The consequences of natural disasters are profound, leading to considerable loss of lives, assets, and indirectly the deterioration of livelihoods and developmental prospects. Anticipated factors such as population expansion, rapid urbanization, and the ongoing effects of climate change are poised to further intensify these challenges. The fallout from natural disasters often hits hardest in regions grappling with lower socioeconomic statuses. This disparity is evident in New Zealand, particularly as observed following the Auckland floods and in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. To address this problem, the concept of community resilience has gained prominence as an approach to identify vulnerable areas that are more susceptible to the effects of natural hazards while also helping communities address weak spots to better prepare for and rapidly recover from the impacts of the ensuing disaster. However, the scale at which community resilience is commonly defined is too broad to capture the intricate details that truly define how communities are able to continue functioning after severe disasters. Therefore, this research develops a comprehensive method for quantifying community resilience defined at the neighbourhood scale. It works towards capturing the varied dimensions and perspectives of resilience by visually illustrating resilience across six key dimensions (the physical and built environment, human and health, economics, environmental, social, and governance) using 48 identified indicators. Looking specifically at New Zealand, this approach maps the distinct factors of resilience into a unified index. The proposed index holds promise for strategic planning, offering practical applications in both mitigating risks and enhancing community resilience at a localized level.

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Enhancing Community Resilience: A Neighbourhood- Scale Index for Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in New Zealand

  • Megan Boston,
  • Danielle Bertram,
  • Morgan Beere,
  • Samantha Jones

摘要

The consequences of natural disasters are profound, leading to considerable loss of lives, assets, and indirectly the deterioration of livelihoods and developmental prospects. Anticipated factors such as population expansion, rapid urbanization, and the ongoing effects of climate change are poised to further intensify these challenges. The fallout from natural disasters often hits hardest in regions grappling with lower socioeconomic statuses. This disparity is evident in New Zealand, particularly as observed following the Auckland floods and in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023. To address this problem, the concept of community resilience has gained prominence as an approach to identify vulnerable areas that are more susceptible to the effects of natural hazards while also helping communities address weak spots to better prepare for and rapidly recover from the impacts of the ensuing disaster. However, the scale at which community resilience is commonly defined is too broad to capture the intricate details that truly define how communities are able to continue functioning after severe disasters. Therefore, this research develops a comprehensive method for quantifying community resilience defined at the neighbourhood scale. It works towards capturing the varied dimensions and perspectives of resilience by visually illustrating resilience across six key dimensions (the physical and built environment, human and health, economics, environmental, social, and governance) using 48 identified indicators. Looking specifically at New Zealand, this approach maps the distinct factors of resilience into a unified index. The proposed index holds promise for strategic planning, offering practical applications in both mitigating risks and enhancing community resilience at a localized level.