What is a disaster resilient community?

At a seminar supported by the Thomas Jefferson Information Center, University of North Carolina’s Dr. Gavin Smith, executive director of the Center of Natural Hazards and Disasters, confirms, “The notion of trying to predict vulnerability is not a perfect science. We are going to see intensification of storms due to climate change.” But although no amount of careful planning can prevent damage brought about by more destructive natural calamities, building disaster-resilient communities should be the ideal.

“I always use ‘natural hazard’ instead of ‘disaster’ because disasters are a human construct,” Dr. Smith explains, “But at this time, climate change is a disaster. Many communities will not recover to pre-disaster conditions and we need to find a way to adapt to natural hazards.”



 What is a disaster-resilient community? Simply put, it is a community that is planned to best withstand the ill effects wrought by natural catastrophes; one that is well-prepared so that it can quickly revert to normalcy after the occurrence of a destructive event.

“The expectation that money can solve all disaster-related problems is flawed,” says Dr. Smith. “We need to expand our understanding of hazard science through rigorous interdisciplinary research focused on hazard resilience.” He identifies international collaboration; the use of technology to support research education and outreach; and diversification of center support, utilizing leveraging opportunities fostered through new and expanded partnerships, as goals in Hazards Management Science.

Pre-planning before a disaster can occur is vital. “Hazard identification will help us understand the risks that exist—their intensity and duration; while vulnerability assessment will tell us what to expect.” Expected losses across differing hazard scenarios and concomitant social vulnerability should also be taken into consideration.

“Resources consist of more than money, it is also policy,” Dr. Smith’s contends. Thus, one is forced to ask difficult questions:

• Are you willing to change policies? Strong building codes may be in place, but in crowded cities, the poor are most vulnerable as they build their homes in risk-prone areas. Keeping in mind that the underprivileged sector is fastest in terms of population growth, and in light of the current Philippine controversy between the Catholic Church and reproductive health advocates, is it ethical to withhold “artificial,” albeit reliable, contraception from the poor so that more of them live in highly hazardous zones?

• How do you craft good policy after a disaster? Public interest in hazard mitigation strategies after a disaster is high, but people soon forget and revert to the same risk-prone or destructive habits.

• What are your dimensions of capability? Do the fiscal, technical, administrative, and political sectors work together, or do their actions undermine each other’s efforts?

• How do you involve the private sector? Clearly, the business of building hazard-resilient communities has numerous social, economic, political, moral and ethical implications.

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