How Can Post-Disaster Recovery Plans Be Improved Based on Historical Learning? A Comparison of Wenchuan Earthquake and Lushan Earthquake Recovery Plans

Abstract

Despite the emphasis on sustainability in post-disaster recovery plans (PDRPs), few studies have been conducted to investigate the information conveyed in disaster recovery plans in terms of sustainability. We aimed to investigate, in terms of sustainability, how post-disaster recovery plans can be improved from historical learning by examining local recovery plans that were developed and adopted after the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes, which are two representative post-disaster recovery cases in China. An evaluation protocol for sustainability issues was developed to analyze the recovery plans of the most severely affected counties and towns in Wenchuan (16 samples) and Lushan (7 samples). A comparative analysis was conducted to identify the similarities, differences, and evolution of sustainability considerations in these PDRPs. Semi-structured interviews with key informants were conducted to supplement the evaluation with qualitative data. The results show that the components and concepts of sustainability in PDRPs are conveyed and developed mostly by following the organization’s existing patterns and regulations. In contrast, some components are retained across plans, thereby suggesting a substantial general structure of recovery plans. The underlying logic of this experience transfer across plans was discussed. The findings can help local governments and planners to effectively incorporate sustainability into PDRPs.

To stay or to move? Investigation on residents' migration intention under frequent secondary disasters in Wenchuan earthquake-stricken area

“…Life convenience. With the post-disaster recovery and reconstruction, many infrastructure facilities have been constructed, and measures to facilitate the people have been carried out ( 59 ). The living convenience of residents in the Wenchuan earthquake disaster area has far exceeded that before the earthquake ( 60 ).…”

Does the scarcity of urban space resources make the quality of underground space planning more sustainable? A case study of 40 urban underground space master plans in China

“…Baer (1997) offered a comprehensive comment on the theory of planning quality assessment and provided the overall guidelines for these evaluations (He et al, 2011). Based on the theoretical basis of Baer (1997) and Berke et al (2006), Berke and Godschalk (2009), several studies (Berke, et al, 2012;Horney et al, 2017;Lyles et al, 2014) complemented the principles of plan evaluation as following: goals, fact base, policies, participation, coordination, implementation, and monitoring (Feinberg & Ryan, 2022).1) an internal effectiveness evaluation-evaluating the integrity and logic of the planning content, including information base and problem identification, planning vision and goals, and policies or strategies; 2) an external effectiveness evaluation-the evaluation of the consistency and coordination between "vertical-level" and "parallel-level" plans, including planning coordination, institutional coordination and public participation (Song et al, 2017;He et al, 2019). With reference to the Urban Underground Space Planning Standard and relevant research, we established a sustainability evaluation framework of designated underground space plan (Figure 1; Supplementary Table S2).…”

“…Each coding item was divided into two categories according to its characteristic: "binary coding" or "degree coding" (He et al, 2019). An item coded as the former must be checked to determine whether there is corresponding content in the planning document.…”

Asymmetric Effects of Quality of Life on Residents’ Satisfaction: Exploring a Newborn Natural Disaster Tourism Destination

“…In the early material reconstruction stage, scholars focus on the macro policy satisfaction. NNDD planning considers both the current recovery and reconstruction and the long-term development and upgrading [ 33 ]. Later, in the spiritual reconstruction stage, scholars measure the micro-cultural psychology of residents [ 8 , 34 ].…”