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Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Hazards and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 15092

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gwenaël Jouannic

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Guest Editor

Cerema, CY Cergy Paris Université, MATRiS, 44000 Nantes, France
Interests: post-disaster recovery; natural hazards; urban planning; geomorphological crisis; extreme environments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Oscar Navarro

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Guest Editor

Laboratoire de Psychologie des Pays de la Loire, University of Nantes, 44000 Nantes, France
Interests: analysis of psychosocial and environmental factors which can influence the evaluation and management of risks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Marc Vuillet

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Guest Editor

Ecole des Ingénieurs de la Ville de Paris(EIVP), Lab’Urba EA3482, Université Gustave Eiffel, Paris, France
Interests: critical infrastructures protection; flood; urban resilience; reliability analysis; crisis management; civil engineering; build environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is part of a major 21st century challenge related to the need to adapt for future societies that are more resilient to natural disasters. The global cost of damage generated by natural hazards has been rising steadily for 40 years (Swiss Re, 2017). Some factors suggest an acceleration of this increase, such as the increase in assets in exposed areas (coasts, river banks), or the rise in sea level and the intensification of extreme events (storms) due to climate change. These elements lead us to reflect on new ways of doing things. Introducing profound urban transformations is a difficult task in daily routine. On the other hand, the “post-disaster” period seems to have elements favorable to the operational implementation of actions to structurally reduce vulnerability, thus aiming to achieve better territorial resilience in the long term (political will to act, the need to rebuild damaged assets, media coverage of the crisis, etc.). Reconstruction planning can thus be approached as an opportunity to encourage the development of ideas to change the territory. In this sense, a disaster can be used as a catalyst to initiate major changes by taking into account the expectations and needs of disaster victims in order to reduce post-traumatic symptoms, restore a sense of security, and improve their involvement in the management of future risks. Although little anticipated and complex, post-disaster reconstruction nevertheless responds to a collective need for rapid recovery demanded by disaster victims. The climate of urgency of reconstruction, which is by nature conflictual, does not currently allow time for the construction of more resilient territorial reconstruction projects, and is in favor of identical reconstruction.

At the international level, the Sendai Framework (2015–2030) adopted at the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction explicitly puts forward the concept of “build back better” (UNISDR, 2015). However, countries that have introduced risk reduction policies into recovery planning often face difficulties in implementing them, faced with the challenge of reconciling the two imperatives of “build back faster” and “build back better”.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue “Post-Disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective”. We encourage the publication of interdisciplinary approaches built around the rapprochement and exchange between disciplines, particularly on subjects mixing urban, environmental, and societal issues. With the ambition of responding to this priority of "building back better", this Special Issue aims to highlight the development of an integrated and cross-cutting approach to improve the management of territorial reconstruction following disasters (natural hazards or anthropogenic).

Overall, this Special Issue intends to provide a better understanding of the complexity over the short, medium, and long term of the post-disaster recovery phase, and to highlight good reconstruction practices. Contributions are expected on the analysis of :

Post-disaster urban redevelopment strategies;
Psychosocial and community reconstruction;
Evolution of social cohesion/social discrimination;
Reorganization of territorial governance;
Reconstruction of damaged or destroyed infrastructure;
Economic and tourism recovery.

Dr. Gwenaël Jouannic
Dr. Oscar Navarro
Dr. Marc Vuillet
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

post-disaster recovery
build back better
post-traumatic stress
coping strategy
urban resilience
governance reorganization
environmental crisis and climate change adaptation
socio-economic recovery
critical infrastructures protection
built environment

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3835 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Post-Disaster Reconstruction of Residential Buildings: Evolution of Structural Vulnerability on Caribbean Island of Saint Martin after Hurricane Irma

by Rasool Mehdizadeh, Olivier Deck, Nathalie Pottier and Anne Péné-Annette

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12788; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712788 - 24 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1053

Abstract

This article presents a summary of the results obtained as part of the ANR (French National Research Agency)-RELEV project, which focuses on the long-term recovery and reconstruction of the island of Saint Martin following the passage of Hurricane Irma in 2017. This hurricane was classified as category five on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with an average wind speed of 287 km/h. It caused catastrophic damage along its path and highlighted the significant vulnerability of Caribbean societies to this type of phenomenon. This article focuses on the reconstruction of residential buildings on the French part of the island of Saint Martin. It aims to identify and analyze the factors that have favorably or unfavorably influenced their reconstruction and their structural vulnerability reduction. The research is based mainly on a series of interviews with local actors (construction and insurance companies, architects, territorial services, etc.), an online survey of residents (180 responses), and a field survey involving visits to 104 buildings with interviews of the occupants. The results obtained show that having access to financial resources for the reconstruction of buildings is central. However, different parameters must be considered to understand the disparity of situations and identify the factors that have most favorably contributed to the speed and quality of reconstruction and reduction of vulnerability. Even five years after Irma, a significant number of buildings on the island remain either unrepaired or abandoned. These buildings nevertheless constitute a danger in the case of strong winds (becoming a source of projectiles) and have a negative impact on the reputation and attractiveness of the island. The results reveal that in general, buildings in Saint Martin are slightly more resilient than they were prior to Irma, while presenting a great heterogeneity of situations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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26 pages, 2811 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Housing Satisfaction in Post-Disaster Resettlement: A Case of Nepal

by Barsha Shrestha, Sanjaya Uprety and Jiba Raj Pokharel

Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712755 - 23 Aug 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2901

