For those who do not work in emergency management regularly (or at all…) listed below are the various levels of government who support community recovery in British Columbia from Federal to Local levels. The Local Government or First Nations Band Council are the leads in their respective community recovery processes, with other stakeholders carrying out particular roles and offering supports as needed. To help make your journey through the world of community recovery easier, a list of acronyms used in emergency management is included:
Following these government agency descriptions below are examples of some of the international government agencies listed by country, along with examples of national emergency management plans (including recovery), and event specific recovery plans in some cases.
*************************************************
Federal Government
Federal Government Canada – Emergency Management
Province of British Columbia
Indigenous Services Canada – Regional contact information
In February of 2019 the Recovery Branch was expanded under EMBC, adding to the Disaster Financial Assistance branch with four new sections: Stategic Partnerships, Planning and Risk Reduction, Community Recovery Branch (including Disaster Financial Assistance), and Community Wildfire Recovery.
Emergency Management BC has 6 regions across the province. There are regional managers in offices in each of the regions, who are available to assist with coordination of any recovery event in the area which may not have the resources available locally to deal with it. Currently, the regional managers are the provincial staff who are the first contact for local governments and first nations who need community recovery support from the Province.
Local Government and First Nations Band Councils:
The Local Government or First Nations Council are responsible for the ongoing community recovery in their respective communities. The British Columbia Assembly of First Nations (BCAFN) is a Provincial Territorial Organization (PTO) representing and advocating for the 203 First Nations in British Columbia. The Union of BC Municipalities represents and serves local governments in BC.
Most municipalities, regional districts and indigenous communities have an Emergency Program Coordinator (EPC) and/or team. The Emergency Program Coordinator is responsible for their community or region’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) team .
The Emergency Support Services team are usually responsible for supporting evacuees for the first 72 hours following an evacuation, with food, clothing and accommodation if needed. Depending on the scope and scale of the event, this may be extended.
If the event is larger in scope, registration at a Reception Centre is the first step for multiple evacuees; it has been said that by the time a person has arrived at the reception centre, the bridge between response and recovery has already begun. Information may be available at the reception centre where evacuees first go to register or, at a resiliency centre that will offer evacuees information on various steps towards their own recovery.
Resiliency Centres can be set up to support recovery needs and are coordinated by a Resiliency Centre manager or a Community Recovery manager (who may be the same person depending on the event) . They may be open for only a short time; go on for much longer; or be mobile and involve a manager going out to remote communities (in some cases) to bring information to those who cannot travel to a permanent physical resiliciency centre site.
International organizations and Government agencies ; articles; websites; Resources for resiliency and recovery – (examples)
Australia
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Community Recovery guide from AIDR
Australian Women in Emergencies Network
10 Resources for practitioners supporting disaster recovery
Foundation for Rural and Regional Recovery
GREAT BRITAIN
Scotland- Preparing Scotland-Overview
Scotland – Research On the Edge
Scotland – Research paper on resiliency
Ireland– Department of Emergency Planning
Wales – Emergency Response and Recovery guidance
India
National Disaster Management Plan
Embracing the World – a global network of regional humanitarion agencies helping the poor
He Waka Ora – Anticipate the Journey
New Zealand
Reimagine KaiKoura- recovery plan post earthquake
Philippines
Comparative research paper; community recovery practices in northern and southern hemispheres.
Virgin Islands
St Thomas VI, Community Recovery Plan
United States
Natural Hazard Mitigation Association
The Red Guide: resources for First Nations
Reviews of Disaster Assistance Network- post disaster recovery planning
The Second Responders 