Showing papers in "International Journal of Disaster Risk Science in 2021"
TL;DR: In this article, a newly developed NDVI-based crop-specific damage index (DVDI) was used to estimate the crop specific damage that occurs immediately after flood events by using the newly developed DVDI along with information on crop types and flood inundation extents.
Abstract: Accurate crop-specific damage assessment immediately after flood events is crucial for grain pricing, food policy, and agricultural trade. The main goal of this research is to estimate the crop-specific damage that occurs immediately after flood events by using a newly developed Disaster Vegetation Damage Index (DVDI). By incorporating the DVDI along with information on crop types and flood inundation extents, this research assessed crop damage for three case-study events: Iowa Severe Storms and Flooding (DR 4386), Nebraska Severe Storms and Flooding (DR 4387), and Texas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR 4272). Crop damage is assessed on a qualitative scale and reported at the county level for the selected flood cases in Iowa, Nebraska, and Texas. More than half of flooded corn has experienced no damage, whereas 60% of affected soybean has a higher degree of loss in most of the selected counties in Iowa. Similarly, a total of 350 ha of soybean has moderate to severe damage whereas corn has a negligible impact in Cuming, which is the most affected county in Nebraska. A total of 454 ha of corn are severely damaged in Anderson County, Texas. More than 200 ha of alfalfa have moderate to severe damage in Navarro County, Texas. The results of damage assessment are validated through the NDVI profile and yield loss in percentage. A linear relation is found between DVDI values and crop yield loss. An R2 value of 0.54 indicates the potentiality of DVDI for rapid crop damage estimation. The results also indicate the association between DVDI class and crop yield loss.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the long-term improvement in precautions taken by commune authorities and households between two major floods in 1999 and 2017 by applying both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Abstract: Local actors appear as inseparable components of the integrated flood risk mitigation strategy in Vietnam. Recognizing this fact, this study examined the long-term improvement in precautions taken by commune authorities and households between two major floods in 1999 and 2017 by applying both quantitative and qualitative methods. Two flood-prone villages were selected for a survey; one in a rural area and the other in a suburban area of Thua Thien Hue Province, central Vietnam. The findings indicate that most villagers doubted the structural works' efficacy and were dissatisfied with the current efforts of local authorities. Households' self-preparation thus became the decisive factor in mitigating risk. While most households have paid greater attention to flood precautions in 2017, others seem to be lagging. Poverty-related barriers were the root causes restraining households in both rural and suburban villages. The suburban riverine residents were further identified as vulnerable by their limitations in upgrading structural measures, which was ascribed to the inconsistency in the ancient town's preservation policy. This multidimensional comparison, in terms of vulnerability, emphasized the importance of space-function links in the suburb and the contradictions of different policy initiatives, such as landscape rehabilitation, disaster prevention, and livelihood maintenance.
20 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, sketch maps and questionnaires were used to capture local knowledge about flooding in Eberbach (Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany), where half of the participants were residents and half were pedestrians.
Abstract: A rise in the number of flood-affected people and areas has increased the interest in new methods and concepts that account for this change. Citizens are integrated into disaster risk reduction processes through participatory approaches and can provide valuable up-to-date local knowledge. During a field study in Eberbach (Baden–Wuerttemberg, Germany) sketch maps and questionnaires were used to capture local knowledge about flooding. Based on a previous study on urban flooding in Santiago de Chile, the tools were adapted and applied to river flooding in the city of Eberbach, which is regularly flooded by the Neckar River, a major river in southwest Germany. The empirical database of the study comprises 40 participants in the study area and 40 in a control area. Half of the participants in each group are residents and half are pedestrians. Purposive sampling was used, and the questionnaires aimed to gather demographic information and explore what factors, such as property, influence the risk perception of the study participants. The results show that residents identify a larger spatial area as at risk than pedestrians, and owning property leads to higher risk awareness. The flood type influenced the choice of the base maps for the sketch maps. For river flooding, one map with an overview of the area was sufficient, while for urban flooding a second map with more details of the area also enables the marking of small streets. The information gathered can complement authoritative data such as from flood models. This participatory approach also increases the communication and trust between local governments, researchers, and citizens.
18 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a case analysis of COVID-19 response in the education sector is presented from Omuta City, Japan, which is considered as a champion city for sustainable development.
