Post-disaster recovery dilemmas: challenges in balancing short-term and long-term needs for vulnerability reduction

2006 ◽  
Vol 9 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 607-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane C. Ingram ◽  
Guillermo Franco ◽  
Cristina Rumbaitis-del Rio ◽  
Bjian Khazai
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Vulnerability Reduction ◽  
Post Disaster

Reflective Learning from Project Failure in a University/Agency/Community Partnership

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 33-37
Author(s):  
Jonathan West ◽  
Kristina Peterson
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Reflective Learning ◽  
Community Partnership ◽  
Technological Disaster ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Collaborative Efforts ◽  
Post Disaster

Disaster recovery efforts, especially directly following a natural or technological disaster, tend to focus on the immediate short-term needs of communities. The disaster recovery literature (Rolfe and Britton 1995, Tootle 2007) references the pressure governments are under to be proactive in the aftermath of a disaster. Unfortunately, by focusing so tightly on short-term needs, long-term planning, which can be critical to a community's ultimate resilience, can often be overlooked, inhibited, or disrupted. The fulfillment of an immediate short-term need can act as a force to push against and limit a community's long-term vision. Universities and government and non-profit agencies that work to provide valuable services to communities, especially in post-disaster situations, must be attuned to the long-term visions of the communities with which they work. At the Center for Hazards Assessment, Response, and Technology (CHART), we have taken advantage of the reflective character of participatory action research (PAR) in order to learn from our own shortcomings in such partnerships. An account of our missteps and wrong turns in regards to one particular project could be useful to others starting similar collaborative efforts.

Cordaid’s Post-Disaster Shelter Strategy in Haiti: Linking Relief and Development

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 77-85
Author(s):  
Harmen Janse ◽  
Kees van der Flier
Keyword(s):  
Urban Area ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Urban Context ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Post Disaster

Haiti was struck by a heavy earthquake in 2010 and international aid poured into the country. News reports in 2011 were not very positive about the results of post-disaster reconstruction: “The relief efforts are only putting Haiti on life-support instead of evolving into the next stage of development”. One of the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in Haiti was Cordaid, implementing a ‘transitional shelter strategy’ to support the transformation of neigh-bourhoods from a state of life-support into a state of self-sustaining development. The strategy was implemented in both a rural and an urban area. The main feature of the strategy was the provision of structures that could be adapted from simple shelters to permanent houses. Since the results of the strategy were mixed and ambiguous, a comparative case study was conducted to evaluate the shelter strategy in both areas. The objective was to draw lessons about what has to be taken into account when formulating future urban shelter strategies. The case study is discussed in this article. The main finding from the case study is that producing the intended number of shelters within the financial and time budgets that were set (efficiency), was more difficult in the urban area than in the rural area. But the conditions for linking relief and development (effectiveness) are more favourable in the urban context. NGOs may achieve long-term (effective) results in the urban context when a lower efficiency can be justified. That is why NGOs need to engage in a debate about the extent to which they are able to focus on long-term shelter or housing strategies. The important element in the debate is communication with the donors who are often focused on short-term relief measures. However urban areas cannot be rebuilt with only short-term interventions. The link between relief and development has to be made by a process-orientated approach focusing on capacities of local participants.

Social repair and structural inequity: implications for disaster recovery practice

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 454-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Aijazi
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Vulnerability Reduction ◽  
Recovery Processes ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
Future Risk ◽  
Structural Inequities ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose – This paper introduces a model of social repair to the language of disaster recovery that potentially provides a new way of conceptualizing reconstruction and recovery processes by drawing attention to the dismantling of structural inequities that inhibit post-disaster recovery. Design/methodology/approach – The paper first engages with the current discourse of vulnerability reduction and resilience building as embedded within a distinct politics of post-disaster recovery. The concept of social repair is then explored as found within post-conflict and reconciliation literature. For application within the context of natural disasters, the concept of social repair is modified to have evaluative and effectiveness significance for disaster recovery. A short case example is presented from post-flood Pakistan to deepen our understanding of the potential application and usage of a social repair orientation to disaster recovery. Findings – The paper recommends that the evaluative goals of post-disaster recovery projects should be framed in the language of social repair. This means that social relationships (broadly defined) must be restored and transformed as a result of any disaster recovery intervention, and relationship mapping exercises should be conducted with affected communities prior to planning recovery interventions. Originality/value – Current discourses of disaster recovery are rooted within the conceptual framings of reducing vulnerabilities and building resilience. While both theoretical constructs have made important contributions to the disaster recovery enterprise, they have been unable to draw sufficient attention to pre-existing structural inequities. As disaster recovery and reconstruction projects influence the ways communities negotiate and manage future risk, it is important that interventions do not lead to worsened states of inequity.

