What makes Japan resilient?

Building Resilient Communities Linda Kiltz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Texas A & M-Corpus Christi Linda Kiltz, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Texas A & M-Corpus Christi

What is resilience?

Definitions  The ability to respond to singular or unique events (Kendra, 2003)  Capacity to cope with unanticipated dangers after they appear and learning to bounce back (Wildavsky, 1991)  Ability of an actor to cope with or adapt to hazard stress (Pelling, 2003)  The ability to respond to singular or unique events (Kendra, 2003)  Capacity to cope with unanticipated dangers after they appear and learning to bounce back (Wildavsky, 1991)  Ability of an actor to cope with or adapt to hazard stress (Pelling, 2003)

Resilience  DHS Definition: “Resilience is the ability of systems, infrastructures, government, business, and citizens to resist, absorb and recover from or adapt to an adverse occurrence that may cause harm, destruction or loss of national significance.”  DHS Definition: “Resilience is the ability of systems, infrastructures, government, business, and citizens to resist, absorb and recover from or adapt to an adverse occurrence that may cause harm, destruction or loss of national significance.”

Community Resilience “ The capacity of a system, community, or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing, in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure. This is determined by the degree to which the social system is capable of organizing itself to increase its capacity for learning from past disasters for better future protection and to improve risk reduction measures.” “ The capacity of a system, community, or society potentially exposed to hazards to adapt, by resisting or changing, in order to reach and maintain an acceptable level of functioning and structure. This is determined by the degree to which the social system is capable of organizing itself to increase its capacity for learning from past disasters for better future protection and to improve risk reduction measures.”

Resilience  Adaptation to adversity  Is a process not an outcome  Involves attitudes, thoughts and behaviors  Can be taught, learned and developed  Adaptation to adversity  Is a process not an outcome  Involves attitudes, thoughts and behaviors  Can be taught, learned and developed

Community Resilience  Is not simply a collection of resilient individuals  Capability of community to prepare for, respond to and recover from a crisis while maintaining community character and cohesion  Entails the ability to take deliberate, meaningful, collective action  Creates potential to grow from a crisis  Is not simply a collection of resilient individuals  Capability of community to prepare for, respond to and recover from a crisis while maintaining community character and cohesion  Entails the ability to take deliberate, meaningful, collective action  Creates potential to grow from a crisis

What makes communities resilient?  Relevant hazards are recognized and understood. Communities at risk know when a hazard event is imminent. Individuals at risk are safe from hazards in their homes and places of work. Disaster-resilient communities experience minimum disruption to life and economy after a hazard event has passed.  Relevant hazards are recognized and understood. Communities at risk know when a hazard event is imminent. Individuals at risk are safe from hazards in their homes and places of work. Disaster-resilient communities experience minimum disruption to life and economy after a hazard event has passed.

Dimensions of Resilience  Physical  Social  Political  Economic  Institutional/Organizational  Ecological  Physical  Social  Political  Economic  Institutional/Organizational  Ecological

CARRI Framework

Social Vulnerability Some groups in society are more prone than others to damage, loss and suffering in the context of differing hazards What makes people and places vulnerable? Some groups in society are more prone than others to damage, loss and suffering in the context of differing hazards What makes people and places vulnerable?  Socioeconomic status  Gender  Race & Ethnicity  Age  Employment  Education  Housing  Special Needs

Built environment & Infrastructure  Residential  Commercial & Industrial Development  Lifelines  Transportation Infrastructure  Residential  Commercial & Industrial Development  Lifelines  Transportation Infrastructure

Hazards Mitigation  Emergency Response Plans  Building Codes  Hazard Mitigation plans  Disaster Recovery Plans  Interoperable Communications  Zoning ordinances  Table Tops/exercises  Emergency Response Plans  Building Codes  Hazard Mitigation plans  Disaster Recovery Plans  Interoperable Communications  Zoning ordinances  Table Tops/exercises

Community Resilience Social vulnerability + Built environment vulnerability + Hazard Exposure - Resilience = Community Resilience Social vulnerability + Built environment vulnerability + Hazard Exposure - Resilience = Community Resilience

Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit (CART)©  is a community intervention designed to enhance community resilience through assessment, group processes, planning, and action.  be used as a vehicle to introduce other interventions into a community.  Developed by Terrorism Disaster Center and National Child Traumatic Stress Network  is a community intervention designed to enhance community resilience through assessment, group processes, planning, and action.  be used as a vehicle to introduce other interventions into a community.  Developed by Terrorism Disaster Center and National Child Traumatic Stress Network

Factors Influencing Resilience  Connectedness, Commitment, and Shared Values  Participation  Resources  Support and Nurturance  Critical Reflection and Skill Building  Communication  Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, and Response  Connectedness, Commitment, and Shared Values  Participation  Resources  Support and Nurturance  Critical Reflection and Skill Building  Communication  Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Preparedness, and Response

CART  Intervention in the form of an assessment  Two components 1. Survey instrument -Includes questions assessing the 8 community resilience factors -Provides a snapshot of the community from the perspective of respondents -Does not result in a score or rating for comparison purposes 2. Key informant interview and focus group assessment script  Intervention in the form of an assessment  Two components 1. Survey instrument -Includes questions assessing the 8 community resilience factors -Provides a snapshot of the community from the perspective of respondents -Does not result in a score or rating for comparison purposes 2. Key informant interview and focus group assessment script

CART Interviews/Focus Groups  Participants  Key informants  Focus groups  1 to 3 hours  Explores  Meaning of community  8 factors in the context of disaster preparedness and response  Recommended actions  Initiates or contributes information for  Table top exercises  Strategic planning  Resilience building action  Participants  Key informants  Focus groups  1 to 3 hours  Explores  Meaning of community  8 factors in the context of disaster preparedness and response  Recommended actions  Initiates or contributes information for  Table top exercises  Strategic planning  Resilience building action

CART Contributions to Community Resilience  Encourages Participation  Advances Community Self Awareness  Fosters Critical Reflection  Promotes Skill Development  Stimulates Collaboration  Encourages Participation  Advances Community Self Awareness  Fosters Critical Reflection  Promotes Skill Development  Stimulates Collaboration

TAMUCC Study  CART survey used on TAMUCC Campus to assess community resilience  First study of its kind on a college campus  Have over 3500 survey responses from students, faculty, and staff  Analyzed Data from Survey will be used to conduct focus groups in Fall, 2011  CART survey used on TAMUCC Campus to assess community resilience  First study of its kind on a college campus  Have over 3500 survey responses from students, faculty, and staff  Analyzed Data from Survey will be used to conduct focus groups in Fall, 2011

Your Resilience Strengths & Weaknesses  Form small groups of 4-5 people  Review the following list of resilience characteristics  Identify the top 3 strengths for your community  Identify the top 3 weaknesses for your community  Create a consolidated list for your group  Time: 20 minutes  Form small groups of 4-5 people  Review the following list of resilience characteristics  Identify the top 3 strengths for your community  Identify the top 3 weaknesses for your community  Create a consolidated list for your group  Time: 20 minutes

Action Plan  Conduct hazard assessments of risk and vulnerable populations for your community or region  Assess your community’s capacity to manage the identified risk  Develop mitigation strategies  Develop a program of active engagement for citizens  Assess community resilience  Conduct hazard assessments of risk and vulnerable populations for your community or region  Assess your community’s capacity to manage the identified risk  Develop mitigation strategies  Develop a program of active engagement for citizens  Assess community resilience