Resilience is a concept that has grown in importance to the nation as we have struggled with domestic security concerns in the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. For CARRI it was important that we establish for ourselves and our partner communities what we meant when we talked about community resilience. As Dr. Bob Kates described the definition landscape in the recent CARRI panel before the American Association for the Advancement of Science, engineers talk of the capacity to absorb disturbance and return to a relatively stable prior state; ecologists talk about the capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize into a system that still retains its identity, structure and functions; vulnerability scientists talk about responses, adaptation and adaptive capacity. CARRI’s working definition speaks to the social, economic and political needs of the community. Resilience for us is a community or region’s capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to public safety and health, the economy, and national security. We will continue to examine and refine that definition in light of our ongoing research, practice and experience.
Likewise “community” is a term that required thought and definition to differentiate our focus from the myriad of types of possible communities. For our purposes, a community has as its basis a geographic description. It is a place defined by common bonds and linkages which often have an economic basis. CARRI does not attempt to define the boundaries of these communities although we find in urban areas that they frequently generally conform to the metropolitan statistical area of a city. The CARRI process accepts, however, that the best definer of a community is the community itself as it organizes itself for the resilience journey.
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The working definition you provide “speaks to the social, economic and political needs of the community.” Though a series of three is always more felicitous than four, I will still hazard a suggestion that infrastructure be added to the lineup. Infrastructure is not handily contained in social, economic or political structures. Conceptually and operationally, the critical functions included in infrastructure, such as power, water, roads, communication systems, should have their own place in the sun.
ReplyDeleteSusan Kammeraad-Campbell
First let me state that the concept of establishing Resilient Communities from a Homeland Security (All Hazards model) perspective is not only essential and fundamentally sound but also a most critical component in achieving the Four Pillars of Emergency Management, while saving lives as well as sustaining our Economic strength. The CARRI model, I strongly will argue, will go a long way in beginning to achieve these significant goals; it truly is the only manner in which our communities can become more flexible, safer, and durable and as imperative, protecting our nation’s vital Critical Infrastructures. That being said, at times I arrived at somewhat varied views when trying to read some previous posted CARRI blog comments. What I have learned time and time again from my research in HLS Leadership is how truly ‘interconnected’ and ‘interdependent’ we are and how important it is to maintain this critical “resilient” link, not just as a community or even a region but as regions, which can and will be severely negatively affected by a disaster.
ReplyDeleteA CARRI partner community like the City of Memphis and the Shelby County area in TN is an example in my mind, as I have and still participate in assisting them in my own small way to become a little more resilient and prepared. This vital corner of the State of Tennessee to my mind is in reality much greater than what we will call a community. Besides the City of Memphis and Shelby County, it also borders the state of Arkansas and the state of Mississippi, with the closest major metropolitan area to Memphis being Little Rock, AR. This area, lying in the New Madrid Fault Line, this scenario (earthquake) could very well test the resiliency of not only the numerous communities, regions, states but the Nation itself. The Mississippi River (4th largest inland port in the US) interconnecting these adjacent communities and states, the Memphis international airport, Fed Ex hub, extensive railway system and truck roadway systems, all located in a concentrated, critical geographical part of the United States, make these communities critically important, not only in becoming resilient communities but as important in understanding the “Resilient interdependency” to their “sister” cities and states. I will argue strongly that we need to recognize and appreciate this reflection and the importance of resiliency as a whole.
This idea can be said about many communities around the South East region and the country. It is then significant to understand (as stated in another part of the blog) the importance of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) and First Responders in building Community Resilience. Not only are they respected, trusted, and essential members of the said communities, but because of their inherent experience and inherent personal need, have an exclusive perspective in designing resiliency campaigns, preparedness planning, training, leadership qualities and are also because of their unique experience in their sectors, in the best position and invaluable to advise and enhance community resiliency. I credit the efforts of CARRI in these matters and would add to incorporate these organizational assets.
As we well know the concept of Community Resiliency varies with communities, such as urban communities and rural communities. While there is ample evidence that there is serious deficiency and needs of infrastructures and services in rural communities, it is understandable then that there will be a greater need to build sustainable, resilient communities in rural areas. I would also argue that in fact this also exists in mayor urban communities or cities also. As I have commented enough for now, there is much to be said regarding communication issues in resiliency, leadership in resiliency and the new Homeland Security issues and mindset of the new presidential administration and the HLS Secretary, of which I strongly will argue, that building Resilient Communities is at the forefront of their HLS strategies to protect our homeland.
Susan Kammeraad-Campbell, your suggestion that infrastructure be added to the lineup I believe is spot on as you state “Infrastructure is not handily contained in social, economic or political structures”. In fact The National Strategy For The Physical Protection Of Critical Infrastructures And Key Assets present a sector based organizational concept for protecting critical infrastructures and key assets by maintaining a two-way relationship with local communities, thereby hopefully, creating a Resilient Community, what we are trying to achieve.
ReplyDeleteIt does make mention that they-communities, are ‘familiar’ and “rely on trusted community systems and resources that are in place to support protection, response, and recovery efforts”. (The National Strategy For The Physical Protection Of Critical Infrastructures And Key Assets” pg. 9)