Abstract: The global COVID-19 pandemic has challenged different development sectors, including education. In this article, two main analyses are provided: one on the biological hazards of the pandemic in the context of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030, which analyzes the overall impacts on the education sector. Then we discuss the overall impact on education sectors, with specific focus on disaster risk reduction (DRR) education and education for sustainable development (ESD). Disaster risk reduction education and ESD are analyzed from the perspective of school-community-family linkages. Specific case analysis of COVID-19 response in the education sector is presented from Omuta City, Japan, which is considered as a champion city for ESD. Four phases of response in Omuta City are characterized with three specific foci: (1) mitigating covid impacts on educational program and participants; (2) preventing exacerbation of covid transmission within and outside schools; and (3) maintaining educational program integrity despite covid. Key lessons are summarized in the concluding section, which explore the importance of (1) educational governance (on critical decision making) during the pandemic as well as with cascading risks; (2) enhancement of school-community-family linkages as pandemic response commonalities between ESD and DRR education; (3) risk communication and citizen behavior; and (4) use of technology. We argue that integration of health and DRR education is important, that resilience needs to be redefined in terms of sustainable development goals (SDGs), and that education plays a vital role in achieving these ends.
16 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of resilience properties and pathways in the disaster resilience literature suggested new resilience properties such as risk-sensitivity and regenerative in the timeline of two consecutive disasters.
Abstract: Resilience as a concept is multi-faceted with complex dimensions. In a disaster context, there is lack of consistency in conceptualizing social resilience. This results in ambiguity of its definition, properties, and pathways for assessment. A number of key research gaps exist for critically reviewing social resilience conceptualization, projecting resilience properties in a disaster-development continuum, and delineating a resilience trajectory in a multiple disaster timeline. This review addressed these research gaps by critically reviewing social resilience definitions, properties, and pathways. The review found four variations in social resilience definitions, which recognize the importance of abilities of social systems and processes in disaster phases at different levels. A review of resilience properties and pathways in the disaster resilience literature suggested new resilience properties—“risk-sensitivity” and “regenerative” in the timeline of two consecutive disasters. This review highlights a causal pathway for social resilience to better understand the resilience status in a multi-shock scenario by depicting inherent and adaptive resilience for consecutive disaster scenarios and a historical case study for a resilience trajectory in a multiple disaster timeline. The review findings will assist disaster management policymakers and practitioners to formulate appropriate resilience enhancement strategies within a holistic framework in a multi-disaster timeline.
14 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a multi-period allocation optimization model for emergency resources based on regional self-rescue and cross-regional collaborative rescue efforts is proposed, which targets the shortest delivery time and lowest allocation costs as its efficiency goals and the maximum coverage rate of resource allocation in the disaster-affected locations as its equity goal.
Abstract: Cross-regional allocation is necessary for the rational utilization and optimal allocation of resources. It is also the key to effective and sustainable disaster relief. Existing research, however, generally centers on emergency resource allocation only within territories or regions. This article proposes a multiperiod allocation optimization model for emergency resources based on regional self-rescue and cross-regional collaborative rescue efforts. The model targets the shortest delivery time and lowest allocation costs as its efficiency goals and the maximum coverage rate of resource allocation in the disaster-affected locations as its equity goal. An objective weighting fuzzy algorithm based on two-dimensional Euclidean distance is designed to solve the proposed model. A case study based on the Wenchuan Earthquake of 12 May 2008 was conducted to validate the proposed model. The results indicate that our proposed model allows for optimal, multiperiod cross-regional resource allocation by combining interterritorial and nearby allocation principles. Cross-regional relief makes resource allocation more equitable, minimizes dissatisfaction, and prevents losses. Different decision preferences appear to significantly affect the choice of resource allocation scheme employed, which provides flexibility for decision making in different emergencies.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the relationship between social vulnerability factors and reported needs following Hurricane Florence and found that the proportions of the population over 65, the population aged 5 and under, and the non-English-speaking population above 5 years of age were all predictors of the per capita reported emergency needs.
Abstract: This research examines the relationship between social vulnerability factors and reported needs following Hurricane Florence. Weighted least squares regression models were used to identify predictor variables for valid registrations that reported needs pertaining to emergencies, food, and shelter. Data consisted of zip codes in North Carolina and South Carolina that received individual assistance for Hurricane Florence (N = 406). The results suggest that when controlling for event-specific factors and flood mitigation factors, the proportions of the population that is female, the population over 65, the population aged 5 and under, the population older than 5 years not speaking English, and the minority population were all predictors of the per capita reported emergency needs. When controlling for the same variables, the proportions of the population over the age of 25 with a Bachelor’s degree, the female population, the population aged 5 and under, the population above 5 years old that does not speak English, and the minority population were all predictors of the per capita reported food needs. With the same variables controlled for, three variables—the proportions of the population over 65, the population aged 5 and under, and the non-English-speaking population above 5 years of age—were all predictors of the per capita reported shelter needs. The results suggest that more attention should be given to these vulnerable populations in the pre-disaster planning process.
13 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the longitudinal changes in collaborative governance in Myanmar's disaster responses based on cases of flooding in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and found that the collaborative networks of search and rescue processes in disaster response evolved and changed over time according to the hypothesized patterns of strong, weak, and preferential tie formations.
