Arizona Disaster Recovery Framework

On February 10, 2012 the Arizona Division of Emergency Management finalized Arizona’s Disaster Recovery Framework.  Holistic disaster recovery is a complex process which includes partners and stakeholders from all aspects of a community.  This Framework defines an approach that addresses the complexity of long term recovery with adaptability and flexibility and provides guidance to all recovery partners and stakeholders who include:

• Local, State, Tribal and Federal Government
• Families and Individuals, including Children
• Functional Needs Community
• Advocacy Groups and Community Organizations
• Underserved Communities
• Businesses and Professional Groups
• Voluntary and Faith Based Organizations
• Philanthropic Foundations
• Universities and Think Tanks

Leadership is needed to ensure an inclusive process that is realistic, well planned, and clearly communicated in order to instill confidence that recovery goals can be achieved.  The overall focus of recovery is on how best to restore, reconstruct, and redevelop the social, natural, and economic fabrics of the community and encompasses more than the restoration of the community’s physical structures to their pre-disaster conditions.  The elements of the Arizona Disaster Recovery Framework concentrate on government actions at all levels to support and expedite recovery. 

This framework is exactly that, a framework for recovery.  This is the “Basic Plan” portion of the document.  We are now focused on actively working to develop the Recovery Support Function (RSF) appendices’.  These appendices’ are the coordinating structure for key functional areas of assistance.  They are organized to mirror the National Disaster Recovery Framework which are divided into six manageable components, bringing together relevant stakeholders and experts during steady-state planning and when activated post-disaster to identify and resolve recovery challenges.  These six RSF’s are:

• Community Planning and Capacity Building
• Economic
• Health and Social Services
• Housing
• Infrastructure Systems
• Natural and Cultural Resources

Within the appendices’ we will outline the mission and function, pre and post disaster activities, applicable policies, statutes or codes, intended outcomes, demonstrate how these RSF partners would integrate into the Long-Term Recovery Task Force or Working Groups as outlined within the Concept of Operations and pre-identifying areas where mitigation opportunities might exist based upon the RSF.  

Identifying the impacts from the event and shopping partners for services needed to support the community is crucial for an effective, successful recovery for a community.  We will be asking each partnering agency to identify programs or services that their agency offers that could be activated and that information will be captured within the appropriate appendices.  The best support we can provide to a community impacted by disaster is a comprehensive list of support available that they can match up to their needs. 

We are excited about the development of this framework and we look forward to working with all of our partners and collaborating on the Recovery Support Functions.  Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments; please let us know how you can support this initiative.

The following presentations were presented at the AzDRF and NDRF Worshops on September 18, 2012:

• AZDRF Overview
• NDRF Overview
• Health and Social Service RSF
• Economic RSF

Contact
For additional information regarding the Recovery Program, please contact us for your area of interest.