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Why we need to build Disaster-Resilient Communities
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Why we need to build Disaster-Resilient Communities

Weekly Round-up 01.30.2023

As we close out the first month of the year and stick with the theme of resolve to be resilient, I thought it would be prudent to discuss building a disaster-resilient community.

Why we need to build Disaster-Resilient Communities 

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, can have devastating consequences for communities. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of disasters, from major hurricanes and floods to wildfires and pandemics. The impacts of these events can be devastating, not only in terms of physical damage but also in terms of human and economic costs. Building disaster-resilient communities are more critical than ever in light of these events.

A disaster-resilient community can prepare for, withstand, and recover from disasters. When we look at improving emergency management, we must include a holistic approach. 

The traditional approach to emergency management narrowly focuses on the four phases. We must explore emergency management's complexities and nuances. A holistic approach to emergency management is needed to address the whole picture, including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery. However, practitioners and academics must consider the social impacts of disasters, disaster economics, the implications of disaster migration and disaster politics. 

What do we need to do to start Building disaster-resilient communities? To start, it requires a commitment from all levels of government, community organizations, and individuals. This includes investing in infrastructure and building codes. We must consider the potential risks of specific hazards and implement emergency planning and training programs at the government level and with community stakeholders such as chambers of commerce, faith-based organizations, and community groups. It also requires a commitment to social resilience and addressing the specific needs of marginalized groups, such as low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and older adults.

One of the main benefits of building disaster-resilient communities is that it can significantly reduce a disaster's human and economic costs. For example, a study of the 1994 Northridge, California earthquake found that buildings that had been retrofitted to meet seismic safety standards sustained significantly less damage than those that had not. [1]

Similarly, a study of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami found that communities with early warning systems and evacuation plans in place suffered far fewer casualties than those without. [2]

In addition to reducing the immediate impacts of a disaster, building disaster-resilient communities can also help them recover more quickly and effectively. This includes providing stable housing and employment, supporting small businesses, and investing in infrastructure to help communities recover and thrive in the long term.

Despite the clear benefits of building disaster-resilient communities, many government officials still prioritize response efforts over more proactive measures such as preparedness and mitigation. One reason is that these measures can be more difficult and expensive than response efforts. However, investing in disaster resilience is cost-effective in the long run and essential for ensuring a sustainable future for all.

Building disaster-resilient communities are more important than ever in light of the increasing frequency and severity of disasters. A comprehensive approach that encompasses preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery is essential for reducing disasters' human and economic costs. Communities and governments must prioritize investment in disaster resilience to ensure a sustainable future for all.

Addressing the Impacts of Disasters.

In the immediate aftermath, emergency responders and relief organizations rush to provide aid and assistance to those affected. However, as crucial as these response efforts are, more is needed to address a disaster's impacts fully.

Preparedness and mitigation are critical components of a comprehensive disaster management strategy. Preparedness is the actions taken before a disaster to plan for and prepare for potential hazards. This can include measures such as emergency planning, training, exercises, building codes and land-use planning that consider the potential risks of specific hazards. Mitigation, on the other hand, refers to actions taken to reduce the impacts of a disaster, such as retrofitting buildings to make them more resistant to earthquakes or implementing early warning systems for tsunamis.

When asked why government officials are reluctant to invest in creating a disaster-resiliency program, the most common answer is that preparedness and mitigation efforts are often less visible than response efforts. For example, a community that has implemented effective evacuation plans and early warning systems may not experience a disaster, so the value of these measures may be less evident to residents and decision-makers.

While response efforts are essential in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, more is needed to address the impacts of these events fully. Preparedness and mitigation are critical components of a comprehensive disaster management strategy that can significantly reduce a disaster's human and economic costs and help communities recover more quickly and effectively. Despite the challenges, communities and governments must prioritize these proactive measures to ensure a more resilient future.

The Social Impacts of Disaster: Understanding the Long-Term Consequences of Catastrophic Events

Disasters can have far-reaching and long-lasting impacts on individuals and communities. While the immediate physical damage caused by a disaster is often apparent, the social impacts can be more subtle and less visible but equally devastating. Understanding the social impacts of disasters is critical for effectively addressing the needs of affected individuals and communities and planning for future events.

One of the most significant social impacts of disasters is the disruption of social networks and support systems. Disasters can cause individuals to lose their homes, jobs, and possessions, leading to displacement and separation from friends, family, and community. This can profoundly impact mental health, with many individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Another social impact of disasters is the increased vulnerability of specific populations. Disasters can exacerbate existing social inequalities, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups, as we mentioned before, such as low-income individuals, people with disabilities, and older adults. These populations may have fewer resources to cope with the aftermath of a disaster and may be more likely to experience adverse health outcomes.

