Recovery Action Plan Guidelines

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Recovery Action Plan Guidelines

July 2011

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Section 1: Introduction

Audience

1. These guidelines are written to assist recovery committees in the development of a recovery action plan. These guidelines and the associated template may also assist recovery task groups and community consultation groups in the preparation of their recovery action plan.

Background

2. The NSW State Disaster Plan states that “recovery operations in NSW are supported by the development of a recovery action plan that will be developed for all events requiring a formal recovery process”.

3. The NSW Recovery Plan specifies that the first action for recovery committees is to develop a recovery action plan that details priorities, resource allocation and management.

4. Where a formal recovery committee is not established, a recovery action plan may still be developed by the local council or the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC). This will assist in guiding decisions and activities to ensure a successful recovery.

Purpose

5. The Recovery Action Plan Guidelines are written as a supporting document to the NSW Recovery Plan. These guidelines should be read in conjunction with the NSW Recovery Plan and the suite of guidelines written in support of the Plan. These documents are available at http://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.

6. This document is written as a guide only and is non-prescriptive. A recovery action plan is unique to each event and guided by the needs of the community and the capacity to respond to these needs. An example is provided as an annexure and may be adapted as required for each disaster or emergency.

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Section 2: Development of a Recovery Action Plan

7. A recovery action plan provides the strategic direction and operational actions required to facilitate a successful recovery at local, district or state level.

8. One of the first actions for recovery committees is to develop a recovery action plan. A recovery action plan is an ongoing process that may need to be updated as the recovery unfolds or as further information becomes available in order to meet the needs of the community.

Figure 1: Timeline for the development of recovery plans

Information Sources

9. Recovery activities may be derived from a number of key information sources including recovery committee minutes, impact assessments, recovery assessments, non- government organisations, community, businesses, organisations and industries, media, emergency services and government departments.

10. These actions, once agreed upon by the committee, should be incorporated into the recovery committee’s overall recovery action plan for the event.

Recovery Committee Meetings

11. Key actions for the recovery action plan may come from the decisions and actions of recovery committee meetings.

Recovery Planning

•Pre event planning for recovery

"Event"

•A natural disaster or other emergency

Recovery Action Plan

•Responding to community needs after an event

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Impact Assessment

12. An impact assessment is completed as soon as possible following a disaster or emergency by the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON). The impact assessment provides key information on the impact of the disaster on the community.

13. The impact assessment may also provide valuable information for forming the basis of the recovery action plan including potential risks and recovery requirements.

Recovery Assessment

14. A recovery assessment may be completed for all events requiring a formal recovery process. It assesses the damage, loss and needs of an affected community across the four environments (social, built, economic and natural) following a major event. A recovery assessment builds on the information provided in the impact assessment completed during the response phase.

15. A recovery assessment process may be repeated throughout the recovery, to identify the changing needs of the community in short, medium and long term and may inform the development of a recovery action plan.

Community Consultation Groups

16. The recovery committee may task community consultation groups to develop a recovery action plan on behalf of the community. The community consultation group should liaise with the community to develop and prioritise action items, assist with the implementation and provide feedback to the recovery committee.

17. Community involvement in the recovery action plan process promotes community ownership of recovery and future resilience. A number of strategies can be used to engage the community including workshops and community meetings.

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Recovery Task Groups

18. The recovery committee may request that recovery task groups develop a recovery action plan with a specific focus on a particular recovery environment, for example social, built, economic or natural.

Other Information Sources

19. Additional key information sources include non-government organisations, community, businesses, organisations and industries, media, emergency services and government departments.

Figure 2: Information sources for recovery actions for a recovery committee

Monitoring

20. It is essential that each of the actions are monitored by the recovery committee and reported against by the responsible agency.

21. The development of a recovery plan is an ongoing process. New issues and actions will need to be added to the plan as the recovery progresses.

