Disaster Recovery
These are some of the staff roles during disaster recovery:
Administration
- Provide for a reserve budget to cover emergency expenses.
- Facilitate group planning discussion, such as TeleNet.
- Make the following announcements:
- The organization is in disaster response mode.
- The plan-of-work is temporarily set aside for those directly and indirectly involved in disaster response.
- Deadlines are extended.
- Supervisors will assist anyone trying to determine their proper role.
- Each unit is able to make choices and carry out action plans.
- Information on availability and use of emergency resources.
Unit Staff
- Be acquainted with the county(ies) Emergency Management Agency (EMA) coordinator.
- If possible and appropriate, offer assistance (facilities and equipment) to EMA.
- Meet and coordinate activities with other local leaders.
- Serve as the University of Illinois Extension member of the UMA emergency team.
- Manage and distribute information provided through the official channels of the organization.
- Apply local knowledge to discover needs and devise creative and resourceful responses.
- Communicate local needs to Center staff, Specialists, and administrators.
- Be open to the suggestions and assistance of Center staff and Specialists.
Center Staff
- Be proactive in studying the situation and offering assistance to Unit staff.
- Visit disaster areas to talk with those affected in order to learn how you may be of greatest assistance.
- Participate with Specialists, Educators and Unit staff on interdisciplinary disaster area study teams.
- Keep your Development Team informed and provide leadership to Development Team response activities.
- Take the opportunity to learn new skills, work with new organizations and seek out new ways of contributing.
Specialists
- Be responsive to requests for assistance by field staff and proactive in studying the situation.
- Participate with others in visiting the disaster area and talking with those affected.
- Apply your expertise in devising creative and resourceful interdisciplinary responses.
- Create and review materials for distribution in the disaster area.
- Call on your organization and state agency contacts in devising coordinated responses.
- Make use of specialist counterparts in other states.
- Take advantage of the research opportunities presented by the disaster and its aftermath.
Development Teams
- Move response to the disaster to the highest priority with leadership for the response vested in those team members serving in the affected area.
- Provide for back-up to team members involved in response activities.
- Provide for rapid team communication.
Information Services/Office of Computer Support
- Assist in developing news releases and fact sheets.
- Facilitate the dissemination of information using media and computer networks.
