Recovery from Bushfires: The Experience of the 2003 Canberra Bushfires three Years After

Abstract

<jats:p>Introduction The Canberra Bushfires were one of the largest single day natural disasters in Australian history. A group of researchers from across disciplines and sectors (Universities and Government) undertook a major project to study the experiences of people directly affected by the fires in the recovery process. The research team was interested in the longer term recovery experience (approximately three years following the event). The paper briefly outlines the research process, provides an overview of the findings on people's bushfire experiences, health and wellbeing, and views on what helped in individual and community recovery. Methods Sixteen hundred households that had been registered with the Bushfire Recovery Centre were surveyed. Five hundred questionnaires were returned and forty people interviewed. The survey consisted of 126 items. The survey took between 40 to 70 minutes to complete and the response rate was 32%. Results Many respondents experienced substantial property losses as a result of this bushfire (74% reported structural loss or damage to dwellings), and 78% of people recalled that they felt a threat of death or injury to themselves or significant others during the fires. The majority of respondents were positive about their health and wellbeing. A considerable number of individuals reported ongoing health and psychosocial problems related to the bushfires. Respondents commented on what helped in the recovery process. Conclusion With adequate support many people may not experience lasting negative outcomes for their health, mental health or wellbeing in the years following a bushfire disaster. However, continuing adverse effects on health and wellbeing are expected in the context of a high degree of loss, threat to life, and life stressors. Long term support is required for those experiencing ongoing health and psychosocial problems related to the bushfire. Given the diversity of experiences post-disaster a range of recovery responses are required over a period of years to support community and individual needs.</jats:p>

A scoping review of post‐disaster social support investigations conducted after disasters that struck the Australia and Oceania continent

“…PTSD risk was higher for individuals connected to others who had higher levels of property loss ( stress contagion ).4. Camilleri et al () Explored longer‐term recovery assessed using self‐appraisals of health, psychological well‐being, and social relationships.Event: Canberra bushfires, January 2003 Country: Australia Age: adults (‘most’ in the mid‐forties to sixties) Sample size: 500 (40 qualitative interviews were also conducted, yet not formally analysed) Sampling: non‐random Diversity: both genders (‘more’ women); other factors unspecifiedDesign: Cross‐sectional Time: three years after Support measures: post‐disaster relationship functioning (three items assessing both the positive and negative effects of the bushfires on family, friends, and community/neighbourhood relationships) (self‐developed)47 per cent of the sample rated their post‐disaster community relationships as better than before ( support growth ), whereas 22 per cent rated them as worse. Positive and negative appraisals of family relationships were similar: 25.5 per cent as better; 22.4 per cent as worse.…”

Toward Human-Centered Simulation Modeling for Critical Infrastructure Disaster Recovery Planning

“…B.3. Multi-dimensional Process: Efforts have been made to explore, theorize, assess, and analyze recovery of sectors of critical infrastructure independently, such as built environment [24], business and economic [25, and 26], social [27, and 28], health care [29], transportation system [30], water and sewer system [31, and 32], and electric system [33]. However, critical infrastructure is heavily interdependent.…”

Public Testimony as a Source of Naturally Occurring Data: An Ethical and Rigorous Approach to Investigating Resilience in the Face of a Natural Disaster

“…Social networks have been supported through activities that encourage engagement with others in the community such as meetings and rituals. 32,38 Public meetings can be effective in supporting communities to connect, grieve and celebrate as required. 32,33,39 Evacuees are particularly vulnerable to disrupted networks, but have more positive emotions when kept in their community groups.…”

“…32,38 Public meetings can be effective in supporting communities to connect, grieve and celebrate as required. 32,33,39 Evacuees are particularly vulnerable to disrupted networks, but have more positive emotions when kept in their community groups. 39 Creating new friends at a recovery centre has been found to contribute to resilience.…”