Community responses to disasters: a foundation for recovery

Abstract

Disaster recovery programs and policies are becoming even more important with the increase in numbers and frequencies of disasters and their widespread damage. This special issue examines approaches and recovery methods that have succeeded and identifies common elements. The authors in this volume note several key ingredients including collaboration among agencies providing services to disaster victims, educating residents about potential hazards and how to adequately prepare for them, and developing a coordinated set of public policies that can be communicated. Likewise, engaging in sound community development practices involving interactions among those affected is vital to successful outcomes. Recognizing the key roles that special groups such as the elderly can play in recovery efforts is also important as is building on customs and traditions in developing countries. The research in this volume adds to the literature on disaster recovery approaches and can help policymakers to build local capacity and remediate the impacts of disasters in the future.

Investigating the impact of a community disaster awareness training on subjective disaster preparedness: the case of Myanmar's Ayeyarwaddy region

“…Given the rising number of disasters triggered by natural hazards, of which the majority are caused by climate‐ and weather‐related extreme events, such as floods, storms, and heatwaves (UNISDR, 2015), it is not surprising to find that disaster preparedness has become a key component of community development in many parts of the world with an increasing in‐equilibrium due to climate change (Hales, Walzer, and Calvin, 2012; Mizutori, 2019). Low‐ and middle‐income countries are particularly vulnerable to natural hazards, owing in part to their strong reliance on natural resources and their low adaptability.…”

Disaster preparedness of Mutare city council, Zimbabwe

“…Levels of disaster preparedness collates with level of knowledge, warning systems in place, resources capacities among others (Hales et al 2012). Although no economy can adequately prepare for disasters, the level of disaster preparedness is low in most poor economies (Maguire 2007).…”

POLA USAHA MASYARAKAT NELAYAN DI DESA MAJAKERTA, KECAMATAN BALONGAN-KABUPATEN INDRAMAYU (Business Pattern of Fishermen in Majakerta Village, Balongan District-Indramayu Regency)

“…Pada tahun 2007, ada sekitar 80 orang warga Desa Majakerta jatuh pingsan dan 350 orang menderita mual dan pusing (Antara News 2007). Masyarakat menggunakan nilai dan tradisi yang dimilikinya untuk memperbaiki masalah lingkungan yang dihadapinya agar dapat pulih dan kehidupannya dapat normal kembali (Hales et al 2013 Meskipun menghadapi permasalahan lingkungan, masyarakat nelayan di Desa Majakerta tidak dapat menghindar, serta tidak memiliki alternatif tempat bermukim selain tempat tinggal mereka di pinggiran sungai. Kemampuan masyarakat nelayan di Desa Majakerta menghadapi dan mengatasi problem sosial dan lingkungan bersumber dari pengetahuan dan ketrampilannya yang diperoleh melalui interaksi dan adaptasi dengan sumberdaya serta lingkungan sekitarnya yang berlangsung lama (Cheong 2008).…”