Recovery from major disasters is a complex undertaking that involves the combined efforts of fed., state, and local gov¿t. in order to succeed. While the fed. govt. provides a significant amount of financial and technical assistance for recovery, state and local jurisdictions work closely with fed. agencies to secure and make use of those resources. This testimony describes lessons and insights that have been identified from review of past disasters, which may be useful to inform recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, as well as disasters yet to come. These lessons come from two reports released in the fall of 2009 on disaster recovery.

Disaster Recovery: Past Experiences Offer Recovery Lessons for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Future Disasters

As a result of the unprecedented damage caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the fed. gov¿t., for the first time, funded several disaster case mgmt. programs. These programs help victims access services for disaster-related needs. This report reviewed: (1) steps the fed. gov¿t. took to support disaster case mgmt. programs after the hurricanes; (2) the extent to which fed. agencies oversaw the implementation of these programs; (3) challenges case mgmt. agencies experienced in delivering disaster case mgmt. services; and (4) how these programs will inform the development of a fed. case mgmt. program for future disasters. The author conducted site visits to Louisiana and Mississippi. Includes recommendations. Illustrations.

In the wake of the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes, coordination and collaboration challenges created obstacles during the government¿s response and recovery efforts. Because of the many stakeholders involved in recovery, including all levels of government, it is critical to build collaborative relationships. This report presents examples of how federal, state, and local governments have effectively collaborated in the past. It reviewed 5 catastrophic disasters -- the Loma Prieta earthquake (Calif., 1989), Hurricane Andrew (Florida, 1992), the Northridge earthquake (Calif., 1994), the Kobe earthquake (Japan, 1995), and the Grand Forks/Red River flood (N. Dakota and Minn., 1997) -- to identify recovery lessons. Includes recommend. Illus.

This collection of case studies in public management bridges the gap between mainstream CSR - confined to the for-profit corporations -and the vast bodies of workers and organizations that make up government and its public administration. The variety and discretion of managerial endeavours in public management calls for accountability and responsibility of government beyond current legal instruments: The book argues that CSR must be brought to bear with government. In government in fact, knowledge management is not a linear process, but the result of working with passion of the parts, implying discretionary behaviour and creativity which in turn imply choice and responsibility. Cases ranging from the USA to Central America, New Zealand and Europe all confirm the complex nature of public management, entailing partnership synergy for disaster recovery, the intertwined link between management and new technology and mindfulness at individual level. The cases are set in a framework by theoretical essays on bureaucratic behaviour and unknown stakeholders.

Toxicology --

Now updated with examples through 2010, this classic study examines the disruptive effects of disasters on patterns of human behavior and the operations of government, and the conditions under which even relatively minor crises can lead to system breakdown.

In Sept. 2008, Hurricanes Ike and Gustav struck the Gulf Coast producing widespread damage and led to fed. major disaster declarations. Earlier this year, heavy flooding resulted in similar declarations in 7 Midwest states. Experiences from past disasters may help states and local governments better prepare for the challenges of managing and implementing the complexities of disaster recovery. This report reviewed 6 past disasters -- the Loma Prieta earthquake in N. Calif. (1989), Hurricane Andrew in S. Florida (1992), the Northridge earthquake in L.A., Calif. (1994), the Kobe earthquake in Japan (1995), the Grand Forks/Red River Flood in N. Dakota and Minnesota (1997), and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf Coast. Illustrations.

As the scale, frequency, and intensity of crises faced by the world have dramatically increased over the last decade, there is a critical need for a careful stocktaking on the knowledge of managing disasters. Managing Emergencies and Crises: Global Perspectives clearly and comprehensively explores the most important concepts of emergency and crisis management (such as mitigation, protection, prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, vulnerability and risk assessment) and illustrates them with cases involving disasters and emergencies worldwide. Substantially revised, the Second Edition has been reorganized and includes two new and timely chapters on terrorism and emergency management and public health emergencies and crises. It also provides an emphasis on management and leadership and cross-sector governance from interdisciplinary and global perspectives