Reframing disaster policy: the global evolution of vulnerable communities

Comfort, Louise K.; Wisner, Ben; Cutter, Susan L.; Pulwarty, Roger S.; Hewitt, Kenneth; Oliver‐Smith, Anthony; Wiener, John D.; Fordham, Maureen; Peacock, Walter Gillis; Krimgold, Frederick

doi:10.3763/ehaz.1999.0105

Cited by 169 publications

(115 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Allen, 2006;Benson et al, 2007), the history of addressing the structural inequalities at the root of socio-environmental vulnerabilities has been much less positive (Comfort et al, 1999;Glantz and Jamieson, 2000). Not surprisingly deeper structural transformation is not easy to implement either economically or politically, as decades of failed development and antipoverty interventions demonstrate (Lucas Jnr, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More recent work (Hewitt, 1983;Alexander, 2000;Pelling, 2003;Wisner et al, 2004;Lemos, 2007a) advances this thinking, highlighting that disasters are the combination of environmental hazard, poverty, and other causes of vulnerability -including an array of deficits and characteristics (such as income, age, political power, health, education, gender) -that define and shape livelihoods of those at risk. Often the poor, uneducated, very old or very young, the sick, the oppressed, experience the worst impacts of natural hazards (Comfort et al, 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A less disastrous disaster: Managing response to climate-driven hazards in the Cayman Islands and NE Brazil

Tompkins

Lemos

Boyd

2008

Global Environmental Change

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This paper explores the relationship between disaster risk reduction and long-term adaptive capacity building in two climate vulnerable areas-the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean and Ceará, in NE Brazil. Drawing on past applications of the disaster risk reduction framework, we identify four critical factors that have led to reductions in risk: flexible, learning-based, responsive governance; committed, reform-minded and politically active actors; disaster risk reduction integrated into other social and economic policy processes; and a long term commitment to managing risk. We find that while the presence of these factors has reduced overall risk in both regions, in Ceará, disaster response as it is currently practiced, has fallen short of addressing the fundamental causes of vulnerability that leave those prone to hazards able to cope in the short term, yet enmeshed in poverty and at risk from the longer term changes associated with climate change. Although calls for integration of disaster risk management with poverty eradication are not new, there has been insufficient attention paid in the literature on how to foster such integration. Based on the two case studies, we argue that the adoption of good governance mechanisms (such as stakeholder participation, access to knowledge, accountability and transparency) in disaster risk reduction policy may create the policy environment that is conducive to the kind of structural reform needed to build long-term adaptive capacity to climate-driven impacts. We conclude that without a synergistic two-tiered approach that includes both disaster risk reduction and structural reform, disaster risk reduction, in the face of climate changes, will prove to be an expensive and ineffective palliative treatment of changing risks.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A less disastrous disaster: Managing response to climate-driven hazards in the Cayman Islands and NE Brazil

Tompkins

Lemos

Boyd

2008

Global Environmental Change

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“…The literature is replete with alternative definitions of vulnerability (Downing et al, 2003;McCarthy et al, 2001;Kelly and Adger, 2000;Comfort et al, 1999;Vogel, 1997;Cutter, 1996;Ribot, 1996;Bohle et al, 1994;Cannon, 1994;Watts and Bohle, 1993;Dow, 1992;Downing, 1991Downing, , 1992Chambers, 1989). Cutter (1996) identifies three distinct clusters of definitions for vulnerability: as risk of exposure to hazards, as a capability for social response (what we call coping or adaptive capacity), and as an attribute of places (e.g.…”

Section: Assessing Vulnerabilitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Modeling Vulnerability and Resilience to Climate Change: A Case Study of India and Indian States

2005

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The vulnerability of India and Indian states to climate change was assessed using the Vulnerability-Resilience Indicator Prototype (VRIP). The model was adapted from the global/country version to account for Indian dietary practices and data availability with regard to freshwater resources. Results (scaled to world values) show nine Indian states to be moderately resilient to climate change, principally because of low sulfur emissions and a relatively large percentage of unmanaged land. Six states are more vulnerable than India as a whole, attributable largely to sensitivity to sea storm surges. Analyses of results at the state level (Orissa, and comparisons between Maharashtra and Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh) demonstrate the value of VRIP analyses used in conjunction with other socio-economic information to address initial questions about the sources of vulnerability in particular places. The modeling framework allows analysts and stakeholders to systematically evaluate individual and sets of indicators and to indicate where the likely vulnerabilities are in the area being assessed.

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“…According to Oliver [7], the activities and outputs in rehabilitation and reconstruction after a disaster were different in their scope and scale. The provision and installation of tents, temporary shelter and food distribution occur during the rehabilitation period and the provision of permanent housing, industry structures, infrastructure and education occur during the reconstruction period.…”

Section: Post Disaster Effortsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential of microfinanced housing after pakistan disasters

Tariq¹

2012

Int. J. SAFE

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Traditional modes of providing physical infrastructure, especially housing after disaster on unimproved settlements for the urban poor is unlikely to meet the increased demand. Conventional high-level services do not prove to be affordable or suitable for the poor. In Pakistan, owning a decent house seems an unachievable dream for the poor especially after a series of natural disasters. An innovative strategy involving a participatory approach is an urgent need of the times. This requires planning for the provision of housing with a view to subsequent upgrading, which is to be managed by householders and communities. The housing solution proposed in this paper revolves around global movement of microfi nance that is expanding day by day to empower low-income communities through small-scale loans. Besides assisting income-generating activities, microfi nance for house building has also attained a prominent position in many countries. This study will discuss the fi nancial solutions related to incremental housing based on empirical knowledge gained from case studies all over the world. Implications for households and institutions are addressed and reference is made to the experiences of the lowincome households and microfi nance practices in Pakistan.

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Reframing disaster policy: the global evolution of vulnerable communities

Cited by 169 publications

References 11 publications

A less disastrous disaster: Managing response to climate-driven hazards in the Cayman Islands and NE Brazil

A less disastrous disaster: Managing response to climate-driven hazards in the Cayman Islands and NE Brazil

Modeling Vulnerability and Resilience to Climate Change: A Case Study of India and Indian States

The potential of microfinanced housing after pakistan disasters

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