Schools and the community are confronted with putting the pieces back together following sudden, tragic events such as death or serious injury to students and staff, bus accidents, fires, natural or man-made disasters and violence. The aftermath of tragedies on individual children and adults is not simple to predict.

Recovery during an emergency can address immediate short-term needs, while long-term recovery can last for months or years. The scope of recovery operations will be determined by the size and nature of the events, at times relying on a chain-reaction of school, LEA and Government responses.