Planning for Disaster Recovery: Planner Perspectives and Experiences

Scholars and practitioners have long called for more planning leadership in community disaster recovery. Yet, how planners perceive themselves in disaster recovery, understand recovery processes, and participate in recovery activities remains relatively unknown. A survey of APA members found that improvements are needed for the planning field to meet increasing societal disaster needs. Few respondents have participated in pre- or postdisaster recovery planning or see themselves as leaders in recovery. Pre- and postdisaster recovery plans lack broad integration of planning tools that could improve resilience and speed disaster recovery. Clarifying planners’ potential roles in disaster recovery and how to use planning tools for recovery could help planners undertake enhanced proactive efforts and effective disaster recovery leadership positions that in turn foster resilience in their communities. The next generation of planners’ education and training should include increased emphasis on disaster recovery and encouragement of specialization in hazard planning. This study highlights needed topics for this education and training, especially with respect to housing, funding, and implementation of planning tools in recovery. Our baseline data on planner recovery knowledge and experience will allow the field to assess its expertise and capacity to meet the challenges facing communities under a continually changing climate.