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Resilience of Communities in Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria: Community-Based Preparedness and Communication
Elizabeth L Andrade1, Nicole D Barrett1, Mark C Edberg1
1Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness
|November 2, 2021
Summary
Puerto Rican communities demonstrated strong disaster resilience post-Hurricane Maria by leveraging local assets and prioritizing vulnerable populations. Community-led strategies were key to overcoming communication challenges and ensuring resident safety.
Area of Science:
- Disaster resilience and community preparedness.
- Public health and emergency management.
- Socio-ecological systems in disaster response.
Background:
- Hurricane Maria caused widespread devastation in Puerto Rico, highlighting the need to understand community resilience factors.
- Effective disaster response requires examining the adaptive capacities of affected communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine factors contributing to community disaster resilience in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria.
- To identify successful local strategies employed by communities in disaster situations.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews with 22 stakeholders across 7 municipalities.
- Deductive and inductive coding of interview transcripts.
- Analysis aligned with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Whole Community Approach.
Main Results:
- Community preparedness efforts were coordinated, community-based, and prioritized vulnerable populations.
- Key strategies included multi-sectoral coordination, neighborhood leader designation, and leveraging community expertise.
- Post-disaster communication relied on police radios, loudspeakers, interpersonal communication, and solar-powered radio stations.
Conclusions:
- Puerto Rican communities' adaptive capacities highlight the importance of local solutions in disaster management.
- Further research is recommended to comprehensively understand the contributors to disaster resilience.
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