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Disaster Recovery Operations

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Recovery in the aftermath of natural or man-made disasters is directly related to the availability of local resources and the infrastructure and operational ability to deliver assistance from outside the affected region. RAND researchers have helped governments, militaries, and private organizations organize recovery operations during disasters, learn from past experience, and prepare for future disasters.

Report
Assessing Social Equity in Disaster Preparation, Response, and Recovery
In this webinar, senior social scientist Melissa Finucane reviews the complex nature of social equity—including contextual, procedural, and distributional equity dimensions—and how a robust, evidence-based approach is needed to measure progress toward equity in disaster contexts.
Nov 16, 2021
Commentary
New Thinking to Translate Infrastructure Dollars into Resilience
Infrastructure investments the United States makes today to recover from the pandemic can help boost resilience for the future. We will need to think beyond what we've done in the past to ensure that these investments can continue to protect the nation from shifting threats in the future.
Jun 2, 2021

Explore Disaster Recovery Operations

Report
Public Buildings in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Prestorm Challenges, Hurricane Damage, and Suggested Courses of Action for Recovery
HSOAC presents a summary of hurricane damage to public buildings in Puerto Rico and 12 courses of action to repair damage and modernize public building infrastructure for increased resilience, improved energy efficiency, and improved user experience.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Predisaster Conditions, Hurricane Damage, and Recovery Needs in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico was facing challenges and stressors prior to the 2017 hurricane season. A comprehensive assessment of those issues and the damage caused by Hurricane Maria and other 2017 storms identifies short- and longer-term needs for Puerto Rico to recover and to build resilience to future storms.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Developing Recovery Options for Puerto Rico's Economic and Disaster Recovery Plan: Process and Methodology
This report summarizes the strategic planning process in support of the government of Puerto Rico in its development of a congressionally mandated recovery plan.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
What Will Puerto Rico's Recovery Plan Cost?
The total estimated cost of Puerto Rico's economic and disaster recovery plan is $139 billion. Up to $94 billion of funding from the federal government and private insurance claims is estimated to be available. Sources to fill the gap include the government of Puerto Rico, the private sector, and philanthropies.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Recovery Plan for the Communications and Information Technology Sector After Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Laying the Foundation for the Digital Transformation of Puerto Rico
Authors assess Puerto Rico's communications and information technology sector needs after damage caused during the 2017 hurricanes and present courses of action that will help the sector recover and move forward in a sustainable and resilient manner.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Building Back Locally: Supporting Puerto Rico's Municipalities in Post-Hurricane Reconstruction
In Puerto Rico's post-hurricane reconstruction, municipal governments face significant responsibility. The authors recommend ways to target government and other resources where they are needed most to help municipal reconstruction efforts.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Challenges and Opportunities for the Puerto Rico Economy: A Review of Evidence and Options Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
The authors review Puerto Rico's economic history and provide analysis following the 2017 hurricane season that serves as the context for a set of principles and actions in the recovery plan for rebuilding a healthy economy.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Municipalities on the Front Lines of Puerto Rico's Recovery
How did Hurricanes Irma and Maria affect Puerto Rico's municipalities in terms of their ability to govern, deliver services, and recover from the damage they incurred? An assessment answers this question and suggests courses of action to address damage and improve municipal capacity.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Beyond Recovery: Transforming Puerto Rico's Water Sector in the Wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria
The recovery plan for the water sector in Puerto Rico involves not only repairing hurricane-damaged water infrastructure and systems but also fixing the significant legacy challenges in the sector's infrastructure, operations, and governance.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Modernizing Puerto Rico's Housing Sector Following Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Post-Storm Challenges and Potential Courses of Action
Puerto Rico's housing sector needs a big fix. Through a careful analysis of housing damage caused by the 2017 hurricanes, the authors make informed recovery recommendations for policymakers so they can repair and rebuild safe and affordable housing.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
International Postdisaster Recoveries: Lessons for Puerto Rico on Supply-Chain Management and Recovery Governance
The authors analyze supply-chain management and recovery governance in four disaster-ridden countries. Research was conducted in Puerto Rico to assess recovery after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, recommend restorative measures, and improve resilience.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Cultural and Historical Resources Recovery Planning in Puerto Rico: Natural and Cultural Resources Sector Report, Volume II
Many of Puerto Rico's cultural resources were devastated in Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The authors discuss their importance, the damage they endured immediately after the storms, and detail recovery actions in Puerto Rico's recovery plan.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Rebuilding Surface, Maritime, and Air Transportation in Puerto Rico After Hurricanes Irma and Maria: Supporting Documentation for the Puerto Rico Recovery Plan
The Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center was asked to develop a poststorm recovery plan for Puerto Rico. This report describes the transportation sector, including prestorm conditions, damage, repair cost estimates, and courses of action.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Community Planning and Capacity Building in Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria: Predisaster Conditions, Hurricane Damage, and Courses of Action
The authors detail the status of Puerto Rico's communities leading up to Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the storms' impact on them, and 15 courses of action to improve their capacity for emergency preparedness, communication, and recovery planning.
Sep 30, 2020
Report
Logistics Analysis of Puerto Rico: Will the Seaborne Supply Chain of Puerto Rico Support Hurricane Recovery Projects?
Puerto Rico's seaborne logistics capacity is assessed in the context of recovery efforts following the Hurricane Maria. Key constraints are identified along with actions to mitigate potential bottlenecks.
Sep 30, 2020
Project
Supporting Puerto Rico's Disaster Recovery Planning
In response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, RAND researchers supported the development of Puerto Rico's economic and disaster-recovery plan. They collected and analyzed damage and needs information, and developed and costed recovery actions that addressed multiple areas of need.
Sep 30, 2020
Commentary
Counting the Costs: Improving Disaster Recovery Cost Estimation
Estimating the cost of disasters is a complex process. Disaster recovery is complicated even further during this new era of COVID-19, when extra precautions must be taken. How can we estimate costs quickly and reliably, thus improving the flow of dollars back into the community?
Sep 30, 2020
Journal Article
From Awareness to Action: Accounting for Infrastructure Interdependencies in Disaster Response and Recovery Planning
We suggest that awareness of the vulnerabilities in interdependent infrastructure systems needs to be coupled with coordinated action and collaboration among government agencies, communities, and industries.
Aug 12, 2020
Commentary
COVID-19 Highlights Disaster Policy's Need to Prepare for Multiple, Sequential Emergencies
The pandemic has highlighted the vulnerabilities many disaster-affected households face. As lawmakers debate a second relief package, they could reconsider how the emergency management framework responds to the effects of simultaneous hazards on individual-assistance and community-recovery programs.
Aug 11, 2020
Blog
Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on preparing for a COVID-19 election, how the pandemic is affecting artists, North Korea's deadly artillery, and more.
Aug 7, 2020

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RAND Topic:
Disaster Recovery Operations

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Jason Thomas Barnosky

Associate Director, Disaster Management & Resilience Program, RAND Homeland Security Research Division

Jason Thomas Barnosky is an associate director of the Disaster Management & Resilience Program, part of the RAND Homeland Security Research Division. He is a senior political scientist at the RAND Corporation and an expert in homeland security and emergency management policy. Prior to…
Jay Balagna

Assistant Policy Researcher, RAND

Jay Balagna (he/him) is a Ph.D. student in the Community-Partnered Policy and Action stream at the Pardee RAND Graduate School and an assistant policy researcher at RAND. His research interests include disaster studies, disaster risk reduction and creation, the influence of climate change on…

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