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The use of post-earthquake cordons as a tool to support emergency managers after an event has been documented around the world. However, there is limited research that attempts to understand the inherent complexities of cordoning once applied, particularly the longer-term impacts and consequences. This research aims to fill the gap by providing a detailed understanding of cordons, their management, and the implications of cordoning in a post-earthquake environment. We use a qualitative method to understand cordons through case studies of two cities where cordons were used at different temporal and spatial scales: Christchurch (M6.3, February 2011) and Wellington (M7.8 in Kaikōura, November 2016), New Zealand. Data was collected through 21 key informant interviews obtained through purposive and snowball sampling of participants who were directly or indirectly involved in a decision-making role and/or had influence in relation to the cordoning process. The participants were from varying backgrounds and roles i.e. emergency managers, council members, business representatives, insurance representatives, police, and communication managers. We find that cordons are used primarily as a tool to control access for the purpose of life safety and security, but cordons can also be adapted to support recovery. Broadly, our analysis suggests two key aspects, ‘decision-making’ and ‘operations and management’, which overlap and interact as part of a complex system. The underlying complexity arises in large part due to the multitude of sectors affected by cordons: economics, law, politics, governance, evacuation, civil liberties, available resources etc. The complexity further increases as the duration of cordoning is extended.

Post-earthquake cordons have been used after seismic events around the world. However, there is limited understanding of cordons and how contextual information such as geography, sociocultural characteristics, economy, and institutional and governance structures affects decisions and operational procedures, including aspects related to spatial and temporal attributes of cordon establishment. This research aims to fill the gap in cordon knowledge through a qualitative comparative case study of two cities: Christchurch, New Zealand (Mw 6.2 earthquake, February 2011) and L’Aquila, Italy (Mw 6.3 earthquake, 2009). Both cities suffered comprehensive damage to their city centers and had cordons established for extended periods of time. Data collection was done through purposive and snowball sampling whereby 23 key informants were interviewed in total. Research participants held expert knowledge in their roles and responsibilities, that is, council members, emergency managers, politicians, business/insurance representatives, academics, and police. Results illustrate that cordons were primarily established to ensure safety of people and to maintain security. The extent and duration of the cordons were affected by the recovery approaches taken in respective cities, that is, in Christchurch demolition was widely undertaken which supported recovery and allowed for faster removal of cordons. In contrast, authorities in L’Aquila placed high value on heritage buildings which led to recovery strategy based on preserving and restoring most of the buildings which extended the duration of cordon. Extended cordons have many similarities but evolve overtime. This evolution of cordons is affected by site-specific needs; thus, cordons should be understood and planned based on contextual realities.

Cordons provide a useful, but challenging risk-management tool for protecting public safety in a post-earthquake environment. There is limited literature on the purpose, complexities, and societal implications of post-earthquake cordons. Using evidence primarily from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, and observations from the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake, this exploratory study identifies and highlights the various avenues of consideration involved in cordon establishment. This study shows that a cordon brings about complex challenges, pertaining to housing, law, economy, social welfare, governance, civil liberties, and health. We find that cordons can support both short-term and long-term recovery processes. Three themes emerge: (1) the tensions between minimizing risk for public health and safety and constraining the rights of the public and private parties; (2) the roles, rights, and relationships between government and private sectors; and (3) the balancing of short-term benefits of cordons against longer term impacts to the wider post-earthquake community. This exploratory study of the challenges, complexities and consequences associated with cordons over short, medium, and long terms may inform cordon-related decisions and improve outcomes for communities following an earthquake.

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