Lessons Learned in Long-term Recovery

Disaster Relief and Recovery — Taking the Longer View

Office Depot is certainly no stranger when it comes to preparing for and dealing with hurricanes. In 2005 alone, Office Depot weathered four major hurricanes at our global headquarters in Delray Beach, Florida.  Although Office Depot was well-prepared for what took place, there were still lessons to be learned. This is true not only within our organization, but broadly throughout the business community. And so, in the aftermath of the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons and the relative calm of 2006, Office Depot and the independent, nonprofit Office Depot Foundation have been eager to play a proactive role in raising consciousness about all aspects of disaster relief and recovery.

Lest anyone get the wrong idea, this article is not meant to be self-congratulatory. Its intention is to inspire others to take a close look at their own experiences with disasters — and to revisit their strategies for the future. Indeed, the best time to plan for what might happen is before something does happen. This approach applies not only to disaster preparedness, but also to what we might call "recovery preparedness." In other words, we do not just need to have detailed checklists for what to do before, during, and immediately after a disaster.  We also must have clear expectations and carefully planned scenarios regarding how we wish to respond a week, or a month, or a year later.

"Indeed, the best time to plan for what might happen is before something does happen. This approach applies not only to disaster preparedness, but also to what we might call 'recovery preparedness.'"

One of the keys to long-term thinking and planning, of course, is
collaboration. We recognize that corporations and foundations cannot give unlimited dollars — and we cannot do it alone.

Collaboration does not happen in a vacuum, of course. One
of the reasons that the Business Civic Leadership Center's
emphasis on disaster relief and recovery is so valuable — and why the Office Depot Foundation supports these efforts so enthusiastically — is because of its success in bringing various players to the table to address the issue. Comparable initiatives have sprung up at all levels of the public and private sector; in 2007 alone, the Office Depot Foundation has been invited to participate in programs facilitated by the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, the Department of Homeland Security, the USA Freedom Corps, and the Governor of the State of Florida. We are eager to engage in these conversations. As our network of contacts expands, so too do our opportunities for collaboration.

"One of the keys to long-term thinking and planning, of course, is collaboration. We recognize that corporations and foundations cannot give unlimited dollars — and we cannot do it alone."

This opening of doors is to be applauded. As the government, the private sector, and the nonprofit community work together more closely, we will be able to establish standards and best practices for reacting to disasters in the short term — and for moving forward rapidly with the long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.

What are the business community's key takeaways from our experiences with the hurricanes and other disasters that we have faced in the past several years? Planning, collaboration, and education. We have to remember that our relief and recovery strategies and our business continuity plans cannot cover just one or two weeks. Potentially, the work will go on for years. Furthermore, we have an obligation to share what we learn with others.

"We have to remember that our relief and recovery strategies and our business continuity plans cannot cover just one or two weeks."

To better share our lessons learned and to educate the small business community on the importance of disaster preparation, Office Depot also developed a guide, "Expecting the Unexpected: Disaster Preparedness Strategies for Small Business," which is available at www.officedepot.com/getprepared.

We live in a compassionate country, and thank goodness for that. Yet we must balance compassion with logic. It is critical, therefore, that we educate and provide resources for relief efforts as well as the needed rebuilding down the road.

By Mary Wong, President, Office Depot Foundation

Read Full Report: "Business Disaster Assistance and Recovery: Long-term Recovery Issues and Case Studies"