Recovery

Recovery refers to the follow-up measures taken after a disaster that allows your organization to return the affected site back to normal operating conditions. Recovery focuses on restoring the infrastructure of the organization (utilities, phones, water), re-establishing a sense of emotional safety and returning back to an operational environment as quickly as possible following a crisis. Recovery actions are generally implemented as "Response" activities diminish. Recovery measures are designed to assist employees, management (and patients and students if applicable) that may have been impacted by physical, psychological and emotional trauma return to some level of “normalcy”. In many cases, Recovery is divided into two levels: “Immediate” and “Ongoing”.

Immediate (short-term) support is needed from the first moments of a traumatic event through the first few days following it. Frequently, recent victims of the trauma are in a state of shock, and basic human needs of medical attention, shelter and food are the primary focus. Emergencies affecting a small number of people may be well served by crisis counseling and recovery assistance from other employees, local community mental health providers, employee assistance programs and similar services.

Ongoing (long-term) recovery refers to support provided to some individuals for weeks, months, or years following a tragic event. Such long-term recovery needs may only become apparent over time.

Recovery Considerations:
The items that typically need to be address as part of a Recovery Plan are:

Management

• Outline policy decisions, e.g., who coordinates returning staff

• Address public information activities

• Manage safety considerations, e.g., assure facility is safe for re-entry

• Re-establish a sense of security

• Support immediate emotional recovery—employees, management, students, staff and etc
   

Operations

• Coordinate damage assessment and debris removal

• Restore utilities

• Arrange for building and safety inspections prior to re-entry

• Arrange for repairs

• Restore core business functions as soon as possible
   

Planning/Intelligence

• Document compliance for use in applying for disaster relief

• Write recovery after-action reports

• Develop a post-incident mitigation plan to reduce future hazards
   

Logistics

•  Provide recovery-related supplies and replenish disaster cache at each site

• Coordinate availability of personnel, equipment and vehicles needed for recovery efforts
   

Administration/Finance

• Prepare and maintain budget

• Develop and maintain contracts

• Apply for financial relief grants

•  Process staff injury claims

• Handle insurance settlements

• Document employee time as Disaster Service Worker; assure continuity of payroll
   

Does your organization have the necessary management, operational, planning, logistical, and administrative preparedness necessary to address the physical and emotional needs of those involved in a crisis? With over 350 years of leadership experience, ARMADA’s professional staff can assist your organization with developing and testing the plans needed for you to effectively respond and recover from the unexpected.

ARMADA Consulting Solutions

• Hazard Vulnerability Assessment

• Risk/Threat Assessment

• Business Continuity Plan Development and Review

• Network Facilitation

• Crisis Management Team Augmentation (Our Team Joins Your Team)
   

Training Courses (Sample List)

• Threat Assessments

• General Security Awareness

• How to Complete a Security Assessment

• Staff Training on Continuity Plan Procedures

• Bomb Search/Threat