Abstract: In disaster response, collaboration facilitates interactions among actors, such as the government, the military, nongovernmental organizations, and civil society organizations. This study examined the longitudinal changes in collaborative governance in Myanmar’s disaster responses based on cases of flooding in 2015, 2016, and 2018. To examine the mechanisms underlying this dynamic network formation, the collaborative ties of the actors involved in search and rescue activities were converted into longitudinal relational data sets, and the evolution of collaborative governance was analyzed by relying on the assumptions of social capital, transaction cost, homophily, and resource dependency theories and using a longitudinal social network analysis method. The findings show that the collaborative networks of search and rescue processes in disaster response evolved and changed over time according to the hypothesized patterns of strong, weak, and preferential tie formations. The study also revealed that the collaborative governance system assumes the form of a hierarchy rather than a generalized exchange, and the actors’ reliance on military organizations is not obvious due to the emerging alternative non-military actors and diverse local actors observed in the cases.
12 citations
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors conducted urban flood simulation in the Huangpu River Basin in Shanghai by using the LISFLOOD-FP hydrodynamic model and six open-access digital elevation models (SRTM, MERIT, CoastalDEM, GDEM, NASADEM, and AW3D30).
Abstract: Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) play a critical role in hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. Flood inundation mapping is highly dependent on the accuracy of DEMs. Various vertical differences exist among open access DEMs as they use various observation satellites and algorithms. The problem is particularly acute in small, flat coastal cities. Thus, it is necessary to assess the differences of the input of DEMs in flood simulation and to reduce anomalous errors of DEMs. In this study, we first conducted urban flood simulation in the Huangpu River Basin in Shanghai by using the LISFLOOD-FP hydrodynamic model and six open-access DEMs (SRTM, MERIT, CoastalDEM, GDEM, NASADEM, and AW3D30), and analyzed the differences in the results of the flood inundation simulations. Then, we processed the DEMs by using two statistically based methods and compared the results with those using the original DEMs. The results show that: (1) the flood inundation mappings using the six original DEMs are significantly different under the same simulation conditions—this indicates that only using a single DEM dataset may lead to bias of flood mapping and is not adequate for high confidence analysis of exposure and flood management; and (2) the accuracy of a DEM corrected by the Dixon criterion for predicting inundation extent is improved, in addition to reducing errors in extreme water depths—this indicates that the corrected datasets have some performance improvement in the accuracy of flood simulation. A freely available, accurate, high-resolution DEM is needed to support robust flood mapping. Flood-related researchers, practitioners, and other stakeholders should pay attention to the uncertainty caused by DEM quality.
12 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored factors that contributed to the successful implementation of tsunami housing projects in Kerala by consolidating various critical success factors (CSFs) for post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) projects under "project management success traits".
Abstract: The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami triggered significant destruction to housing and related infrastructures across various coastal districts of south India. Research shows that tsunami reconstruction projects in Kerala experienced different degrees of success and failure. On this background, this study explored factors that contributed to the successful implementation of tsunami housing projects in Kerala by (1) consolidating various critical success factors (CSFs) for post-disaster reconstruction (PDR) projects under “project management success traits” through content analysis of existing literature; (2) deriving a conceptual model that envisages project success in PDR contexts; and (3) assessing the impacts of those success traits on tsunami housing projects using confirmatory factor analysis. Necessary data were gathered through a survey of various stakeholders involved in tsunami reconstruction projects in Kerala using structured questionnaires. The research revealed that PDR project success is attributed to critical dimensions of project management such as institutional mechanisms, reconstruction strategies, project implementation, and stakeholder management. A conceptual model with the interplay of project success, success traits, as well as their CSFs identified the project management actions that must be monitored during reconstruction. Since the project management approach is widely recognized for PDR projects, these success traits hold huge potential for effective organization and management of housing reconstruction projects. The study also helped to identify project management traits that need improvements for the successful implementation of post-disaster housing projects in Kerala. Thus the research findings can serve as a foundational study for formulating project management strategies appropriate to PDR projects in Kerala.
11 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provide empirical insights into the perceived effects of separating government institutions for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states.
Abstract: Integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) is widely recognized as a solution for reducing the risk and impacts of disasters. However, successful integration seems elusive, and the two goals continue to function in isolation and in parallel. This article provides empirical insights into the perceived effects of separating government institutions for DRR and CCA within the Southern African Development Community member states. A mixed method research design was applied to the study. A total of 40 respondents from Botswana, Eswatini (until April 2018 Swaziland), Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe participated in face-to-face interviews or an online survey. Five major effects of separating the organizations for DRR and CCA that impede efforts to reduce disaster risk coherently were identified: duplication of services, polarization of interventions, incoherent policies, competition for the same resources, and territorial contests. Given the continued fragmentation of institutions for DRR and CCA, highlighting these effects is important to emphasize the need for integrated approaches towards the reduction of disaster risk.
