All Hazards Great and Small: Applying Disaster Risk Reduction to Environmental Justice Communities in South Carolina

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Community resilience
• Disaster risk reduction

Background:

• Community-managed disaster risk reduction (CMDRR) empowers communities in disaster readiness.
• Environmental justice (EJ) communities often face disproportionate risks.
• The EJ Strong program aimed to bolster resilience in SC's EJ communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a CMDRR training program tailored for EJ communities in South Carolina.
• To adapt existing CMDRR training materials for a US context, considering cultural relevance and the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To assess participant satisfaction and identify broader program outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Adapted CMDRR training manuals for cultural relevance and pandemic conditions.
• Conducted workshops, virtual mini-workshops, and field practicums for community participants.
• Collected participant evaluations to gauge program effectiveness and satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Approximately 110 community members participated, with 46 receiving CMDRR certificates.
• The program developed a state-wide emergency food access map and a disaster risk assessment app.
• Additional outcomes included an online CMDRR course, DRR materials for schools, and monitoring systems.

Conclusions:

• This initiative represents the first application of CMDRR training in the U.S., specifically targeting EJ communities.
• The program successfully enhanced community resilience and generated practical tools for disaster risk reduction.
• Participant feedback indicated high satisfaction with the program's content and relevance.