Planning For Recovery

Wildfire recovery preparedness is a cornerstone of building resilient communities. By proactively integrating post-fire recovery preparedness considerations into Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs), Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), and All-Hazard Mitigation Plans (AHMPs), communities can prepare for disaster before it strikes. This approach strengthens partnerships, secures essential resources, allows for the identification of specific post-fire vulnerabilities, and clearly defines roles and responsibilities, leading to efficient and effective recovery efforts.

The following resources are meant for those professionals and leaders involved in hazard and wildfire planning at the local level. They are divided into two main sections: Community Wildfire Protection Planning and Post-Fire Recovery Readiness. CWPPs function to support county-level planning, while Recovery Readiness Guides offer a more local approach to recovery. These two mechanisms can be used in independently or in conjunction. For example, a CWPP action item could be the annual maintenance of a Recovery Readiness Guide.

Recovery Preparedness Integration Guide

This guide is designed for community stakeholders and planning partners involved in CWPP development. It provides a structured approach to integrating wildfire recovery strategies by identifying key elements, engaging relevant stakeholders, and outlining actionable steps.

Recommended Actions & Considerations

Including post-fire actions and recovery measures in a CWPP strengthens a community’s ability to rebuild stronger, safer, and more equitably. This tool outlines a list of recommended actions and considerations based on national recovery frameworks and the expertise of recovery practitioners in WA.

Potential Partners List

Wildfire recovery requires strong partnerships and coordinate efforts to support communities in rebuilding and enhancing their resilience. This Potential Partners List highlights potential partners in Washington State to engage during the CWPP process to better pre-plan and coordinate with partners for post-fire recovery efforts.

Assets & Gaps Assessment Template

This Assets & Gaps Assessment Template is meant to help planning teams and partners identify specific recovery actions, prioritize actions in collaboration with stakeholders, and develop inclusive, equitable, and comprehensive post-fire recovery actions and strategies.

CWPP Post-Fire Recovery Planning Toolkit

Post-Fire Recovery Readiness Guide

This is a guide for all those involved in recovery at the county and local level to develop shared understanding, plans, and processes that build critical recovery readiness for wildfire. It is not meant to supersede any other local or emergency plans in place.

The core guide covers three main topics areas: Recovery Operations & Governance, Phases of Recovery, and Local Recovery Support Functions & Lines of Effort.

The associated Toolbox provides further information, activities, customizable checklists, and templates to develop foundational recovery readiness across key recovery phases and needs:

Planning
Building Capacity
Financing Recovery
Communications
Lines of Effort

This toolkit is intended to support the relationship building, communication, information sharing, and resource mapping needed to support robust, effective recovery from wildfires. It is meant to be pulled apart and used to support whatever phase of recovery or recovery readiness you are working on.

Planning