As discussed in KPF 5, Augment Provision of Mass Care and Human Services to Affected Population, the context in which a chemical incident occurs influences which response and recovery plans are followed. Since a chemical incident can be triggered by another disaster (for example, an earthquake or a hurricane, as described in the Prologue), recovery needs arising from a chemical incident may compound those resulting from an ongoing event. SLTT officials and their partners should explore how existing recovery plans and structures can be modified to support multiple concurrent disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Modification of existing plans will enable SLTT officials to focus coordination efforts around clear outcomes and goals across disasters, as well as enhance SLTT leaders’ ability to pool and target resources for maximum impact. SLTT leaders should review recovery operations plans and consider in particular:81
- Developing or modifying existing plans to include defining essential operations, building staff redundancy, and outlining devolution procedures and authorities
- Accounting for increased recovery efforts to address compounded impacts from concurrent incidents, to include:
- Cross-contamination and operations impacts resulting from infrastructure dependencies and interdependencies
- Economic impacts, including impacts to non-essential businesses and loss of livelihood in the impacted area
- Long-term impacts to health and social services, increased use of telemedicine providers, and reduced utilization of medical services for chronic conditions
- Increased demand for social services and mental and behavioral health resources
Footnotes
81. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2020, September 1). Stockpile Products. Public Health Emergency, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.