Spatio-temporal assessment of social resilience to tropical cyclones in coastal Bangladesh

Abstract

Tropical cyclones wreak havoc on the lives of coastal populations, especially in marginalised communities in developing countries where cyclone impacts are disproportionately lethal compared to developed countries. These populations must implement measures that enable them to prepare for, respond to, and recover from cyclone impacts. Using empirical evidence, this study presents a spatio-temporally explicit, index-based assessment technique to assess social resilience to tropical cyclones. The key components of social resilience were extracted by Principal Component Analysis; distinct resilience indices were generated and mapped for the three disaster phases. The most influential components were then aggregated into an Effective Social Resilience Index (ESoRI), which was mapped across the study area. The technique was applied in a coastal sub-district of Bangladesh to demonstrate the approach. Basic preparedness training, emergency response, social bonding, and reconstruction and rehabilitation strongly influenced resilience in ways that corresponded closely to the phases of the disaster-management cycle: preparedness, response, and recovery. The spatial pattern of resilience revealed that social resilience varies significantly in time and space within a circumscribed locale. Importantly, areas close to the sea and rivers were found to be more resilient despite their high exposure to cyclones and lack of external support. This study will guide policymakers concerned with resilience building on a priority basis such as those working in resource-scarce conditions of developing countries.

Design and implementation of a relational model of risk communication

“…A common experience was the unwillingness of women to go to the shelters which did not have separate facilities for women (Ahsan et al, 2016b). A number of respondents also seemed to exhibit a kind of fatalism, a resignation that one's fate was out of the hands, a finding which was borne by previous assessments as well (Islam, 1974;Haque, 1995;Schmuck, 2000).…”

Challenges in sustaining resilience in the coastal settlements of south-eastern Bangladesh: Achieving self-sustenance through architectural synthesis

“…1). Furthermore, Cyclones passing over Indian and Myanmar's coasts, such as Odisha (1999), Nargis (2008), Hudhud (2014), Bulbul (2019), and Amphan (2020), also had a severe impact on Bangladesh's coast [17].…”

“…According to global disaster statistics, these cyclones, occurring in the coastal belt surrounding the Bay of Bengal, were responsible for the death of approximately 0.2 million people and an economic loss of roughly USD 44 billion [17,18]. improvements in construction and planning of the houses, community organizations, neighbourhoods, and connectivity in the settlements could reduce disaster risk by saving personal, communal, and public assets.…”

Optimal decision making in post-hazard bridge recovery strategies for transportation networks after seismic events

“…Dec o et al ( 2013) conducted research on probabilistic recovery patterns and recovery strategies based on a decision tree analysis and compared the resilience measures, direct costs, and recovery times according to various strategies. In addition, Islam et al (2021) proposed an index-based social resilience measure to conduct spatio-temporal assessment against the tropical cyclones in coastal Bangladesh.…”