Cultural and Religious Beliefs and the Implementation of Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Strategies in American Samoa After the September 2009 Tsunami

PurposeThis study aims to improve understanding of how coastal maritime transport system of Vancouver Island would be disrupted in disaster events, and the strategies could be used to address such risks. Any transport disruption at the maritime leg of the supply chain can affect the needs of vulnerable residents and thus, the supply of many goods to coastal communities.Design/methodology/approachThis case study focuses on the disruption that can be expected to occur for ferries that serves coastal communities of Vancouver Island in Canada. A landslide scenario in the Fraser River (which connects coastal communities) is developed, and interviews and focus groups are used to gain understanding of the vulnerability and resilience of shipping.FindingsThe findings show that the maritime leg of the supply chain for the coastal communities of Vancouver Island is resilient to a landslide disruption of ferries. Besides, there would be no impact on the operability of tugs and barges. This study also offers suggestions for creating the conditions for increasing resilience of maritime supply chains to any such disruption.Research limitations/implicationsA research gap exists with respect to minimizing disruption in maritime supply chains, mainly in regard to lessening the impact on the vulnerable residents of coastal communities. This study contributes to filling this gap in the literature.Practical implicationsThe findings have significant implications for maritime service providers and for people working on disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery.Originality/valueStudies which focus on alleviating the impact of disruptions in the maritime supply chains and the mitigation strategies for coastal communities are scarce in the literature.

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Emotional coping among communities affected by wildlife–caused damage in north-east India: opportunities for building tolerance and improving conservation outcomes

Oryx ◽

10.1017/s0030605317001193 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 52 (2) ◽

pp. 214-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Mayuri Gogoi

Keyword(s):

Religious Beliefs ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Elephas Maximus ◽

Coping Capacity ◽

North East India ◽

North East ◽

Emotional Coping ◽

Elephant Conservation ◽

Human Wildlife Conflict

AbstractHuman–wildlife conflict has been the focus of much research, and incidents of damage caused by wildlife to communities, as well as damage inflicted on wildlife by people, have been studied extensively to determine causes, conditions, impacts and mitigation strategies. However, few studies have explored the coping strategies employed by communities to deal with these stressful events. Understanding coping is important, as effective coping builds tolerance towards wildlife, whereas poor coping erodes tolerance and thus jeopardizes conservation. Interviews conducted with people who had experienced damage caused by wild elephantsElephas maximusin eight villages of Assam, in north-east India, found that the stress experienced by the communities as a result of the damage was eased by their religious beliefs associated with elephants, and their feelings of empathy towards these animals. Belief in the elephant as God and as avenger of wrong-doing further strengthened people's coping capacity. These findings have positive implications for elephant conservation, showing that people's tolerance towards marauding elephants can be based on religious beliefs rather than compensation for losses.

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Military Involvement in Disaster Preparedness, Organisation, and Disaster Relief — Civilian Military Co-Operation (CIMIC)

Prehospital and Disaster Medicine ◽

10.1017/s1049023x00009511 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 17 (S2) ◽

pp. S25

Author(s):

Rannveig Bremer Fjær ◽

Knut Ole Sundnes

Keyword(s):

Disaster Management ◽

Disaster Preparedness ◽

Disaster Relief ◽

Humanitarian Assistance ◽

Humanitarian Emergencies ◽

Military Involvement ◽

Military Forces

In frequent humanitarian emergencies during the last decades, military forces increasingly have been engaged through provision of equipment and humanitarian assistance, and through peace-support operations. The objective of this study was to evaluate how military resources could be used in disaster preparedness as well as in disaster management and relief.

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