Recover from Disaster
Recovering from a disaster is usually a gradual process. Safety is a primary issue, as are mental and physical well-being. If assistance is available, knowing how to access it makes the process faster and less stressful. This section offers some general advice on steps to take after disaster strikes in order to begin getting your home and your life back to normal.
Re-entry
After a flood or other natural disaster, going back into your home can be dangerous because of structural, electrical or other hazards. Before returning home be sure that permission have been given by authorities and that the building is safe.
Clean Up
Disasters make a mess and one of the first jobs is to clean up. Safety should always be the very first consideration.
Houses that have been flooded or damaged by water need special attention to avoid mold growth. Proper cleaning techniques are essential to your safety while cleaning mold, and to ensure contaminants are properly removed and will not create a hazardous environment in your home.
Repairs after a disaster should be treated like any other home renovations; you need to do some research, ensure safe practices are being followed, and check the quality of the work and compliance with codes and standards.
The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation provides information on best practices for construction and renovation, and other considerations when rebuilding after a disaster:
Business Disaster Recovery
The goal of recovery and restoration operations is to, recover the facility or operation and maintain critical service or product delivery. Recovery and restoration includes:
- re-deploying personnel;
- deciding whether to repair the facility, relocate to an alternate site or build a new facility;
- acquiring the additional resources necessary for restoring business operations;
- re-establishing normal operations; and
- resuming operations at pre-disruption levels.