October 3, 2008 The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report called “Disaster Recovery: Past Experiences Offer Insights for Recovering from Hurricanes Ike and Gustav and Other Recent Natural Disasters.”
The report seeks to capture some of the main disaster recovery lessons that have emerged from six major disasters that occurred from 1989 to 2005. Insights include:
- Create a clear, implementable, and timely recovery plan. Effective plans provide a road map for recovery.
- Build state and local capacity for recovery. State and local governments need certain capacities to effectively make use of federal assistance, including having sufficient financial resources and technical know-how.
- Implement strategies for businesses recovery. Business recovery is a key element of a community’s recovery. Small businesses can be especially vulnerable to major disasters because they often lack resources to sustain financial losses.
- Adopt a comprehensive approach toward combating fraud, waste, and abuse. The influx of financial assistance after a major disaster provides increased opportunities for these things. Looking for ways to combat such activities before, during, and after a disaster can help states and localities protect residents from contractor fraud as well as safeguard the financial assistance they allocate to victims.
For more information, see the Web site.
