Recovery Planning and the Colorado

FloodsIain Hyde, Deputy Chief Recovery Officer

Colorado Disaster History

• 1997 – Fort Collins Flood

• 1999 – Arkansas River Basin Floods

• 2002 – Wildfires

• 2008 – Windsor Tornado

• 2012 – Waldo Canyon and High Park Fires

• 2013 – Black Forest Fire

• 2013 – September Floods

Recovery Frameworks

• Presence of a framework enhances coordination and responsiveness, expands conversation beyond standard FEMA recovery programs

• National Disaster Recovery Framework• Recovery Support Functions – lead and support agencies• Coordination with states, support to locals• Better leverages knowledge and resources across the Federal

Government

• State of Colorado Draft Recovery Plan• Under development before floods; operational• Incorporated lessons from 2012, 2013 wildfires• State Recovery Support Functions – What if FEMA isn’t coming?• Recovery coordination starts at onset of events

Pre-Disaster Planning

• State Agencies needed to be organized for Long Term Recovery• Function if federal resources are not available• Align with Federal resources when they do come• Focus on:• Capabilities• Structures and Actions• Timing and flexibility

• Local Communities pre-flood: Primarily planned for specific capabilities (debris management, damage assessment, etc.)

• However some starting to develop more comprehensive pre-disaster plans• Assign responsibilities• Develop locally appropriate Recovery Support Functions• Use best practices from other communities, but customize for local

structures, issues, needs, etc.

RSFs in Colorado

September Flood Disaster Summary

By the Numbers• 18,147 evacuated

• 16,557 approved for Individual Assistance

• 479 Families in Transitional Sheltering at peak

• 485 miles of damaged or destroyed roads

• 18 Counties approved for Public Assistance, 11 for Individual Assistance

• NFIP, SBA, Individual Assistance: $430 million

• Public Assistance: Projected $400 Million

• FHWA (Roads): Projected $450 Million

• CDBG: $262 Million

Local Communities

• Driving forces in recovery

• Ultimately the ones that live with the decisions made and actions taken in recovery

• In charge of visioning; Need to be thoughtful, deliberative yet move quickly

• Think about steps to reduce risk from the next event as early as possible

Post Flood Disaster Recovery Planning and Visioning

• Agencies Involved: Communities(citizens, local governments, businesses), Department of Local Affairs, FEMA Community Planning and Capacity Building, University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado Office of Emergency Management

• Parallel Processes: Stream Corridor Master Plans, Stormwater Master Plans, floodplain mapping/risk assessments

• Important Considerations:• Locally driven• Community engagement• Strategic, tangible and achievable

• Current Status: Some plans under development, some just getting started

Considerations for Post-Disaster Planning

Considerations for Post Disaster Planning

• Timing – When is the Community ready? When is it too late?

• Urgency – How quickly do you develop a post-disaster plan?

• Public Engagement – How do you leverage input and engagement of community members?

• Issues – What sectors impacted? Where are there opportunities for mitigation, resiliency, enhancements?

• Other Plans – Mitigation Plan, Comprehensive Plan, Capitol Improvements, Zoning, Sustainability• Leverage documents that already exist

• Need for tangible actions

Questions?

Iain Hyde, CFM

Deputy Chief Recovery Officer

Colorado Recovery Office

iain.hyde@state.co.us