2008: Gov. Culver established the Rebuild

Iowa Office (RIO) and Advisory Commission (RIAC) and nine task forces

• RIO purpose: Rebuild “safer, stronger, smarter”• Engaged representatives of agencies throughout

state government and across all sectors of impacted communities

15

Iowa

Nine Task Forces• Agriculture and Environment• Cultural Heritage and Records Retention• Economic and Workforce Development• Education• Floodplain Management/ Hazard Mitigation• Housing• Infrastructure and Transportation• Long-term Recovery Planning• Public Health and Health Care

16

Iowa

Guiding Long-Term Recovery:• Working with FEMA ESF-14 Long-

term Community Recovery (LTCR)• LTCR teams in 10 communities• State RIO representatives embedded• Engaging communities in identifying

LTCR goals, objectives, strategies, and projects

• Leveraging local, state, and federal capacity

17New Orleans 80% Underwater

Case Study -Louisiana

18

• Problems could not be addressed in “stove-pipes”

• Private sector coordination & team-building necessary

• Cross-jurisdictional complexities

• Need to leverage and coordinate delivery of assistance

• Needed to speak with one voice about needs and priorities

• Ensure opportunities are exploited

• Need to re-evaluate vision due to changes in population, economy, housing

• Lack of “planning culture” in LA

Overwhelmed and challenged the state and locals:

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

19

Louisiana Recovery Authority

The mission of the Louisiana Recovery Authority is to ensure that Louisiana rebuilds safer, stronger and smarter than before. There are five areas of focus: 1. Securing funding and other resources needed for the

recovery, 2. Establishing principles and policies for redevelopment, 3. Leading long-term community and regional planning efforts, 4. Ensuring transparency and accountability in the investment

of recovery funds, and 5. Communicating progress, status and needs of the recovery

to officials, community advocates and the public.

20

LRA Authorities

Powers established in Executive Order:• Establishing short and long-term priorities for

recovery• Speak on behalf of the entire state regarding unmet

needs to the federal government and public• Establish legislative agendas for recovery• Identify funding sources, and coordinate assistance

delivery• Establish recovery policy across and inside agencies• Organize itself by pulling staff from agencies at will

21

LRA Oversight

LRA was responsive to a non-governmental board that oversaw LRA activities and set direction:• Composed of as many as 26 members, all appointed

by the Governor• Speaker and Speaker Pro-Temp from the LA House,

and President and President Pro-Temp from the LA Senate, were non-voting members

• Pulled-in outside experts and stakeholders for recovery planning

• Non-governmental and inclusive nature of the Board provided “insulation” for difficult decisions

22

LRA Accomplishments

• Justified requests for supplemental appropriations• Led and succeeded in the effort to adopt a statewide building

code• Led a regional long-term recovery planning effort for south

Louisiana, and worked with FEMA on ESF-14 implementation in the most impacted parishes

• Established the Louisiana model for use of CDBG funds for owned and rental housing repair and replacement, infrastructure “unmet needs,” and economic recovery investments

• Established metrics for recovery, and focused state agencies on meeting them

• Facilitated issue resolution between State and Feds

23

LRA Accomplishments

LRA promoted disaster specific legislation:• Waiver of 10% non federal cost share• Extended Reimbursement for temporary housing

utility cost for 24 months• Waiver of Alternate Project Penalty for Schools• Waiver of Alternate Project Penalty for Police and

Fire Stations• Independent Arbitration in lieu of Appeals Process

24

LRA Coordination and Integration

• LRA provided a focal point for locals to address systemic and “big picture” issues

• While the LRA had (and has) broad powers, they primarily coordinated, cajoled, and influenced other agencies with recovery responsibilities, including– Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency

Preparedness (GOHSEP)– Office of Community Development (OCD)– Facilities Planning and Control (FPC)– Coastal Protection and Restoration Agency (CPRA)– Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH)– Recovery School District (RSD)

25

Cedars Rapids, IA

26

Cedar Rapids, IA

Cedar Rapids Recovery Reinvestment and Coordination Team (RRCT)• Housing• Rental Housing• Business• Downtown District• Art and Culture• Schools• County• Human Services

27

Cedar Rapids

Regional Issues• Geographic Breadth of

Damages• Small Business Impacts• Housing• Infrastructure• Mitigation / Watershed

Issues• Transportation

28

Case Study: City of Galveston

29

Galveston

Starting Over?• Demographic Shifts• Understanding of Risk• Infrastructure• Housing Affordability• Economy / Jobs• Government Services

30

Recovery Operations

Lessons Learned:• We plan for response; need to plan for recovery• Establishment of a coordinating body is critical to

long-term recovery• A recovery entity needs authority to succeed• Feds, State agencies, stakeholders initially unsure of

what to make of Recovery Organizations• Recovery activities require coordination across all

sectors, prioritization, and input/support from community

31

Recovery Operations

Lessons Learned:• Focus on the big picture; don’t get lost in the weeds• Local and state ownership of the recovery planning

process is needed– Planning at local level is insufficient for events

with regional and statewide impacts• Traditional Federal / State programs are generally

not designed for recovery– Coordination and filling of “gaps” are key roles of

a recovery entity

Questions?

Greg FentonDirector of Operations, Southern Region

James Lee Witt Associatesgfenton@wittassociates.com

404 942-7750