Community resilience latent resources and resourc

Authors: J A Thomas K Mora

Publish Date: 2014/05/13

Volume: 74, Issue: 2, Pages: 477-490

PDF Link

Abstract

Immediately after an earthquake event how long people survive in place using their limited resources is relatively unknown as is the behavioural response to resource scarcity Computeraided personal interviews were conducted with 172 householders to examine how many days people believed they were able to shelter in place without official aid in a simulated earthquake event taking into account not only the water food and medicine they had stockpiled but also the availability of less obvious sources such as water in the hot water cylinder or food from gardens Based on recommended daily resource allowances after a 3day period without aid 46  of people had run out of at least one of these necessary resources and this increased to 90  of people after 7 days After a 7day period without official aid there is an increase in people’s perceived willingness to 1 ask for assistance from neighbours but a reduction in people’s willingness to offer aid to others 2 commit less socially acceptable acts such as breaking into an empty house to take food and water and 3 commit unsafe acts such as drinking unpurified water The results are discussed with regard to particular postdisaster social behaviours and how social norms shift as people adapt to surviveThis research was conducted within a programme of public good research funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment OPSX0002 New Zealand The authors would like to acknowledge the input of Vince Dravitzki and Stephen Murray in the development of this research We would also like to thank Abigail Harding for her assistance in the data collection

Keywords: