In terms of disaster recovery, what does "long-term recovery" entail?

Long-term recovery is a crucial phase in the disaster recovery process, focusing on restoring both communities and individuals to their pre-disaster conditions over an extended period. It involves comprehensive efforts that go beyond immediate response actions, such as cleanup or short-term assistance. The goal of long-term recovery is to rebuild homes, infrastructure, and services while also ensuring that the affected population can recover economically and socially. This phase can take several months or even years, depending on the scale of the disaster and the resources available.

In long-term recovery, stakeholders often engage in planning and implementing sustainable solutions that address not only the immediate damages but also underlying vulnerabilities that contributed to the disaster's impacts. This holistic approach ensures that the recovery process is effective and strengthens the community's resilience against future disasters.