National Disaster Recovery Framework 

While the National Response Framework focuses on response actions from preparedness through to the short- and medium-term, the National Disaster Recovery Framework (FEMA, 2011) is concerned with promoting effective recovery, particularly for those shocks or disasters that are large-scale or catastrophic.  The relationship between these two frameworks is summarized in Figure 3.

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​The National Disaster Recovery Framework sets out roles and responsibilities, coordinating structures, and planning guidance for communities as well as nine core principles (FEMA, 2011, pp. 9-11) for them to follow. The principles stress inclusion as vital to developing true resilience.

• Individual and family empowerment
  • Ensure that all community members have equal opportunity to participate in recovery efforts in a meaningful way;
  • Safeguard that people are not excluded from the process based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, or disability;
  • Recognize that a successful recovery is about the ability of individuals and families to rebound from their losses in a manner that sustains their physical, emotional, social, and economic well-being.
• Leadership and local primacy
  • Confer primary responsibility for the recovery of their communities and the lead role in planning for and managing all aspects of community recovery on local, State, and Tribal governments;
  • Treat the federal government as a partner and facilitator in recovery that will vigorously support community efforts in large-scale disasters and catastrophic incidents.
• Pre-Disaster and recovery planning
  • Enhance the speed and success of recovery by establishing the process and protocols prior to a disaster for coordinated post-disaster recovery planning and implementation. All stakeholders should be involved to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive planning process, and to develop relationships that increase post-disaster collaboration and unified decision-making.
• Partnership and inclusiveness
  • Vital for ensuring all voices are heard and all resources are brought to the table;
  • Include nongovernmental partners (nonprofit and private) that are critical in meeting local needs.
• Public information
  • Produce clear, consistent, culturally appropriate and frequent communications essential to managing expectations, providing information on available assistance, and clarifying the likely pace, requirements, and time needs to achieve recovery.
• Unity of effort
  • Develop common objectives that come from consensus and a transparent and inclusive planning process with clear metrics for measuring progress.
• Timeliness and flexibility
  • Sequence and coordinate recovery decisions, address potential conflicts, and establish confidence and ownership of the recovery process;
  • Conceive recovery plans, policies, and practices that are adaptable to meet unforeseen and evolving recovery needs.
• Resilience and sustainability
  • Promote practices for successful recovery that minimize the community’s risk to all hazards and strengthen its ability to withstand and recover from future disasters. The community’s resiliency includes hazard mitigation and land use planning strategies, critical infrastructure, environmental and cultural resource protection, as well as sustainability practices to reconstruct the built environment and revitalize the economic, social, and natural environments.
• Psychological and emotional recovery
  • Address the full range of psychological and emotional needs of the community through the process of recovery.

Cited Source:  
FEMA: Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2011). National Disaster Recovery Framework. Washington DC: FEMA.

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