Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management

Crisis and Emergency Management

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April 2004                                                                            Volume 6 - Number 3

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How Could Communities Harness “Post-Event Behavior” to Further Mitigation Goals?
By Joanie Rainey

“Never doubt that a small group of citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

Earthquakes, hurricanes, flooding, tornadoes, and winter storms can devastate a community and emphasize the need for us to be prepared for disasters. The frequency and intensity of disasters are increasing. In 1998, Hurricanes George and Mitch were responsible for the death of over 7,000 people; destroyed billions of dollars worth of property, and environmental damage; and altered the socioeconomic quality of life for thousands.

Quality of life is a subjective concept, equated with social well-being. Some factors determining one’s quality of life include housing, education, transportation alternatives, health care services, employment, environment, recreation, and public safety. The importance and relevance placed on these different elements remains highly variable at different geographic scales, among different socioeconomic groups, and at different stages in an individual’s life. “Post-event behavior” during disaster recovery provides an opportunity to take a closer look at the broader community and to enhance at least some of these elements.

Communities can harness “post-event behavior” to further mitigation goals by forming collaborative effective community-based partnerships that involve residents, local officials, public and private sectors, nonprofit organizations, and state and federal agencies for hazard mitigation purposes to decrease their vulnerability to future hazards.

Hazard mitigation can be viewed as the foundation of emergency management. The aftermath of a disaster provides a unique window of opportunity to assess the damage that has befallen a community and to elucidate its causes. This allows the community to take action during the rebuilding to prevent or diminish the same disaster when the next natural phenomenon occurs. Whether applied in post-disaster reconstruction or during pre-disaster planning efforts, hazard mitigation provides stakeholders with guidelines for reducing vulnerability to future disaster-related damages. By developing mitigation programs that affect the impact of future disasters, stakeholders can break the cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated damage.

Winston Churchill stated it best when, in the context of World War II Reconstruction, he said: “We shape our communities and then they shape us.” This is imperative for local community officials and professionals if they are to better understand and use the applicable principles and techniques of mitigation. In fact, there are several major factors that any community should keep in mind when addressing post event disasters:

· The long-term effects to reconstruction during the decision making process. How does immediate short-term reconstruction affect overall long-term efforts to maintain and enhance a community’s quality of life and will not increase the area’s future vulnerability to natural hazards.

· Consistency with other local planning and development efforts. Do the quality of life reconstruction projects envisioned by the community complement other locally driven planning and development initiatives? Where and how growth and development will be encouraged or discouraged to take place, to best serve mitigation efforts.

· Multiple objectives management: Does the post event disaster reconstruction meet several goals, such as improved housing, recreation, education, employment, enhanced communication systems or transportation.

· Shared vision by community residents: Does this process promote public participation by all (rich and poor, employed and unemployed, young and old, homeowners and renters, business owners and consumers)?

· Promote public awareness: Educating the public through risk communication materials, media activity, and other means to reach the entire community. When community members are involved in the vision and decision-making process, they feel empowered to participate fully in civic affairs.

Only through mitigation can we truly confront disasters, and begin to minimize loss of life, property and environmental damage and the socioeconomic disruption from these events.