What is the Utah disaster recovery Framework?

The Utah disaster recovery framework provides guidance for state agencies, local governments, private sector organizations, and other stakeholders to work together to restore vital services and rebuild communities after a disaster. It was developed by the Utah Division of Emergency Management in collaboration with partners across the state.

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What are the main goals of the framework?

The Utah disaster recovery framework has three primary goals:

Promote effective governance and coordination of disaster recovery efforts

Enable equitable disaster recovery that considers the needs of the whole community
Build local capacity for recovery planning

By pursuing these goals, the framework aims to help Utah recover from disasters more quickly and emerge even stronger than before.

What principles guide the framework?

Several key principles guide disaster recovery efforts under the Utah framework:

Local primacy – Local governments have the primary role in planning for and managing disaster recovery in their jurisdictions.
State support – The state provides guidance, support, and resources to aid local recovery efforts.

Federal partnership – The state collaborates with federal agencies to access recovery assistance programs.
Public engagement – Community members should actively participate in recovery planning and implementation.
Unity of effort – Stakeholders involved in recovery must cooperate, share information, and work toward common goals.

Equitable recovery – The needs of underserved populations should be accounted for in recovery strategies.
Psychological and emotional recovery – Mental health impacts must be considered along with physical rebuilding.

What are the key roles and responsibilities?

The Utah disaster recovery framework outlines the following key roles and responsibilities:

The Governor provides leadership and allocates state resources to support local recovery efforts.
The Utah Division of Emergency Management coordinates state-level recovery activities, provides guidance to locals, and connects them with resources.
State agencies support local governments within their functional areas of expertise (e.g. transportation, environment, commerce).

Local governments have the lead in recovery planning and implementation for their jurisdictions.
Private sector organizations collaborate with government and rebuild community infrastructure and services.
Community organizations provide localized recovery assistance and advocate for vulnerable residents.

Individuals and families take steps to rebuild their lives, with assistance from government and communities.

What is the process for disaster recovery?

The Utah framework breaks the recovery process down into five main steps:

Impact assessment – Identify and document community impacts and needs.

Recovery planning – Develop a strategy and timeline for recovery efforts.
Implementation – Carry out recovery plans through coordinated action.
Redevelopment – Make investments to rebuild a more resilient community.

Closeout – Transition from recovery operations back to steady state.

This process is intended to be flexible based on a community’s specific recovery needs. The steps may overlap or happen concurrently.

How are disaster impacts and needs assessed?

Assessing disaster impacts and community needs is a critical first step in the recovery process. This involves actions such as:

Estimating the physical impacts through damage assessment teams.
Projecting the resulting economic impacts for individuals, businesses, and government.
Surveying community members to gauge unmet needs.

Identifying vulnerable populations that may require focused recovery assistance.
Analyzing cascading or long-term impacts on community functionality.

This impact assessment informs the types of recovery activities that will be necessary and allows priorities to be established.

What key factors are considered in recovery planning?

Recovery planning involves determining goals, strategies, resource requirements, and timelines. Key factors considered include:

Public health, safety, and security
Restoration of critical infrastructure and services

Revival of the local economy
Rebuilding homes and businesses
Recovery of natural and cultural resources

Incorporation of mitigation measures
Financial management and procurement
Government, stakeholder, and public engagement

Management of volunteers and donations
Availability of state and federal assistance

Recovery plans aim to address these factors in a strategic manner based on the unique needs of each community.

What recovery support can the state provide?

The state of Utah can provide various types of recovery support, including:

Technical assistance – Expert advice on recovery planning and project implementation.
Resource coordination – Help accessing needed resources from government agencies, private sector, or non-profits.

Grant funding – Administration of federal recovery grant programs and other state funding sources.
State agency support – Deployment of state agency personnel and assets to assist in priorities like debris removal.
Information sharing – Facilitation of communication and lessons learned between affected communities.

Training and education – Workshops to build local recovery management capabilities.

This state support is intended to bolster local control and empower communities to drive their own recovery.

How are community redevelopment plans created?

As immediate recovery operations wind down, communities can shift focus to creating redevelopment plans. This involves actions like:

Establishing a redevelopment taskforce with government, business, and community leaders.
Developing a vision for the rebuilt community through public engagement.
Prioritizing redevelopment initiatives and identifying funding mechanisms.

Updating policies, plans, and regulations to enable implementation.
Incorporating disaster risk reduction and green infrastructure into designs.
Issuing permits, bids, and contracts to start construction.

The redevelopment phase provides an opportunity to update outdated infrastructure, revitalize the economy, and create a more resilient community.

How is the transition to steady state managed?

As recovery work is completed, the focus shifts to closing out programs and transitioning the community from a disaster state back to steady state operations. This involves steps like:

Closing out financial accounts and auditing program spending.

Archiving documentation and after action reports to guide future recovery efforts.
Transitioning oversight of long-term rebuilding initiatives to government departments.
Shifting staff back to their regular roles after temporary recovery assignments.

Providing notice to the public on changes to operating hours or locations for recovery facilities.
Evaluating and revising emergency response and recovery plans based on lessons learned.

Careful closeout procedures and after action reviews can build preparedness for faster and more effective recoveries when future disasters strike.

How are recovery personnel trained and prepared?

Developing a trained cadre of recovery personnel is key to building recovery capabilities. This can involve actions like:

Utilizing training courses on recovery planning and program management offered by FEMA and other institutions.
Incorporating recovery training into exercises alongside emergency response training.

Identifying personnel to be on call for recovery assignment when disasters occur.
Educating government staff, community organizations, and businesses about their potential recovery roles.
Developing written job descriptions and procedures for recovery positions.

Maintaining current contact information and notification protocols.

Recovery training and preparedness allows for a more coordinated and effective recovery when implementation begins after a disaster.

How are elected officials and stakeholders engaged in recovery?

Elected officials and stakeholder groups play a vital role in disaster recovery. Their engagement can be fostered through actions like:

Regular briefings on disaster impacts, response, and recovery priorities.
Inclusion in recovery planning processes and working groups.
Community meetings and forums to solicit input on rebuilding visions.

Requests for formal support of recovery plans and funding allocations.
Candid discussions of recovery progress, challenges, and course corrections.
Recognition of stakeholder contributions and recovery achievements.

Continued engagement contributes to informed decision making and unified support for recovery implementation.

How are vulnerable populations supported in recovery?

Vulnerable populations often bear a disproportionate impact from disasters and can be harder to reach with recovery assistance. Supportive actions include:

Assessing unmet needs through direct outreach and engagement with vulnerable community members.

Prioritizing the restoration of critical facilities and services they rely on.
Partnering with community organizations that work with vulnerable groups.
Allocating set-aside funding for programs focused on their unique needs.

Establishing inclusive recovery planning processes.
Translating recovery information into multiple languages as needed.

A community recovers stronger when recovery strategies address the needs of all residents.

How is disaster case management incorporated?

Disaster case management provides a process for identifying and addressing individual disaster-caused needs through the recovery process. Key practices include:

Establishing coordinated case management programs drawing on trained social service agencies.
Deploying case managers quickly after a disaster to begin outreach.

Using referral networks and information systems to link clients to available resources.
Following national standards and best practices in casework.
Protecting confidentiality of case information.

Tracking cases over time until a successful and documented recovery is achieved.

Effective case management strengthens recovery by ensuring at-risk individuals get connected with the help they need.

What public messaging is important during recovery?

Strategic public messaging during recovery helps maintain awareness and engagement. This includes communication on topics like:

Status of disaster impacts and response operations.
Guidance for securing basic needs and staying safe after the disaster.
Resources and services available to help residents recover.

Ways community members can actively participate in recovery efforts.
Progress and milestones in recovery programs and reconstruction.
Explanation of policy decisions around recovery priorities and funding.

Information on transitioning back to steady state as recovery nears completion.

Regular public communication provides transparency, manages expectations, dispels rumors, and demonstrates recovery commitment.

How is post-disaster community resilience promoted?

Disaster recovery presents an opportunity to rebuild in ways that enhance community resilience. This can be promoted by:

Incorporating risk reduction principles into infrastructure reconstruction.
Using future hazard projections to inform long-term redevelopment plans.
Updating building codes and development regulations to increase resilience.

Identifying projects with both recovery and mitigation benefits.
Engaging the whole community in envisioning and creating a more resilient future.
Leveraging outside resources and partnerships to support resilience initiatives.

A resilient rebuilt community is more able to withstand and recover from future disasters.

How are recovery costs documented and reimbursed?

Documenting disaster recovery costs carefully is imperative for securing reimbursement from state and federal sources. This requires strategies like:

Developing processes and forms to capture recovery expenditures.

Requiring detailed documentation for all reimbursement requests.
Educating staff on eligibility and documentation requirements.
Assigning skilled grant managers to oversee documentation and submission.

Maintaining organized files with supporting records.
Pursuing reimbursement through all available funding sources.

Strong documentation enables maximum reimbursement, helping make recovery affordable at the local level.

Conclusion

The Utah disaster recovery framework provides guidance to facilitate coordinated and effective disaster recovery centered on local control. The collaborative process it outlines helps communities restore essential functions, care for residents, and rebuild stronger and more resilient. Ongoing training, planning, and community engagement will strengthen Utah’s ability to recover from future disasters.