Generic Disaster Plan Workbook

Module 4: Disaster Recovery: Restoration Methods

I. Housekeeping and Rehabilitation

1. Building: The building should have passed an official safety inspection. The following items should be thoroughly checked:
   1. All areas of the building cleaned and sterilized. Make sure it has thoroughly dried.
   2. Heating and air conditioning systems should be in full working order.
   3. 3.Fire detection and extinguishing systems should be in full working order.
   4. Security systems should be in full working order.
   5. Repairs to structure and equipment should be complete and building certified for occupation.
2. Collection:
   1. Select area for rehabilitation for all material damaged by water.
   2. Do daily random checks for mold.
   3. Assess material for replacement or for further treatment.
   4. After six months, material may be returned to collection.
      1. Only thoroughly dry material should be returned.
      2. Material should be thoroughly examined by an expert.
      3. Check that markings are correct.
      4. Maintain accurate records

Reshelving, or relocation, describes the orderly transfer of restored items to temporary or permanent locations after return from the drying station. A temporary location, with plenty of space so items can be spread out, will be used first because:

1. A second evaluation of the material by staff is needed to decide which items need binding, mending, labeling, or discarding. These items are separated from the material ready to be shelved.
2. The material ready to be shelved needs to be put into its proper sequence so it can be easily accessible until removal to a permanent location.
3. Insurance claim settlement cannot be completed until the loss evaluation is completed.
4. Before the material is permanently housed, some factors need to be kept in mind:
   1. The building has been officially declared ready for occupancy.
   2. The stack area is stabilized and ready.

   E. After the material has been reshelved in a permanent location, selected areas need to be checked periodically (after a week, 2 weeks, a month, etc.) to see if there is any evidence of mold growth.

1. Disaster Assessment: Management staff, should have a simple easy to follow checklist that can help them to make a final assessment of how well they met the disaster and were able to deal with it. Some checklist items could be:
   1. Staff performance.
   2. Adequate supplies.
   3. Cooperation between departments, division, outside help.
   4. Adequate record keeping.
   5. How efficiently were things handled? How can they be improved?
   6. Listing of unexpected problems and their solutions.
2. Revision: Using disaster drills, brainstorming sessions, and disaster follow-up assessments, staff should periodically review and update disaster plans so that they will be adequate to meet the needs of the institution when they are needed.

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