Advanced Recovery Initiative - Speeding Recovery from Disasters

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Advanced Recovery Initiative (ARI), developed and implemented by the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services, institutes specific programs and actions to reduce disaster impacts on the San Diego County community, accelerate the transition from disaster response to disaster recovery, and increase the speed and effectiveness of that recovery. This initiative, directed and supported by the County Board of Supervisors, established a multidepartment, multidiscipline working group led by the County Office of Emergency Services and attended by multiple County departments including the County Fire Authority, Department of Purchasing and Contracting, Department of Human Resources, Planning and Development Services, Department of Public Works, and the Department of General Services to develop a coordinated plan for the County’s transition from response to recovery operations. This working group implemented four key components to accelerate recovery: Helping individual citizens recover, restoring community lifelines, rebuilding the community fabric, and readying a trained County workforce to conduct recovery operations in impacted communities. The Advanced Recovery Initiative was developed to make recovering from a disaster more efficient, rapid and effective through advanced planning and training. Since implementation of the ARI, the County has seen a reduction in the overall timeline and impact the community experiences during the recovery phase of a disaster due to the preparation of specific plans, procedures, resources, documents, and a well-trained and knowledgeable workforce in recovery and response skills.