22. The recovery action plan should be updated at each recovery meeting.

Community Consultation Group Recovery Action Plan

Recovery Task Group Recovery Action Plan Recovery Committee Minutes Impact & Recovery Assessments Non-Government Organisations

Businesses Media

Government Departments Community

Emergency Services Recovery Committee recovery action plan

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Section 3: Components of the Recovery Action Plan

Introduction

23. The introduction should include an overview of the disaster or emergency. Types of information that should be documented includes:

type of emergency (e.g. flood, bushfire, earthquake)

location (including Local Government Areas, towns, villages and communities impacted)

Major impacts on the community including disruptions to essential services. Impacts should be broken up into the four recovery environments: social, built, economic and natural.

Risks

24. Consider the following:

What risks are present including the potential for further events?

How severe are the risks?

If the risks eventuate, how are they likely to impact recovery operations?

25. Existing emergency risk management processes should be used when identifying, analysing, evaluating and treating the risks.

Recovery Issues and Actions Register

26. Details the:

issues or needs in each of the four environments: social, infrastructure, economic and natural

issues that have not been considered or for which further information is required specific recovery activity or task required to address the issue

agency(s) responsible for completing the task priority of the activity e.g. high, medium and low duration e.g. short, medium and long term activity date the action is due to be completed

status e.g. completed, in progress, outstanding

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27. Any outstanding issues from the response phase should also be included. These may be detailed in the combat agency or supporting functional area reports, advised by agency or functional area representatives on the recovery committee or detailed in the Impact Assessment.

28. For large scale events each of the tables may need to be split into further tables detailing short, medium and long term priorities.

Exit Strategy

29. An exit strategy is a systematic plan for the withdrawal of formal recovery structures once there is no longer a need for regular multi-agency co-ordination and any remaining issues can be dealt with by individual agencies as a part of their normal business.

30. The exit strategy should detail the:

outstanding or ongoing task and associated activities

handover of responsibilities to the agency or service that usually have responsibility for those activities, under normal circumstances

Information Sources

NSW State Disaster Plan NSW Recovery Plan

Community Capacity Building in Disaster Recovery: leaving the community in a better place Albany Community Recovery Management

Whittlesea Community Recovery Plan NSW Guidelines on Funding

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Annexure

Recovery Action Plan Example

Event Name Borta Coast Flood 2011 Date of Event 14 March 2011

Prepared By Borta Coast Local Recovery Committee Date Prepared 16 March 2011

Review Date

Introduction

On 14 March 2011, Borta Coast experienced strong winds and heavy rain resulting in widespread flooding across the local government area. The Ballooochi River flooded to major levels impacting on surrounding residences and the caravan park. The SES is the combat agency and continuing operations. The Borta Coast Recovery Committee was established to oversee recovery operations. A Recovery Coordinator, Mr Green, has been appointed.

Key Statistics (as at 23/03/11)

3,522 animal losses; 30 caravans inundated; 2,000 homes inundated; 160 businesses inundated Impacts

Social: Immediate welfare assistance, displaced residents, public health risks from sewerage, contaminated household goods, carcasses and mosquito borne diseases, mental health issues, loss of social activities

Built: Building inundation, public school building damaged, power outages, significant road, culvert and bridge damage, land slips, water supply pump damaged, community facilities damaged and closed (library, community hall, parks and museum), nursing home damaged

Economic: Inadequate and declined insurance, local business loss of income, tourism decline, loss of wages, loss of stock and machinery

Natural: Decline in water quality of the drinking water, undercutting, slumping and erosion of banks, beach erosion, debris build up in creeks and rivers, large quantity of waste and debris

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Risks

Potential Risk Severity Impact

Further rain causing flash flooding High rainfalls (up to 200ml) are expected in the next couple of days

Further flooding and inundation

Sewerage loss due to inundation High 600 homes without sewerage for up to 3 weeks if current systems fail

Recovery Issues & Actions

Priority: High

Issue/Need Action/Task Agency

responsible

Environment Duration (Term)