TL;DR: In this paper, the spatiotemporal variability of trends in extreme precipitation events in Ho Chi Minh City during the period 1980-2017 was analyzed based on several core extreme precipitation indices (Rx1day, Rx5day, CDD, CWD, R20mm, R25mm and R95p).
Abstract: In this study, the spatiotemporal variability of trends in extreme precipitation events in Ho Chi Minh City during the period 1980–2017 was analyzed based on several core extreme precipitation indices (Rx1day, Rx5day, CDD, CWD, R20mm, R25mm, R95p, and SDII). The non-parametric Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope methods were used to compute the statistical strength, stability, and magnitude of trends in annual rainfall, as well as the extreme precipitation indices. We found that 64% of the stations had statistically significant upward trends in yearly rainfall, with high magnitudes frequently observed in the northern and southern regions of the city. For the extreme precipitation indices, only SDII and R25mm showed dominantly significant trends. Additionally, there were increasing trends in the frequency and duration at the southern and central regions of the city during the study period. Furthermore, El Nino-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation positively correlated with the duration and negatively correlated with the intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation. Thus, water management plans should be adjusted appropriately to reduce the severe impacts of precipitation extremes on communities and ecosystems.
TL;DR: Zhang et al. as mentioned in this paper used GeoDetector to quantify the determinant powers of natural and socioeconomic factors and their interactive effects on the rate of house collapse in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces of southeast China caused by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018.
Abstract: Typhoons are an environmental threat that mainly affects coastal regions worldwide. The interactive effects of natural and socioeconomic factors on the losses caused by typhoon disasters need further examination. In this study, GeoDetector was used to quantify the determinant powers of natural and socioeconomic factors and their interactive effects on the rate of house collapse in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces of southeast China caused by Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018. We further identify the dominant factors that influenced the disaster losses. The local indicators of spatial association method was then introduced to explain the spatial heterogeneity of the disaster losses under the influence of the dominant factor. The results indicate that both natural and socioeconomic factors significantly affected the house collapse rate. The maximum precipitation was the dominant factor, with a q value of 0.21, followed by slope and elevation, with q values of 0.17 and 0.13, respectively. Population density and per capita gross domestic product had q values of 0.15 and 0.13, respectively. Among all of the interactive effects of the influencing factors, the interactive effect of elevation and the ratio of brick-wood houses had the greatest influence (q = 0.63) on the house collapse rate. These results can contribute to the formulation of more specific safety and property protection policies.
TL;DR: The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030's (SFDRR) framing moved away from disaster risk as a natural phenomenon to the examination of the inequality and injustice at the root of human vulnerability to hazards and disasters.
Abstract: The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015−2030’s (SFDRR) framing moved away from disaster risk as a natural phenomenon to the examination of the inequality and injustice at the root of human vulnerability to hazards and disasters. Yet, its achievements have not seriously challenged the long-established capitalist systems of oppression that hinder the development leading to disaster risk creation. This article is an exploratory mapping exercise of and a collective reflection on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and SFDRR indicators—and their use in measuring progress towards disaster risk reduction (DRR). We highlight that despite the rhetoric of vulnerability, the measurement of progress towards DRR remains event/hazard-centric. We argue that the measurement of disaster risk could be greatly enhanced by the integration of development data in future iterations of global DRR frameworks for action.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined and clarified the issue in the upper Huaihe River Basin where flood disasters frequently occur, and their results showed that 95% of the total flood recession events could be well fitted with the coefficient of determination (R2) values higher than 0.75.
Abstract: The effects of rainfall and underlying surface conditions on flood recession processes are a critical issue for flood risk reduction and water use in a region. In this article, we examined and clarified the issue in the upper Huaihe River Basin where flood disasters frequently occur. Data on 58 rainstorms and flooding events at eight watersheds during 2006–2015 were collected. An exponential equation (with a key flood recession coefficient) was used to fit the flood recession processes, and their correlations with six potential causal factors—decrease rate of rainfall intensity, distance from the storm center to the outlet of the basin, basin area, basin shape coefficient, basin average slope, and basin relief amplitude—were analyzed by the Spearman correlation test and the Kendall tau test. Our results show that 95% of the total flood recession events could be well fitted with the coefficient of determination (R2) values higher than 0.75. When the decrease rate of rainfall intensity (Vi) is smaller than 0.2 mm/h2, rainfall conditions more significantly control the flood recession process; when Vi is greater than 0.2 mm/h2, underlying surface conditions dominate. The result of backward elimination shows that when Vi takes the values of 0.2–0.5 mm/h2 and is greater than 0.5 mm/h2, the flood recession process is primarily influenced by the basin’s average slope and basin area, respectively. The other three factors, however, indicate weak effects in the study area.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors assessed the exposure and risk of existing and planned railway assets to river flooding and earthquakes, and found that about 9.3% of these railway assets are exposed to a one in 100 year flood event, and 22.3 percent are susceptible to a 1 in 475 year earthquake event.
