Successful recovery depends on all recovery stakeholders having a clear understanding of pre- and post-disaster roles and responsibilities. In keeping with the National Disaster Recovery Framework principles, clearly defined roles and responsibilities are a foundation for unity of effort among all recovery partners to jointly identify opportunities, foster partnerships and optimize resources. While disaster-impacted jurisdictions must necessarily and immediately focus on emergency response activities, the decisions made very early after a disaster influence recovery. In large-scale disasters and catastrophic incidents where a Federal role may be necessary, the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (FDRC) is a focal point for incorporating recovery and mitigation considerations into the early decisionmaking processes. The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator monitors the impacts and results of such decisions and evaluates the need for additional assistance and adjustments where necessary and feasible throughout the recovery. In these situations, the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator works as a deputy to the Federal Coordinating Officer (FCO) for all matters concerning disaster recovery. The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator is responsible for facilitating disaster recovery coordination and collaboration between the Federal, Tribal, State and local governments, the private sector and voluntary, faith-based and community organizations. The Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator partners with and supports the Local Disaster Recovery Manager (LDRM) and the State and/or Tribal Disaster Recovery Coordinator (SDRC/TDRC) to facilitate disaster recovery in the impacted State or Tribal area. FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR AUTHORITY Nothing in the National Disaster Recovery Framework alters or impedes the ability of local, State, Tribal or Federal departments and agencies to carry out their specific authorities or perform their responsibilities under all applicable laws, Executive Orders and directives. Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator authority to facilitate disaster recovery coordination and collaboration is derived from the appropriate disaster recovery authority that may apply to the incident. Other Federal departments and agencies carry out their disaster recovery authorities and responsibilities within the overarching construct of the National Disaster Recovery Framework. Additionally, nothing in the National Disaster Recovery Framework is intended to impact or impede the ability of any Federal department or agency to take an issue of concern directly to the President or any member of the President’s staff . For a large-scale disaster or catastrophic incident declared under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator works as a deputy to the FCO for all matters concerning disaster recovery. FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION AND CREDENTIALING Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators are selected based on their knowledge and experience with disaster recovery, mitigation, community development, resiliency planning, public administration concepts, and the range of Federal programs and interagency processes required for effective implementation of recovery initiatives. In addition to existing subject-matter expertise, Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators maintain training and credentialing emphasizing consistent and effective practices. Qualified Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators are senior level officials empowered to directly access designated senior officials in every Federal agency that may contribute to recovery. FEMA will appoint the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator. PRE-DISASTER FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT. The responsibilities of the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator require an understanding of pre-disaster recovery planning as well as post-disaster recovery leadership and coordination. Since each community is unique in terms of its size, population and challenges, the development of effective recovery efforts will need to be crafted to fit each individual region’s risks and needs. Therefore, it will be extremely helpful to the success of an Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinator to have pre- established relationships with persons at the Federal, Tribal, State and local levels, including the private and nonprofit sectors. In large-scale and catastrophic incidents where a Federal role may be necessary, the Federal Disaster Recovery Coordinators have the knowledge, connections, and relationships to immediately begin effective disaster recovery coordination. POST-DISASTER FEDERAL DISASTER RECOVERY COORDINATOR RESPONSIBILITIES In large-scale disasters and catastrophic incidents when it may be necessary to deploy an FDRC in partnership with the State the FDRC’s post-disaster responsibilities may include: * Develop a strategic approach for coordinating Federal assistance and policies. The intent is to facilitate timely, sufficient and effective Federal assistance to the impacted State or Tribal government to support its disaster recovery. * Work with the impacted community to establish relevant recovery measures. The aim is to track overall recovery progress and support the community in meeting its recovery goals in terms of outcome, milestones and budget; to make timely adjustments to the recovery effort if needed; and to define relationships between new players and the existing framework. * Promote inclusiveness in recovery. The intent is to increase participation of stakeholders to ensure innovations and solutions that support recovery are considered. The community should provide a forum to engage disaster- impacted individuals, particularly individuals with disabilities, individuals with limited English proficiency, seniors, members of underserved populations and advocates for children so that their needs and contributions are an integral part of the recovery process and outcome. * Facilitate the development of a unified communications strategy. The objective is to have all stakeholders work in concert to manage expectations and to communicate a clear, consistent message to the public and ensure an accessible, comprehensive and culturally and linguistically appropriate communications outreach strategy. * Coordinate Federal assistance to support community recovery planning. The goal is to supplement local capacity with needed expertise to conduct a successful planning process that results in a recovery plan that is publicly supported, actionable and leverages available resources. * Work with the impacted community to incorporate mitigation and resilience-building measures into recovery plans and implementation. The goal is to minimize the community’s risk to all hazards and make the recovered community safer, stronger, sustainable and more resilient from any man-made or natural hazards. * Coordinate the Recovery Support Function (RSF) operations and activities. The FDRC consults with the RSF field coordinators to conduct a recovery impact assessment and recommend activation of the appropriate RSFs. The objective is to focus Federal resources on the most pertinent recovery needs and to promote partnerships between the Federal Government and stakeholders at the local, State and Tribal levels. * Facilitate Federal funding streams and solutions to assistance gaps and overlaps. The intent is to maximize the benefit from Federal funds that an impacted community is qualified to receive, help prevent recovery delays, resolve rule and regulatory conflicts to the extent possible and help eliminate possible duplication of assistance in coordination with local, State and Tribal recovery coordinators. * Reinforce the importance of compliance with Federal civil rights laws when using Federal funds. Federal funding carries with it the responsibility to comply with anti-discrimination laws. Federally-funded programs and activities should not intentionally or unintentionally exclude groups of people as a result of race, color, national origin, limited English proficiency, religion, sex, age or disability. ### September 2011 4