Week 11 – Resilience

-Overview

Resiliency is the ability to “bounce back” from an event – in our case a disaster or MCI – physically, emotionally, financially.  This week we will read about and discuss the principles behind it, identify strategies to promote it, talk about family and neighborhood resiliency and identity some very real obstacles.  We will identify essential critical infrastructure and key resources.

– Reading List

Attached Files:

• Chandra Building Community Resilience to Disasters Chap 7.pdf (109.178 KB)
• Johnston, D. M., & Paton, D. (2006). Disaster Resilience – An Integrated Approach chap 10.pdf (127.868 KB)
• Johnston, D. M., & Paton, D. (2006). Disaster Resilience – An Integrated Approach chap 2.pdf (95.649 KB)
• What is Resilience-Dept of State.html (133.604 KB)

McEntire: Disaster Response and Recovery 2nd ed, Chapter 13 – McEntire Ch. 13.PDF

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Chandra, A. (2011). Building Community Resilience to Disasters : A Way Forward to Enhance National Health Security. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation  Chap 7

Johnston, D. M., & Paton, D. (2006). Disaster Resilience : An Integrated Approach. Springfield, Ill: Charles C Thomas.  Chap 2 & 10

What is resilience?  US Dept of State – one page article – see attached.  url –  The United States Department of State. (n.d.) What is resilience? Retrieved from:            http://www.state.gov/m/med/dsmp/c44950.htm

What is Disaster Resilience?   –   This is an excellent website and the PDF is helpful, but focus now on the home page – http://www.gsdrc.org/topic-guides/disaster-resilience/concepts/what-is-disaster-resilience/

Check this brief but very informative note from HUD – the Dept of Housing and Urban Development.

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-tr…

FOCUS POINTS

The McIntire chapter is an excellent overview of the concept of resilience. The other three chapters (attached) expand a bit and put the concept into practical terms.    You will about real-world examples – the good, the bad and the ugly.

– Discussion board question

* Define the term “resilience.” What attitudes, behaviors, and activities can be expected (or are proven) to enhance personal resilience? Neighborhood resilience? Community resilience? Are these activities complimentary, collaborative, or deleterious? Explain.

Remember, you do not start your own thread.  Simply add to the one I start:

Resilience is nothing more than the ability to return to normal. For a baseball struck by a bat-wielding Phillies right fielder, that means the ability to regain its normal shape.  For an American community such as a small town in southern California after an earhquake, it might mean re-opening schools and businesses or repairing / rebuilding homes.  It might mean seeking help from FEMA for the money to build.  For a city that saw death and destruction after two pressure cookers exploded, it might mean buying into the “Boston Strong” mentality.  Individual citizens cooperate with local, state and maybe federal agencies.  Churches allow the displaced to bring sleeping bags and cots to the church fellowship hall or gym.