Overview: Purpose and Goal National Disaster Recovery
Purpose and Goal
Communities hit hard by disaster face a variety of complex issues and choices during the disaster recovery process. When dealing with a multitude of demands for limited resources, the transition to recovery will be easier if the community takes the opportunity to convene those responsible for overseeing the recovery of various infrastructure networks together with residents to plan for the overall community recovery process. It is vital that all essential service providers in the community participate in this discussion (including education officials, sewage and water treatment officials, energy providers, communication officials, etc.). As a key public works provider, local transportation officials need to lead the integration of transportation recovery into the community’s overall restoration plans.
The NTRS is designed to help transportation industry stakeholders and local, tribal, and State government officials prepare for and manage the transportation recovery process following a major disaster. The overall goal of this Strategy is to promote a recovery process for transportation networks – and subsequently of communities in general – that results in a greater level of resilience.
Under the “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007” (Public Law 110-53) and the Transportation Systems Sector-Specific Plan (SSP) of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) , the NTRS begins a comprehensive national effort to promote community resiliency through effective transportation recovery planning and implementation. You are encouraged to use the NTRS as a resource to start planning for your role in the transportation and overall recovery process of your community following a disaster.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Federal partners are firmly committed to enhancing the usefulness of this initial Strategy through the future development of additional tools and resources for industry stakeholders and local, tribal, and State authorities facing the difficult task of recovering a transportation network. DOT is leading a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to produce the package of products that will enhance the NTRS.