Date to be completed

Status Some residents have lost everything. No

access to money, clothing. Unable to stay in home

Food, clothing and temporary housing required

Community Services

Social Short to medium Main building of nursing home damaged

and uninhabitable. Unable to temporarily house within own facility

Alternate temporary housing for residents to be sought

Health, ADHC

Social Medium to Long Main access road into town closed due to

damage

Temporary repairs to allow road to be opened ASAP

Council Built Short

Electricity outage at hospital, backup generator in use – additional supplies requested

Additional supplies of diesel to be delivered to the hospital

SES Built

Several businesses now closed – staff unemployed, no income

Immediate financial assistance required

Centrelink Economic Short Tap water contaminated, sewerage

system damaged

Health messages distributed Health / Council

Natural / Built

Short

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Priority: Medium

responsible

Environment Duration (Term)

Status Reports of mental health issues for

community members and recovery staff affected by the flood

Mental Health to establish a 1300 helpline for assistance

Health Social Long

Evacuation Centre to close on 17/03/11.

Need central point for information and services for the community

Establish a recovery centre for the community

Recovery Committee, Public Works, Council

Social Short to Medium

Many local roads damaged –a number of residents are isolated

Resupply continuing. Temporary repairs to be carried out ASAP

SES, Council, RTA

Built Local public school – main building and 2

classrooms damaged. Students cannot return.

Students to be sent to neighbouring schools. Temporary classrooms to be sought

Education &

Training, Transport

Built Medium

A large number of livestock, fodder and farming machinery damaged

RAA to distribute information on grants available to farmers

Rural Assistance Authority

Economic Medium

Disposal of households good damaged by the flood water

Arrange for the community to get free access to the tip for the next 2 weeks

Council Natural Short

Large numbers of animal carcasses on roads and private property

Arrange assistance for removal and disposal

Primary Industries

Natural Medium

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Priority: Low

responsible

Environment Duration (Term)

Status Agency information and available grants

needs to be communicated to the community

Council to develop a recovery newsletter for the community.

Agencies to supply information to Council

Council, Agencies

Social Medium

to Long

Potential angst in the community Community meeting and bbq to be held on 22 March. Agency

representation required

Council, Agencies

Social Medium

Damage to fire trails Discussions to be held with the Rural Fire Service in relation to restoration

Recovery Coordinator

Built Medium

Community Hall damaged permanently.

Needs to be demolished.

Alternate hall to be sourced for ongoing community social activities.

Long term planning needed.

Council Built Long

Significant impact on tourism Examine marketing campaign to regain tourism number prior to Easter

Tourism NSW

Economic Long Debris build up in creeks potentially

causing further erosion and flooding

Further discussions and examination required - potential removal

CMA Natural Long

Fish kill in Ballooochi River Investigation required. Water and fish samples to be collected for analysis.

No fishing signs to be placed at river

Industry &

Investment

Natural Long

Exit Strategy

Outstanding Task Activities Agency Responsible

Tasks from table above to be listed here once recovery committee winds down

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Definitions

Community Consultation Group

A group of local community members, including people affected by an event and representatives of local organisations, who meet and provide input and guidance to recovery committees.

Disaster

An occurrence, whether or not due to natural causes, that causes loss of life, injury, distress or danger to persons, or loss of, or damage to, property (Source: NSW Displan).

Disaster Recovery

The coordinated process of supporting disaster affected communities in the reconstruction of the physical infrastructure and the restoration of emotional, social, economic and physical wellbeing (Source: Australian Emergency Manual, Disaster Recovery EMA 2004).

Emergency

An emergency due to an actual or imminent occurrence (such as fire, flood, storm, earthquake, explosion, terrorist act, accident, epidemic or warlike action) which:

(a) endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals in the State; or

(b) destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, any property in the State, being an emergency which requires a significant and co-ordinated response.

For the purposes of the definition of emergency, property in the State includes any part of the environment of the State. Accordingly, a reference in the Act to:

(a) threats or danger to property includes a reference to threats or danger to the environment, and

(b) the protection of property includes a reference to the protection of the environment (Source: SERM Act).

