Post-tornado: in long-term recovery phase
In the Miami Valley, we are blessed with a spirit of collaboration. We rely on each other, we work together for the good of the region and we understand that we are all interconnected. The way that our community came together in response to the May 27, 2019, tornadoes proved that we are indeed a “resilient region.”
In the year since the disaster, we have all learned a great deal from each other. There are so many who deserve recognition and our gratitude. In the wake of a disaster all communities go through three primary phases on their way to recovery: emergency relief, disaster response and finally long-term recovery.
Our region came together in unprecedented ways to provide emergency relief in the days and weeks immediately following the tornadoes. Thank you to all of the first responders who addressed the most emergent needs to protect health and safety of our communities. This includes the police and fire crews, the
Emergency Operations teams in each impacted county, and also the hundreds of public works and parks employees from across the region who traveled to impacted areas to help clear debris in order to restore access to our neighborhoods. Thank you to the churches and community organizations who quickly set up shelters and food distribution sites, and to all of the volunteers and generous community members who made operating those sites possible.
Our region grew stronger in our disaster response. Thank you to the faith-based, social-service and nonprofit agencies who pulled together quickly to create a structure that ensured tornado survivors had access to the resources they need to find a new normal and rebuild their lives. Thank you to the thousands of volunteers who participated in neighborhood cleanups to remove trees, brush and building debris. Thank you to the disaster response teams who cleaned, boarded up and tarped properties to protect them from further exposure and damage while they awaited further repair. Thank you to the elected officials from each of the impacted communities who advocated fiercely for their residents and business owners, and shifted staffing, project plans and budgets to make sure recovery was the top priority.
Our region is now in the long-term recovery phase. The opportunities for survivors and their communities to craft a new vision for what is possible are exciting. In the coming months, we will begin an ambitious recovery planning effort focused on the hardest hit areas of our region. We will assist local leaders and engage community members to assess and guide redevelopment plans for both residential and commercial areas. The dedicated case management teams that formed during the disaster response phase will continue to work with individuals to define their personal recovery plans. Teams of volunteers from national organizations, as well as local teams, will coordinate an impressive effort to repair and rebuild damaged homes throughout the region.
This long-term recovery phase takes time. Using the formula provided by national disaster recovery experts, we can expect that it will take three years for the repair and rebuild activities to be complete.
So I ask every one in the region to please continue to focus on helping our survivors and our communities fully recover. It is normal to get impatient with progress, but please be assured that while areas may appear dormant, careful planning and securing of resources is happening behind the scenes.
On behalf of all of the local leaders working tirelessly to “Build Back Better,” thank you in advance for your continued generosity, understanding and patience.
Finally, thank you to the survivors of the tornadoes who have shown us all what it means to have hope, determination and strength. Thank you for believing that the entire region is here to support you, for reaching out when you needed an extra hand and for standing strong in your resolve to rebuild your properties and your lives here in the Miami Valley. We wouldn’t be the same without you, and we will all continue standing by your side.
Brian O. Martin is executive director of the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission.