Recovery Guidance For Communities
HM Government document 'Emergency Response and Recovery' defines recovery as:
“The process of rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitating the community following an emergency.”
It relates to those activities focussed on returning a community to a ‘new normality’ after an emergency. It will be more effective if the relevant community is involved in managing their own recovery.
The information on this page will provide communities with guidance on recovery issues.
There is similar guidance relating to business recovery that can be accessed by using the link.
Many thanks to the delegates of the workshops during the NORMIT Study Day 2009, for their input in compiling this information on recovery.
Integrated Planning for Community Recovery ~ Who should be involved and how?
Who?
- Category 1 and 2 responders (as CCA 2004)
- Voluntary organisations
- Community - residents / local businesses
- Insurances
- Media organisations
- Elected members who represent the communities
How?
- Consultation with communities
- Warning and informing
- Individual Agency roles and responsibilities in plan
- Joint strategic objectives in plan
- Use UK Resilience recovery model
- Start at the Resilience Forum level and drill down to community level
Needs Assessment ~ How do you assess and deliver what the community needs?
- Learn from previous experiences to inform planning
- Have targets that are realistic
- Effective communications
- Engagement
- Nationally and locally be aware of of all going to the same voluntary organisations for assistance - they may become overstretched
- Prioritise timeframes and manage expectations
Monitoring and evaluation of recovery
- Does recovery ever finish? Be aware that once the mechanical side of it is finished the human aspect will continue.
- Project manage the recovery by setting targets and objectives
- Action plan with realistic timescales leading to an exit strategy
How can we support the psychosocial effects?
- Engage ~ At community level / from the beginning / consistent format
- Empower ~ Assist independence and well-being
- Resources ~ Information and signposting
- Use Partnership Links ~ Local businesses, local councils, community groups, faith groups, mutual aid, voluntary sector, health, CAB, insurance advice, schools, interest groups, etc.
- Responders need to have an understanding and awareness of trauma.
How can you support "House and Home"?
- Retain family units, community links and friendships
- Provide the opportunity to be involved 'after' the event
- Maintain support according to need and not calendar
- Arrange community meetings
- Challenge apathy
What are the considerations for the 'attitudes' of people directly and indirectly affected important?
- Respect that people are different and all have different needs and react differently
- Manage 'blame' - provide factual information and a way forward
- People focus not process
- Living with guilt has no timescale
Top tips for community recovery
- Support your community rather than dictate or decide for them
- How would you think or feel in their situation - put yourself in their place
- Be flexible - the goal posts are ever moving
- Involve the local community in your planning and exercising