Essential Services

For the purposes of the Essential Services Act, 1988, a service is an essential service if it consists of any of the following:

a. the production, supply or distribution of any form of energy, power or fuel or of energy, power or fuel resources;

b. the public transportation of persons or freight:

c. the provision of fire-fighting services;

d. the provision of health services (including hospital or medical services);

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e. the provision of ambulance services;

f. the production, supply or distribution of pharmaceutical products;

g. the provision of garbage, sanitary cleaning or sewerage services;

h. the supply or distribution of water;

i. the conduct of a welfare institution;

j. the conduct of a prison;

k. a service declared to be an essential service under subsection (2);

l. a service comprising the supply of goods or services necessary for providing any service referred to in paragraphs (a) - (k) (Source: NSW Displan).

Hazard

A potential or existing condition that may cause harm to people or damage to property or the environment (Source: NSW Displan).

Impact Assessment

A continuous and dynamic process of ongoing information assessments. It involves the collection, interpretation, analysis and treatment of social, built, economic and natural impacts to a community or communities.

Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC)

The committee constituted under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (as amended), for each local government area, and is responsible for the preparation of plans in relation to the prevention of, preparation for, response to and recovery from emergencies in the local government area (Local DISPLAN) for which it is constituted.

Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON)

A Police Officer appointed by the District Emergency Operations Controller as the Local Emergency Operations Controller for the Local Government Area (Source: NSW Displan).

Natural Disaster

A serious disruption to a community or region caused by the impact of a naturally occurring rapid onset event that threatens or causes death, injury or damage to property or the environment and which requires significant and coordinated multi-agency and community response. Such serious disruption can be caused by any one, or a combination, of the following natural hazards: bushfire; earthquake; flood; storm; cyclone; storm surge;

landslide; tsunami; meteorite strike; or tornado (Source: NSW Displan).

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NSW Recovery Plan

The plan outlining the strategic intent, responsibilities, authorities and mechanisms for disaster recovery in NSW.

NSW State Disaster Plan

Details emergency preparedness, response and recovery arrangements for NSW to ensure the coordinated response to emergencies by all agencies having responsibilities and functions in emergencies.

Recovery

In relation to an emergency includes the process of returning an affected community to its proper level of functioning after an emergency (Source: NSW Displan).

Recovery Action Plan

A plan developed to provide the strategic direction and operational actions required to facilitate a successful recovery at local, district and/or state level.

Recovery Assessment

A formalised process for assessing the damage, loss and needs of an affected community following a major emergency.

Recovery Committee

The strategic decision making body for recovery providing visible and strong leadership with a key role in restoring confidence to the community through assessing the consequences of the emergency and coordinating activities to rebuilding, restoring and rehabilitating the affected community.

Recovery Coordinator

The public face of the recovery operation, providing leadership to the recovery committee and coordinating the recovery effort in accordance with agreed recovery plans.

Recovery Task Group

A coordinated group of agencies with significant expertise in a particular recovery environment (social, built, economic, natural).

Risk

A concept used to describe the likelihood of harmful consequences arising from the interaction of hazards, communities and the environment (Source: NSW Displan).

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Risk Assessment

The process used to determine risk management priorities by evaluating and comparing the level of risk against predetermined standards, target risk levels or other criteria (Source:

NSW Displan).

Risk Management

The systematic application of management policies, procedures and practices to the tasks of identifying, analysing, evaluating, treating and monitoring risk (Source: NSW Displan).

State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 (SERM Act) as amended

The underlying act for emergency management in NSW. It specifies responsibilities of the Minister and requirements of the Displan.

Supporting Plan

A plan prepared by an agency, organisation or functional area, which describes the support which is to be provided to the controlling or coordinating authority during emergency operations. It is an action plan which describes how the agency / organisation or functional area is to be coordinated in order to fulfil the roles and responsibilities allocated (Source:

NSW Displan).

Recovery Action Plan Guidelines