Abstract: Mitigating the disaster risk of transportation infrastructure networks along the Belt and Road is crucial to realizing the area’s high trade potential in the future. This study assessed the exposure and risk of existing and planned railway assets to river flooding and earthquakes. We found that about 9.3% of these railway assets are exposed to a one in 100 year flood event, and 22.3% are exposed to a one in 475 year earthquake event. The combined flood and earthquake risk of physical damage to railway assets, expressed by expected annual damage (EAD), is estimated at USD 1438 (between 966 and 2026) million. Floods contribute the majority of the risk (96%). China has the highest EAD for both floods and earthquakes (between USD 240 and 525 million in total). Laos and Cambodia are the countries with the highest EAD per km from flooding (USD 66,125–112,154 and USD 31,954–56,844 per km, respectively), while Italy and Myanmar have the highest EAD per km from earthquakes (USD 1000–3057 and USD 893–3019 per km, respectively). For the newly built and planned projects along the Belt and Road, the EAD is estimated at USD 271 (between 205 and 357) million. The China–Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor and China–Pakistan Economic Corridor have the highest absolute EAD and EAD per km, with EADs reaching USD 95 and USD 67 million, and USD 18 and USD 17 thousand per km, on average, respectively. For railway segments with high risks, we found that if the required adaptation cost within 20 years to realize a 10% increase of the railway quality is below 8.4% of the replacement cost, the benefits are positive.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the location of the disaster and the general meteorological scenario, with field investigations to provide insight on the avalanche dynamics and its interaction with the hotel buildings, concluding that the avalanche was a fluidized dry snow avalanche, which entrained a sligthtly warmer snow cover along the path and reached extremely long runout distances with braking effect from mountain forests.
Abstract: On 18 January 2017 a catastrophic avalanche destroyed the Rigopiano Gran Sasso Resort & Wellness (Rigopiano Hotel) in the Gran Sasso National Park in Italy, with 40 people trapped and a death toll of 29. This article describes the location of the disaster and the general meteorological scenario, with field investigations to provide insight on the avalanche dynamics and its interaction with the hotel buildings. The data gathered in situ suggest that the avalanche was a fluidized dry snow avalanche, which entrained a sligthtly warmer snow cover along the path and reached extremely long runout distances with braking effect from mountain forests. The avalanche that reached the Rigopiano area was a “wood-snow” avalanche—a mixture of snow and uprooted and crushed trees, rocks, and other debris. There were no direct eyewitnesses at the event, and a quick post-event survey used a numerical model to analyze the dynamics of the event to estimate the pressure, velocity, and direction of the natural flow and the causes for the destruction of the hotel. Considering the magnitude and the damage caused by the event, the avalanche was at a high to very high intensity scale.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined floodplain managers' perceptions of the quality of their community's flood management decision-making processes and found that most of them perceive their communities' decision making processes to be good.
Abstract: To reduce flood losses, floodplain managers make decisions on how to effectively manage their community’s flood risks. While there is a growing body of research that examines how individuals and households make decisions to manage their flood risks, far less attention has been directed at understanding the decision-making processes for flood management at the community level. This study aimed to narrow this research gap by examining floodplain managers’ perceptions of the quality of their community’s flood management decision-making processes. Data gathered from interviews with 200 floodplain managers in the United States indicate that most floodplain managers perceive their community’s flood management decision-making processes to be good. The results also indicate that communities participating in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System, as well as communities with a higher level of concern for flooding and a lower poverty rate, are significantly more likely to report better flood management decision-making processes.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed an analytical framework to quantify and map the future global-scale maize drought risk at a 0.5° resolution, which can act as a practical tool for globalscale, future-oriented crop drought risk assessment, and the results provide theoretical support for adaptive planning strategies for drought.
Abstract: Drought is projected to become more frequent and increasingly severe under climate change in many agriculturally important areas. However, few studies have assessed and mapped the future global crop drought risk—defined as the occurrence probability and likelihood of yield losses from drought—at high resolution. With support of the GEPIC-Vulnerability-Risk model, we propose an analytical framework to quantify and map the future global-scale maize drought risk at a 0.5° resolution. In this framework, the model can be calibrated and validated using datasets from in situ observations (for example, yield statistics, losses caused by drought) and the literature. Water stress and drought risk under climate change can then be simulated. To evaluate the applicability of the framework, a global-scale assessment of maize drought risk under 1.5 °C warming was conducted. At 1.5 °C warming, the maize drought risk is projected to be regionally variable (high in the midlatitudes and low in the tropics and subtropics), with only a minor negative (− 0.93%) impact on global maize yield. The results are consistent with previous studies of drought impacts on maize yield of major agricultural countries around the world. Therefore, the framework can act as a practical tool for global-scale, future-oriented crop drought risk assessment, and the results provide theoretical support for adaptive planning strategies for drought.
