Community Losses and Long-term Recovery

How do we help our communities pick up the pieces and move forward after a loss? Like individuals, communities typically recover through stages. During and immediately after a disaster, the community often responds heroically to save people and property. Community members pull together, and the honeymoon stage follows. During this period, individuals receive aid from within the community and from outside agencies. Extra resources and attention from the media make community members feel that their needs are being addressed.

But eventually the extra help is withdrawn, and citizens are left to face the reality of what they have lost. The disillusionment phase can last for months or years. Widespread discouragement may set in. Conflict over recovery strategies may begin to surface, scapegoating can occur, and feelings of bitterness, anger, and discord emerge. This is the time when a community can reach its highest level of stress.

Finally, the community begins to find a new normal, and the recovery and reconstruction stage begins. Evidence that this stage is under way includes the repair of damaged homes and businesses, a recovering local economy, and the return of community routines.

Throughout these stages, it is important to support the community members. Ways to show this support include the following:

• Talk to people in the community. Show an interest in how they are coping; find out if they need additional help.
• Provide community education on possible long-term effects of post-disaster stress. This can help community members recognize symptoms that may require referral for professional help.
• Stay in frequent contact with individuals you think continue to struggle with effects of the disaster.
• Recognize that people’s stress may be delayed. Disasters have profound, long-term effects that can contribute to the delayed appearance of problems associated with stress.

Long-term recovery in a community is expedited by an organized approach.  Community agencies need to collaborate and coordinate their work to ensure the best use of resources and to avoid duplicating efforts. Typical long-term recovery activities include restoring damaged infrastructure and life support systems and implementing plans to repair, rebuild, or relocate homes.

While these projects are under way, efforts should be made to reduce or mitigate the community’s long-term disaster risk.  Extension can play a key role on long-term recovery committees in affected communities by helping organize efforts, identifying resources, working with volunteers, and providing education. The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster has compiled a Long-Term Recovery Manual , which can be helpful in organizing and operating a long-term recovery group.

Other resources:

Governor’s Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives

Triumph Over Tragedy: A Community Response to Managing Trauma in Times of Disaster and Terrorism CD/DVD Training Curriculum Second edition, 2004. Edited by Garret D. Evans and Brenda A. Wiens. (.pdf available)

Return to Ready Tips