Defining Coastal Resilience to Natural Hazards

Date

Jan. 25, 2007

Authors

Merrell, B
Harriss, B

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Galveston Bay Estuary Program

Abstract

The concepts resilience, vulnerability, and adaptation are increasingly important to coastal zone management. Events during the last several years, such as the devastating 2004-2005 hurricane seasons, dramatically illustrate the potential vulnerability of human society to predictable "surprises". We require new ways of thinking about how we design and build our coastal communities if we are to ensure our societies' safety, health, and overall quality of life. The coastal disaster resistant and resilient community (DRRC) concept provides a framework for integrating science and management knowledge and communication relevant to the stewardship of both natural and built systems. In this session keypad polling will be used to engage Galveston Bay stakeholders in the following questions: What are DRRCs? How do we measure disaster resistance and resilience? And, most importantly, how do we go about creating them?

Description

[np]

Keywords

coastal community, design, natural disasters, natural hazards, resilience

Citation