TL;DR: Using an ecosyndemic lens, which draws on a multi-disease hazard context of place, the authors highlights the importance of El Nino as a major factor that not only may aggravate COVID-19 incidence in the future, but also the broader health problem of eco-ndemic vulnerability in Latin America.
Abstract: Latin America has emerged as an epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador report some of the highest COVID-19 rates of incidence and deaths in the region. These countries also face synergistic threats from multiple infectious diseases (that is, ecosyndemic) and quasi-periodic El Nino-related hazards every few years. For example, Peru, which is highly sensitive to El Nino, already copes with an ecosyndemic health burden that heightens during and following weather and climate extreme events. Using an ecosyndemic lens, which draws on a multi-disease hazard context of place, this commentary highlights the importance of El Nino as a major factor that not only may aggravate COVID-19 incidence in the future, but also the broader health problem of ecosyndemic vulnerability in Latin America.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined diverging conceptualizations of nature-based solutions, as well as the attitudinal and contextual barriers and drivers of NBS for flood risks in South Korea.
Abstract: Nature-based solutions (NBS) are seen as a promising adaptation measure that sustainably deals with diverse societal challenges, while simultaneously delivering multiple benefits. Nature-based solutions have been highlighted as a resilient and sustainable means of mitigating floods and other hazards globally. This study examined diverging conceptualizations of NBS, as well as the attitudinal (for example, emotions and beliefs) and contextual (for example, legal and political aspects) barriers and drivers of NBS for flood risks in South Korea. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 11 experts and focused on the topic of flood risk measures and NBS case studies. The analysis found 11 barriers and five drivers in the attitudinal domain, and 13 barriers and two drivers in the contextual domain. Most experts see direct monetary benefits as an important attitudinal factor for the public. Meanwhile, the cost-effectiveness of NBS and their capacity to cope with flood risks were deemed influential factors that could lead decision makers to opt for NBS. Among the contextual factors, insufficient systems to integrate NBS in practice and the ideologicalization of NBS policy were found to be peculiar barriers, which hinder consistent realization of initiatives and a long-term national plan for NBS. Understanding the barriers and drivers related to the mainstreaming of NBS is critical if we are to make the most of such solutions for society and nature. It is also essential that we have a shared definition, expectation, and vision of NBS.
TL;DR: This paper found that risk perception is linked to location, which in turn is associated with religious affiliation, and public disaster relief appears to have built up trust and subsequently reduced risk perception, even if some victims remained skeptical of state disaster relief.
Abstract: Although risk perception of natural hazards has been identified as an important determinant for sound policy design, there is limited empirical research on it in developing countries. This article narrows the empirical literature gap. It draws from Babessi, a rural town in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. Babessi was hit by a severe flash flood in 2012. The cross-disciplinary lens applied here deciphers the complexity arising from flood hazards, often embedded in contexts characterized by poverty, a state that is constrained in disaster relief, and market-based solutions being absent. Primary data were collected via snowball sampling. Multinomial logistic regression analysis suggests that individuals with leadership functions, for example, heads of households, perceive flood risk higher, probably due to their role as household providers. We found that risk perception is linked to location, which in turn is associated with religious affiliation. Christians perceive floods riskier than Muslims because the former traditionally reside at the foot of hills and the latter uphill; rendering Muslims less exposed and eventually less affected by floods. Finally, public disaster relief appears to have built up trust and subsequently reduced risk perception, even if some victims remained skeptical of state disaster relief. This indicates strong potential benefits of public transfers for flood risk management in developing countries.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper provided a new and spatiotemporal perspective of the BLF water proximities for understanding the changing flood risk in China and found that China's BLFs had an average water proximity of 5.41 km in 2014.
Abstract: Human proximity to water and its dynamics are important to understanding the socio-hydrological dilemma between using floodplains and avoiding flood risk. However, previous studies have not distinguished between the water proximity of built-up land in floodplains (BLF) and the water proximity of built-up land outside floodplains (BLOF). This article provides a new and spatiotemporal perspective of the BLF water proximities for understanding the changing flood risk in China. The results show that China’s BLFs had an average water proximity of 5.41 km in 2014. Most of the BLFs (62%, 25.88×103 km2) were located within 3 km of waterbodies. From 1990 to 2014, China’s BLFs increased rapidly by 81% from 23.06×103 km2 to 41.74×103 km2, of which a large portion (57%) was concentrated in water surroundings (≤3 km), shortening the distance between BLFs and waterbodies by 169 m. The BLF growth concentrated in water surroundings even in areas where BLFs have an overall increasing distance from waterbodies. Both the increases in the BLFs and their proximity to waterbodies can increase flood exposure and exacerbate flood risk. The scientific community and policymakers should pay attention not only to the volume of BLF growth, but also its spatial relationship with waterbodies.