Post-Disaster Recovery and Economic Impact of Catastrophes in China

2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 1825-1846 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jidong Wu ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Wei Xie ◽  
Yang Zhou ◽  
Zhonghui Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Economic Loss ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Tangshan Earthquake ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Regional Product ◽  
Post Disaster

This paper implements a temporal–spatial recovery measurement of the catastrophic 1976 Tangshan earthquake using available statistical data. The results show that the gross regional product (GRP) level of the Tangshan region achieved a new normality after seven years. During this recovery process, net indirect losses totaled RMB3.7 billion and net indirect gains totaled RMB3.9 billion at the 2007 price level. The area surrounding the Tangshan region benefited from the disaster, both in terms of GRP level and per capita GRP level, at least in the short term. The sector-level economic recovery process seems longer. The production level of the construction sector was 0.9 to 2.5 times that of the pre-disaster level during its 11-year recovery period. The per capita GRP level of the Tangshan region was 1.7 times that of pre-earthquake 30 years later. This quantitative disaster recovery analysis is critical for validating or initializing economic loss estimation models.

scholarly journals Building-Back-Better in Post-Disaster Recovery: Lessons Learnt from Cyclone Idai-Induced Floods in Zimbabwe

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernest Dube ◽  
Gayan Wedawatta ◽  
Kanchana Ginige
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Continuous Training ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Disaster Impact ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Post Disaster

AbstractThis study evaluated the build-back-better considerations in post-disaster recovery, following the devastation of Chipinge and Chimanimani communities by Cyclone Idai-induced floods in 2019. Conducted in 2020, the study assessed the impact of Cyclone Idai-induced floods on communities in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts of Zimbabwe; evaluated the build-back-better considerations; and analyzed the lessons learned. Based on a qualitative approach and case study design, the study depended on focus group discussions, interviews, and researcher observations to gather data from 85 participants. The findings indicate that Cyclone Idai-induced floods seriously impacted human lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods of communities that had been living with flood risk and vulnerability. Build-back-better considerations were absent in much of the post-disaster recovery effort to address the cyclone disaster impact. There are important early lessons for both practitioners and community members to learn from the Cyclone Idai event. These lessons still can inform policy and disaster risk reduction practice in the medium and long term. Build-back-better should be a mandatory objective in the recovery from any disaster impact. Continuous training is also recommended to improve the disaster knowledge of stakeholders and increase local ability to cope with future disaster events.

Factors affecting successful transition between post-disaster recovery phases: a case study of 2010 floods in Sindh, Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rizwan Akbar Ali ◽  
Sandeeka Mannakkara ◽  
Suzanne Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Recovery ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Recovery Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Successful Transition ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Post Disaster

Purpose This paper aims to describe an in-depth study conducted on transition of recovery into subsequent recovery phases after the 2010 super floods in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The objectives of this research were to examine the post-disaster activities after the floods and highlight the critical areas hindering the transition into an effective recovery phase. Design/methodology/approach A case study approach based on literature reviews with semi-structured interviews with disaster management stakeholders were applied as the primary source of data. Findings The study found that long-term recovery was the most neglected phase of post-disaster recovery (PDR). The factors hindering successful transition following short-term recovery activities are lack of following: community-level involvement, local administration and community capacity, disaster governance, different stakeholders and coordination, information and knowledge management. Research limitations/implications This paper examines the long-term disaster recovery after the 2010 super floods in three districts of Sindh. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to investigate the factors in other areas for different types of disasters. Practical implications These findings are critical to planning future post-disaster recoveries in the region. It also provides a basis to investigate other types of disasters. Originality/value The transition of recovery into long-term phase has never been investigated before. The recovery phase is an opportune time to incorporate strategies for building back better, resilience, mitigation and preparedness. A PDR that does not incorporate these strategies in the long-term leaves affected communities in more vulnerable conditions for future disasters.

Parenting in Fukushima City in the post-disaster period: short-term strategies and long-term perspectives

Disasters ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (s2) ◽  
pp. s179-s189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Goto ◽  
Michael R. Reich ◽  
Yuriko Suzuki ◽  
Hiroshi Tsutomi ◽  
Eiko Watanabe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Short Term ◽  
Post Disaster

scholarly journals Forecast-based financing: an approach for catalyzing humanitarian action based on extreme weather and climate forecasts

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 3193-3218 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Coughlan de Perez ◽  
B. van den Hurk ◽  
M. van Aalst ◽  
B. Jongman ◽  
T. Klose ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disaster Response ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Financing System ◽  
Weather Forecasts ◽  
Humanitarian Action ◽  
Preventative Measures ◽  
Climate Forecasts ◽  
Weather And Climate ◽  
Post Disaster

Abstract. Disaster risk reduction efforts traditionally focus on long-term preventative measures or post-disaster response. Outside of these, there are many short-term actions, such as evacuation, that can be implemented in the period of time between a warning and a potential disaster to reduce the risk of impacts. However, this precious window of opportunity is regularly overlooked in the case of climate and weather forecasts, which can indicate heightened risk of disaster but are rarely used to initiate preventative action. Barriers range from the protracted debate over the best strategy for intervention to the inherent uncomfortableness on the part of donors to invest in a situation that will "likely" arrive but is not certain. In general, it is unclear what levels of forecast probability and magnitude are "worth" reacting to. Here, we propose a novel forecast-based financing system to automatically trigger action based on climate forecasts or observations. The system matches threshold forecast probabilities with appropriate actions, disburses required funding when threshold forecasts are issued, and develops Standard Operating Procedures that contain the mandate to act when these threshold forecasts are issued. We detail the methods that can be used to establish such a system, and provide illustrations from several pilot cases. Ultimately, such as system can be scaled up in disaster-prone areas worldwide to improve effectiveness at reducing the risk of disaster.

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