Community preparedness is better than Personal Readiness alone for Disaster Resilience

Disaster preparedness can feel burdensome to an individual due to costs, time and efforts required, complexity, emotional stress, information overload and even complacency. In an enlightening conversation Fernando Rivera, a professor of sociology at the University of Central Florida, discusses his research about the complexities of building resilient communities - from the critical role of social capital to the nuanced challenges of preparedness in rural communities to impact of climate migrants. 

Q: What kind of disaster research do you do?

A: For over a decade, I've been immersed in studying disaster resilience in rural communities here in Central Florida. Working to identify the state of readiness among rural communities, the drivers for change in their emergency readiness - especially self-organizing and collective actions by farmworkers.

My research team is also part of a large initiative funded by the National Academy of Sciences to examine the impact of and responses to climate migration in the receiving communities instead of impact on the migrants. My team focused on the impact on the Orlando region due to climate migrants from Puerto Rico, after Hurricane Maria in 2016.

Q: How can communities enhance their resilience to natural disasters?

A: In rural communities, resource scarcity significantly impacts disaster preparedness. A rural community may not be able to afford an Emergency Manager. So the Sheriff acts as one. The local tax collection is limited but as soon as an emergency occurs, people expect local governments to help. And when that support sometimes is not available, then, our research found, communities come together and decide to take matters in their own hands. 

We looked closely at the fern industry farmworkers in Volusia county who came together after multiple tornadoes hit their community to build disaster readiness. The community leaders leveraged church and local Spanish speaking broadcasters to encourage community members to participate in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training among many other emergency preparedness measures. The community started to build a support network where members could call upon each other in the aftermath of a disaster to ask for help. It is important to note that for disaster preparedness, communities are not exclusively a geographical construct. In this case being part of a profession - fern cutters - was the community that came together to build disaster resilience.

Q: What are the key components of disaster resilience in communities?

A: The key component of disaster resilience in communities is the integration of preparedness, adaptability, and recovery processes. Resilience in rural communities is not just about infrastructure but also about the social and organizational frameworks that support disaster response and recovery. Enhancing community resilience hinges on proactive engagement, comprehensive planning, and fostering robust social networks. 

What is true for the fern cutters community of Volusia county is also true for the Puerto Rican communities in Central Florida - both the resident community and the climate migrants after Hurricane Maria. The power of collective action and community solidarity in the face of climate adversity is the best way for communities to enhance their resilience to natural disasters

Q: How can communities prepare to receive and support climate migrants?

Our research found that any community’s ability to receive and support climate migrants starts well before the migrants arrive. We found that strong connections along with cultural competencies across government, private sector, and non-profit groups were the key determinants to successfully address the needs of climate migrants.

We also found that long term support of climate migrants can be challenging. Many of the programs and organizations that are set up after a major disaster, like a hurricane, stop operating after the emergency phase ends. For the climate migrants with limited resources, this can exacerbate their existing inequities.

Additionally, lack of reliable and affordable transportation was a major reason for a receiving community’s challenges to facilitate climate migrant’s resettlement. Many of the migrants in this study had lost their personal vehicles during the hurricane. They were dependent on public transportation to access health care, job opportunities, housing and other resources  and services in the receiving communities. 

But in Orlando we found that due to the strong presence of the Puerto Rican community before Hurricane Maria, the climate migrants could call upon existing networks in the community to identify and access resources. This allowed for ease of their absorption and less strain on the institutional networks. But it is important to note that even with the existing support, barriers were still present when interacting with institutions.

Q: How does social capital contribute to disaster recovery efforts?

We noticed in both of the research examples I shared - fern cutters, farmworker community and climate migrants from Puerto Rico here in Central Florida, the power of social capital in disaster recovery. Strong community networks, trust, mutual aid proved to be invaluable assets, enabling more effective and efficient disaster recovery efforts.

We did notice a degradation of social capital during the pandemic. Social isolation reduced the strength of community networks or did not allow for development of new networks. I worry that for the next disaster we might not have as much resilience. It is important to remember that social capital is a dynamic framework. It can go down quickly. When a disaster impacts a household, say with a loss of property or injury or even loss of life, it is much easier to trust someone you know versus a complete stranger. And with increasing social isolation, you may not even know who to ask for help. 

Q: For emergency preparedness in your personal life, how did you build social capital when you first moved to Central Florida? 

A: Over the past 20 years, I've learned a lot about building social capital, and it all boils down to stepping out of your comfort zone. It's funny, we often think asking for help shows weakness, but it's actually one of the bravest things you can do. It all starts with the people you're closest to – your family and friends. But it doesn't stop there; getting involved in your community is key.

I've found that volunteering is a great way to build connections. It doesn't matter what you're passionate about; just dive in. Whether it's through a church, at a local festival, or even just hanging out at the library, every little bit helps when you get to know more people and let them get to know you.

I'll be honest, there are times I've been invited somewhere, and all I wanted to do was stay home. But pushing past that feeling and showing up changes things, not just for others but for me too. It's about making an effort, being seen, and not just waiting for someone else to make the first move. Building trust and forming genuine connections takes time, and it's not always easy, but it's worth it.

Through my work and just by being a part of my community, I've seen how powerful these connections can be. It's not just about needing help; it's about being there to offer help too. And this isn't just theory for me; it's personal and professional. I've lived through the same challenges I see in my research - from preparing my home for a storm to lining up for water at the supermarket. It's shown me that we're all in this together, researchers, neighbors, everyone. And at the end of the day, that's what really builds social capital.