TL;DR: In this article, a scoping review explored the literature to understand issues related to informal caregiving and promising practices to support resilience for disasters, and found that many informal caregivers do not feel adequately prepared for disasters.
Abstract: Informal caregivers are a population currently in the shadows of disaster risk reduction (DRR), and yet essential to the provision of healthcare services. This scoping review explored the literature to understand issues related to informal caregiving and promising practices to support resilience for disasters. Following guidelines for scoping review as outlined by Tricco et al. (2016), relevant publications were identified from five major databases—Medline, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Relevant studies referenced informal caregiving and disasters for a variety of population groups including children, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and older adults. Studies were excluded if they discussed formal caregiving services (for example, nursing), lacked relevance to disasters, or had insufficient discussion of informal caregiving. Overall, 21 articles met the inclusion criteria and were fully analyzed. Five themes were identified: (1) the need for education and training in DRR; (2) stressors around medication and supply issues; (3) factors affecting the decision-making process in a disaster; (4) barriers leading to disaster-related problems; and (5) factors promoting resilience. Recommended areas of strategic action and knowledge gaps are discussed. Many informal caregivers do not feel adequately prepared for disasters. Given the important role of informal caregivers in healthcare provision, preparedness strategies are essential to support community resilience for those requiring personal care support. By understanding and mobilizing assets to support the resilience of informal caregivers, we also support the resilience of the greater healthcare system and the community, in disaster contexts.
TL;DR: In this article, a cross-national partnership examined the out-of-province/state and international female university students' leadership during the entire eviction process and concluded that the female university student's leadership that emerged during the eviction process became complementary to and even augmented the universities' official efforts and beyond.
Abstract: The study of disaster-specific leadership of female university students has been largely neglected, especially during on-campus emergency eviction and evacuation. Based on the COVID-19-triggered, on-campus evictions across Canada and the United States, this cross-national partnership examined the out-of-province/state and international female university students’ leadership during the entire eviction process. Through in-depth interviews, this study revealed the female university students’ leadership behaviors during three stages: (1) pre-eviction: their self-preparedness formed an emotional foundation to support others; (2) peri-eviction: their attitude and leadership behavior enabled them to facilitate (psychologically and physically) their peers’ eviction process; and (3) post-eviction: they continued to support their peers virtually and raised the general public’s awareness regarding the plight of vulnerable and marginalized populations. This article argues that the female university students’ leadership that emerged during the eviction process became complementary to and even augmented the universities’ official efforts and beyond. This leadership represents empirical evidence that contributes to the existing literature on gender and leadership by demonstrating female youth as empowered stakeholders rather than as merely passive victims. Future studies could develop detailed stratification of gender and age dimensions in order to portray a more comprehensive picture of the younger generation’s leadership in hazards and disaster research and practice.
TL;DR: In this paper, a multi-method approach to understand how local knowledge of the spatial and temporal patterns of floods, droughts, and rainfall can be integrated with scientific information along a flood-prone section of the lower Mekong River in Kratie Province, Cambodia is presented.
Abstract: Integrating local knowledge and scientific information can aid in co-developing locally relevant approaches for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. Communities along the Mekong River have adapted to variability in temperature, rainfall, and flooding patterns over time. Rapid environmental change in the Mekong Basin presents a new set of challenges related to drought, altered seasonal rainfall, more frequent high-flow flood events, and water withdrawals for hydropower and irrigation. We present a multi-method approach to understand how local knowledge of the spatial and temporal patterns of floods, droughts, and rainfall can be integrated with scientific information along a flood-prone section of the lower Mekong River in Kratie Province, Cambodia. Participatory hazard mapping of community members’ knowledge of the movement of floodwaters through the landscape enabled interpretation of flood extent mapping using Synthetic Aperture Radar images from the Sentinel-1A satellite. Seasonal calendars of weather patterns and livelihood activities, together with local indicators of flooding, rainfall, and drought were compared with trends in 35 years of rainfall data, and highlighted “pressure points” at the beginning and end of the rainy season where agriculture may be particularly impacted by climate change. We discuss potential applications of our findings for adaptation and hazard planning.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the build-back-better considerations in post-disaster recovery, following the devastation of Chipinge and Chimanimani communities by Cyclone Idai-induced floods in 2019.
