Building internal capacity for community disaster resiliency by using a collaborative approach: A case study of the University of New Orleans Disaster Resistant University Project (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship, 2021
This article describes a state-supported, multiuniversity, interdisciplinary effort to address unmet disaster recovery needs identified by six hard-hit, low-capacity North Carolina communities following Hurricane Matthew. At the request of the director of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and the state governor, university officials created a team of faculty, practitioners, and students called the Hurricane Matthew Disaster Recovery and Resilience Initiative (HMDRRI). This 2-year program delivered research, teaching, and engagement activities of the sort that are not typically undertaken by federal or state emergency management agencies, insurance providers, or nonprofit organizations. HMDRRI also offered graduate students in land-use planning, landscape architecture, and architecture opportunities to help provide community assistance under the supervision and mentoring of faculty and practitioners. An overarching goal of the program was to help build greater rural...
Disaster Resiliency and Culture of Preparedness for University and College Campuses
Administration & Society , 2013
Most universities and college campuses across the United States are engaged in developing policies, programs, and systems to reduce risks and maintain safety and security on their campuses. This article identifies key factors such as all-hazards comprehensive emergency plans, continuity of operations plans, emergency information management, leadership support, community partnerships, and training and certification programs that are important for creating disaster-resilient institutions and assessing how different colleges and universities across the country have developed and incorporated these key essentials to prepare for effective disaster response. Results show that developing an all-hazards plan, conducting regular training and exercises, and developing strong community partnerships are the most important elements for creating a disaster-resilient university, well prepared to tackle any calamity or tragedy.
A Case Study of Campus-Based Initiatives to Disaster Awareness Program: The Road to Resilience
Introduction: The Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA) to build the resilience of nations and communities to disasters has been proposed since year 2005. Even though educational based disaster risk reduction programs have been conducted by the institutional agencies for years, communities are still weak in response to disaster preparedness. The current efforts need to be revised to understand the possible dilemma of moving the community from fragility to resilience. Objective: To examine the community perception of the disaster preparedness and response, and their readiness to become the resilient community. Methodology: This is a case-study conducted among 40 participants at the age of 18 - 29 years from a local private college. A campus-based disaster awareness seminar was initiated into a strategized learning framework to facilitate knowledge transfer and foster awareness built among the participants. The program framework consists of three sections: 1) to expose the participant with information on visual-aid and interactive discussion; 2) to involve the public involvement in hands-on practice bandages and dressings; 3) to evaluate the public’s readiness and acceptance towards a resilience nation based on a survey questionnaire. Result: 75% of the educated respondents claimed that they did not consider themselves as the resilient group of the disaster, and 55% referred to the non-validated news from internet/ social media as the source to gather information. Nevertheless, most of the participants have expressed common expectations, such that 1) to share experiences and knowledge about disaster risk reduction planning and response; 2) to learn how to empower the local community during disasters. Conclusion: It is truth that urban and educated groups are fragile in response to the disaster. Nonetheless, knowledge transfer is one of the most feasible approaches to building a resilient community and fostering a nation who is able to withstand and recover from any upcoming disaster with sustainable development.
Journal of Disaster Research, 2010
This special issue of JDR is centered on the theme of “Building Local Capacity for Long-term Disaster Resilience.” Eight papers and one commentary describe challenges in various countries of promoting disaster resilience at local, sub-national, and national levels. Resilience is broadly defined here as the capacity of a community to: 1) survive amajor disaster; 2) retain essential structure and functions; and 3) adapt to post-disaster opportunities for transforming community structure and functions to meet new challenges. This working definition is similar to others put forward in the growing literature on resilience. Resilience can also be seen as an element of sustainability. Initially referring only to environmental conditions, the concept of sustainable development was defined as that which meets the needs of present generations while not compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Bruntland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987). Now, the term sustaina...
FRAMEWORK OF COLLABORATION OF DISASTER RISK REDUCTION STAKEHOLDERS TOWARDS RESILIENT COMMUNITIES
16th SEAAIR Conference Proceedings, 2016
The Philippines is vulnerable to various natural calamities and disasters. In the 2015 Report of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNIDSR), the country is ranked 4th in the world among countries with the highest number of disasters from 1995-2015.1 The magnitude and effects of calamities and disasters are further intensified by climate change. Researches have suggested that climate change could make storms stronger and more frequent.2 Global warming leads seawater to evaporate more quickly, forming clouds that fuel storms, putting us in the path of many storms as the country is situated in the Western Pacific Ocean.3 One of the recent strongest typhoons that hit the Philippines was typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), responsible for 6,300 lost lives, over four million displaced Filipinos, and two billion dollars in damages in terms of properties, infrastructure, and livelihood.4 Thus, natural calamities are inevitable realities that call for various community stakeholders from private and government sectors to join hands in developing and implementing proactive response. It is in this context that Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) aims to develop national platforms in the Philippines that would facilitate cooperation among public, private, and civil society sectors for national disasters. One of the pilot areas for developing a cluster platform of cooperation is the Luzon area, specifically the Bicol Region. There are two major big cities in the Bicol Region: Naga City in the Province of Camarines Sur and Legazpi City in the Province of Albay. A series of consultations and workshops among community stakeholders consisting of private institutions, public agencies, and civil society were conducted in the City of Naga and in the City of Legazpi. society were conducted in the City of Naga and in the City of Legazpi. The paper intends to systematically document and provide analysis the results of the initiatives of A-PAD. It generally aims to develop a framework of collaboration, cooperation in various efforts, and sharing of resources among the community stakeholders in delivering emergency response and early recovery services and in undertaking projects for disaster risk reduction, rehabilitation, and addressing the vulnerabilities of people and communities. It specifically aims to: 1. Identify various disaster risk and reduction management (DRRM) programs and initiatives among community stakeholders: the business sector, civil society organizations, local government units, media, and the academe; 2. Determine difficulties encountered by the community stakeholders in implementing DRR programs; and 3. Develop a framework of collaboration and cooperation among the DRR community stakeholders in delivering effective and efficient disaster response.