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Recovery is the process that an organization
works through
to return to normal operations after a traumatic
incident. It will not "just happen." Most are not aware that the last
shot fired at Columbine was a year after the first shots.
(see
The Last Shot Fires)
-----------------------------------
 Recovery
requires just as much planning and preparation as does any other phase
of Crisis Management (Emergency Operations). In the national model for
Emergency Response Planning
there are seven distinct phases. Recovery is
Phase VII. The basic
elements of Recovery Planning are:
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Identify Recovery Team
Members in advance of a traumatic event and train them.
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Develop
specific Crisis/Emergency Recovery Policies and staff
them with team for
workability and acceptance by the community.
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Develop linkages with outside agencies including state and
federal agencies and cataloged for reference.
In selecting Recovery Team Members, Districts must
be diligent to select staff members who can be expected to respond
calmly and professionally during an emergency and who are most likely
to follow procedures without undue deviation. At the same time,
Recovery Team Members should possess the ability to adapt as
situations change. Ideally, the school team leaders/trainers will be chosen
first and trained, then they will select the members of their
respective teams and participate in the their training. This will
insure team cohesion and goal focus during a crisis.
Policies concerning Recovery are best developed and
staffed long before any crisis or emergency comes. A number of
schools, lacking such polices,
 have made decisions during the
aftermath of a crisis/emergency that were immediately regretted. These decision
were based on emotions at the moment rather than thought out and
staffed. A common example is using school facilities for a memorial or
funeral service, then finding that students and staff are daily
brought back to the trauma every time they use those facilities.
Any emergency or crisis at a school is likely to
overwhelm the resources available in-house. This is true of the
initial Recovery phase as well. It is important to
develop links with
all possible sources of help. They will not all work out. Not all will
be useful in every situation but it is essential that the Recovery
Team has all such linkage information available for rapid response.
Always remember that Recovery starts before an
Emergency happens. It starts with proactive planning. The Recovery
Team starts to work plan while the Emergency is still in progress. And
finally, Recovery takes as long as it takes. But, it must be worked
and guided rather than allowed to just happen.
For help with your District's Recovery Plan contact
Keys today!
If
you have any comments or questions please Email us at keys@keystosaferschools.com.
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1(501)847-2596
