Guidance / Instructional Docs

Practical Experience, from Federal Perspective:

FEMA Region I (2008). Long-Term Community Recovery: A Perspective from the Federal Perspective. 36pp. Unpublished article that shares the experience FEMA Region I staff; April 24, 2008.

Instructor's Guide:

Gavin Smith (2004) Holistic Disaster Recovery; Instructors Guide; FEMA's Higher Ed Program.

A Planning Approach:

In a recent blog, Chris Bellavita makes an interesting distinction between planning for "tame" and "wicked" problems. See the post at this website. Although he does not mention recovery, it is clearly one of the "wicked" problem challenges. (Posted 3/12/09)

Man-Made Disaster Recovery:

Mitchell, James K. (1996) The Long Road to Recovery: Community Responses to Industrial Disaster. NY: United Nations Press. Full text copy of the book is available at:This is a very important book because it is the only analysis of recovery for human-caused (but not terrorism) disasters. This book contains case studies.

FEMA-sponsored Guidance:

Schwab, Jim et al. (1995) Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction. Sponsored by FEMA, American Planning Association, and Planning Advisory Service. Report No. 483/484. Cost $44. from APA. TOC and ordering info are available at above website.

FEMA. (2000) Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework.

American Planning Association (2005). Planning for a Disaster-Resistant Community. [Hard-cover only.]

This workbook from the Planning for a Disaster-Resistant Community AICP Workshop at the 2005 APA National Planning Conference contains information to help you learn about hazards and how they affect communities and how risk assessment is the fact base for mitigation planning. The workshop also explored linkages between risks and other community elements (e.g., housing, transportation). Case studies highlighted reasons for planning for disaster-resistant communities. Presenters discussed local requirements under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and outlined deadlines, financial incentives, regional partnership approaches, and other practical considerations for community mitigation planning compliance.