The Role of Community in Disaster Response: Conceptual Models |
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Authors: | Olivia Patterson Frederick Weil Kavita Patel |
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Institution: | (1) the RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90402, USA;(2) Department of Sociology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA; |
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Abstract: | We focus on the role that community plays in the continuum of disaster preparedness, response and recovery, and we explore
where community fits in conceptual frameworks concerning disaster decision-making. We offer an overview of models developed
in the literature as well as insights drawn from research related to Hurricane Katrina. Each model illustrates some aspect
of the spectrum of disaster preparedness and recovery, beginning with risk perception and vulnerability assessments, and proceeding
to notions of resiliency and capacity building. Concepts like social resilience are related to theories of “social capital,”
which stress the importance of social networks, reciprocity, and interpersonal trust. These allow individuals and groups to
accomplish greater things than they could by their isolated efforts. We trace two contrasting notions of community to Tocqueville.
On the one hand, community is simply an aggregation of individual persons, that is, a population. As individuals, they have
only limited capacity to act effectively or make decisions for themselves, and they are strongly subject to administrative
decisions that authorities impose on them. On the other hand, community is an autonomous actor, with its own interests, preferences,
resources, and capabilities. This definition of community has also been embraced by community-based participatory researchers
and has been thought to offer an approach that is more active and advocacy oriented. We conclude with a discussion of the
strengths and weaknesses of community in disaster response and in disaster research. |
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