Abstract: This study evaluated the build-back-better considerations in post-disaster recovery, following the devastation of Chipinge and Chimanimani communities by Cyclone Idai-induced floods in 2019. Conducted in 2020, the study assessed the impact of Cyclone Idai-induced floods on communities in Chipinge and Chimanimani Districts of Zimbabwe; evaluated the build-back-better considerations; and analyzed the lessons learned. Based on a qualitative approach and case study design, the study depended on focus group discussions, interviews, and researcher observations to gather data from 85 participants. The findings indicate that Cyclone Idai-induced floods seriously impacted human lives, infrastructure, and livelihoods of communities that had been living with flood risk and vulnerability. Build-back-better considerations were absent in much of the post-disaster recovery effort to address the cyclone disaster impact. There are important early lessons for both practitioners and community members to learn from the Cyclone Idai event. These lessons still can inform policy and disaster risk reduction practice in the medium and long term. Build-back-better should be a mandatory objective in the recovery from any disaster impact. Continuous training is also recommended to improve the disaster knowledge of stakeholders and increase local ability to cope with future disaster events.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed and validated a cumulative measure of exposure to natural hazard-related disasters (2013-2017) at the area level, and an individual-level measure of disaster impact using data from the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child and linked data from International Disaster Database (EM-DAT).
Abstract: Exposure to multiple natural hazard-related disasters will become more common due to climate change. This article reports on the development and validation of a cumulative measure of exposure to natural hazard-related disasters (2013–2017) at the area level, and an individual-level measure of disaster impact using data from the Longitudinal Cohort Study on the Filipino Child and linked data from the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT). Caregiver reports of cumulative exposure to disasters had statistically significant associations with disasters reported by neighborhood officials and with disasters in EM-DAT. Using ecometric techniques we generated a reliable community average measure of exposure to natural hazard-related disasters. Based on neighbor but not individual self-reports this exogenous measure of disaster exposure in the local area was more strongly related to EM-DAT and official neighborhood reports than individual reports. To capture household variation we developed an individual-level measure of disaster impacts. Disaster impact was associated with measures of exposure (individual and community average), community ratings by officials, and EM-DAT but only moderately associated with the community average exposure. Both the community average and disaster impacts measures were associated with household income and the adequacy of income in households.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper developed a flood-risk assessment framework and used Hunan Province in China as an example to illustrate the risk assessment process, and found that precipitation has a strong influence on economic loss risk.
Abstract: Estimation of economic loss is essential for stakeholders to manage flood risk. Most flooding events are closely related to extreme precipitation, which is influenced by large-scale climate factors. Considering the lagged influence of climate factors, we developed a flood-risk assessment framework and used Hunan Province in China as an example to illustrate the risk assessment process. The main patterns of precipitation—as a connection between climate factors and flood economic losses—were extracted by the empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. We identified the correlative climate factors through cross-correlation analysis and established a multiple stepwise linear regression model to forecast future precipitation patterns. Risk assessment was done based on the main precipitation patterns. Because the economic dataset is limited, a Monte Carlo simulation was applied to simulate 1000-year flood loss events under each precipitation regime (rainy, dry, normal years) to obtain aggregate exceedance probability (AEP) and occurrence exceedance probability (OEP) curves. We found that precipitation has a strong influence on economic loss risk, with the highest risk in rainy years. Regional economic development imbalances are the potential reason for the varying economic loss risks in different regions of Hunan Province. As the climate indices with at least several months prediction lead time are strong indicators in predicting precipitation, the framework we developed can estimate economic loss risk several months in advance.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors evaluated the extent of the impact Cyclone Idai had on the Chimanimani communities and the factors that increased the vulnerability to the cyclone using a mixed method approach that involved 1180 participants.
Abstract: On 14 March 2019, Zimbabwe was hit by Cyclone Idai, leaving immeasurable destruction of unprecedented magnitude in its wake. In Chimanimani District, many lives were lost, many people were reported missing, and others were displaced. The question that immediately comes to mind is: Was the country prepared to manage the Cyclone Idai disaster? Reflecting on the community experiences, the purpose of this research was to interrogate the strength of the disaster risk reduction legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe in the face of meteorological hazards. The research also evaluated the extent of the impact Cyclone Idai had on the Chimanimani communities and the factors that increased the vulnerability to the cyclone. A mixed method approach that involved 1180 participants was used. The study found that disaster risk management legislation and institutions in Zimbabwe are weak. Cyclone Idai resulted in the loss of many human lives, loss of livelihoods, and massive damage to infrastructure. The cyclone exposed capacity and policy gaps in Zimbabwe’s disaster risk management system. The study makes a number of recommendations, including strengthening disaster legislation and policy, and disaster risk governance. Given the communities’ response to the disaster occurrence, the study also recommends strengthening social capital.