In addition to these immediate impacts, disasters can also have long-term consequences on individuals' and communities' social and economic well-being. For example, individuals who lose their homes and jobs may struggle to find stable housing and employment in the aftermath of a disaster, leading to long-term financial insecurity. Communities that suffer significant infrastructure damage may also need help to rebuild and recover economically, leading to a decline in population and community cohesion.

The social impacts of disasters can also have broader implications for society. For example, mass displacement caused by a disaster can strain the resources of neighboring communities and can lead to increased competition for jobs and housing. This can lead to increased social tension and mistrust among different groups.

Given disasters' far-reaching and long-lasting social impacts, response and recovery efforts must consider these impacts. This includes providing mental health support for affected individuals and communities, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable populations, and supporting long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts that consider the social and economic well-being of affected individuals and communities.

Disasters have significant and far-reaching social impacts beyond the immediate physical damage caused by the event. Understanding these social impacts is critical for effectively addressing the needs of affected individuals and communities and planning for future events. Communities and governments need to prioritize social recovery and resilience in addition to physical recovery to ensure a sustainable future for all.

Moving Beyond Reactive to Proactive EM

The emergency management profession must move beyond the EOC and planning for the response phase of a disaster. Understandably, community members and elected officials spend time, money and resources focusing on the response phase of disasters. Elected officials like to take photos standing next to the new fire equipment. Community members are proud of the first responders, and they should be; however, they do not address the long-term social impacts of a disaster.

Emergency management is critical to protecting communities from disasters' devastating consequences. Today emergency management needs to reflect on the issues and complexities of the long-term social impacts of a disaster.

Long-term social impacts of disasters include disruption of social networks and support systems, increased vulnerability of specific populations, and long-term consequences on the social and economic well-being of individuals and communities.

Furthermore, emergency management needs to be equipped to deal with the long-term social impacts of a disaster. Dr. Daniel Aldrich discusses the issues Japan faced in the aftermath of the 2011 triple disaster, which consisted of an earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. in his book "Black Wave: How Networks and Governance Shaped Japan's Triple Disaster,"

He argues that Japan's centralized governance structure hindered the ability of local communities to respond effectively to the disaster, as decisions were made primarily at the national level without adequate input from those most affected. Dr. Aldrich also highlights the importance of social networks and community connections in disaster recovery, as residents who had strong ties to their communities were more likely to receive help and support in the aftermath of the disaster.

While the four phases of emergency management are essential, and elected officials may focus on the initial phase of providing immediate aid and assistance to affected individuals and communities, considering Aldrich’s work, emergency managers must reflect on the issues and complexities of the long-term social impacts of a disaster.

Emergency management needs to shift its focus to include long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts that consider the social and economic well-being of affected individuals and communities and to prioritize social recovery and resilience in addition to physical recovery to ensure a sustainable future for all.

Creating the Antifragile Community 

What is an Antifragile comunity? It consists of a robust disaster-resilient program with a comprehensive approach that addresses the immediate response and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts.  It is designed to reduce human and economic costs and assist with disasters' social impacts. One of the essential components of antifragility is addressing marginalized groups' specific needs and vulnerabilities. 

A robust disaster-resilient program should also include mental health support for affected individuals and communities. Disasters can cause individuals to lose their homes, jobs, and possessions, leading to displacement and separation from friends, family, and community. This can profoundly impact mental health, with many individuals experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A robust disaster-resilient program can help individuals and communities cope with a disaster's emotional and psychological impacts by providing mental health support.

Finally, a robust disaster-resilient program should also support long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts that consider the social and economic well-being of affected individuals and communities. This includes providing stable housing and employment, supporting small businesses, and investing in infrastructure to help communities recover and thrive in the long term.

 A robust disaster-resilient program is essential to addressing the social impacts of disasters. It combines proactive measures, such as preparedness and mitigation, with tailored support for marginalized groups, mental health support, and long-term recovery and rebuilding efforts. By implementing a robust disaster-resilient program, communities and governments can ensure a more resilient future and mitigate the social impacts of disasters. This is the road to an Antifragile community. 

1) Nelson, Arthur C., and Steven P. French. "Plan Quality and Mitigating Damage from Natural Disasters: A Case Study of the Northridge Earthquake with Planning Policy Considerations." Journal of the American Planning Association 68.2 (2002): 194-207. Print.

2) Suppasri, A., Goto, K., Muhari, A. et al. A Decade After the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Progress in Disaster Preparedness and Future Challenges in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Maldives. Pure Appl. Geophys. 172, 3313–3341 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-015-1134-6

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