Abstract

Housing satisfaction, crucial for sustainable post-disaster resettlement housing, has received limited attention in research. This study aimed to identify households’ perceived importance of housing satisfaction factors and their significance in post-disaster resettlement housing programs. Focusing on Nepal’s Panipokhari Integrated Settlement after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, it identified relatively significant housing satisfaction factors using mean satisfaction scores, the relative importance index, and Spearman rank correlation. The data were derived from a structured questionnaire survey, complemented by field observations, measurement, and semi-structured qualitative interviews that support the findings. The study found key housing satisfaction factors as need-based housing design (r = 0.70), layout (r = 0.74), modification flexibility (r = 0.70), utility spaces such as kitchen gardens and cattle sheds (r = 0.67), house completeness (r = 0.80), thermal comfort (r = 0.63), and social and cultural aspects such as traditional hearths (r = 0.72) and spaces for rituals and events (r = 0.77). The study concluded that the integration of these factors in the policy-making, planning, and design is important for successful resettlement housing outcomes in regions with comparable socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. The study has practical significance and, thus, will help policy-makers, implementers, and researchers aiming for successful and sustainable resettlement outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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15 pages, 2330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Regional Agriculture and Social Capital after Massive Natural Disasters: The Case of Miyagi Prefecture after the Great East Japan Earthquake

by Eriko Miyama

Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 11725; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511725 - 29 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1050

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify how local agriculture and social capital in disaster-affected areas were transformed by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 and to identify the factors that influenced the transformation of social capital—especially trust—after the disaster. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the Miyagi prefecture’s disaster-affected areas. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis with ordinary least squares; the trust index was used for explained variables and personal-attribute disaster-related variables as explanatory variables. The results indicate that regional agriculture was integrated into agricultural corporations or communal management as individual farmers were unable to recover their disaster-related losses. After the disaster, participation in collaborative efforts to manage community resources decreased, while participation in community activities, such as volunteering, increased. Respondents lost trust in the people around them owing to relocation after the disaster and exposure to crime. Steps necessary to maintain or improve social capital in disaster areas include maintaining public safety in the disaster area, securing sources of income, and providing people with interaction opportunities, such as hobby groups. The findings offer practical applications for post-disaster agricultural resource management in developed countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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17 pages, 1715 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Place Identity and Traumatic Experiences in the Context of Wildfires

by Peter de Jesús, Pablo Olivos-Jara and Oscar Navarro

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11332; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811332 - 9 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1655

Abstract

Climate change represents a threat to life; as such, it is associated with psychological disorders. The subjective perceptions of life impacts from different traumatic experiences develop understanding and the enable predictions of future consequences. This psychological impact also tends to increase the risk perception of climate change and the intention to prevent it. Greater emphasis on place identity can promote resilience and prevent psychological distress. The aim of this descriptive cross-sectional study is to describe the ontological life impact of fires, based on socio-demographic variables, risk perception, self-perceived resistance (SPR), and place identity. The sample consisted of 210 residents of areas affected by forest fires in Gran Canaria (Spain), who answered a questionnaire consisting of multiple scales and an assessment of the traumatic experience through the VIVO (Spanish initials of Ontological Vital Impact Assessment) questionnaire. The clustering of areas according to SPR and neighbourhood was considered a new variable, referred to as territorial resistance. This variable was useful in describing the different profiles of ontological life impacts and risk perceptions. The ontological life impact of the extreme experience differed between unaffected and affected people. Feeling that they had been judged for the occurrence was associated with lower psychological adjustment and a greater perception of control over the risk. Control also increased with place identity and the number of experiences. Emphasising risk, recognising the local knowledge of residents, and including them in decision-making and future action plans contributes to a sense of community, and thus, can improve coping. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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17 pages, 2205 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Narrative-Based Disaster Learning Programmes Simultaneously Improve People’s Disaster Awareness Scores, Willingness to Pay and Settlement Preferences

by Misato Uehara, Makoto Fujii, Kazuki Kobayashi and Keita Shiba

Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6635; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116635 - 28 May 2022

Viewed by 2639

Abstract

Few studies currently examine the effect of different disaster informational programmes because conducting such intervention studies is challenging. By providing two types of online disaster learning programmes, this intervention study measured changes made to three different perspectives: (1) disaster preventive awareness scores, (2) willingness to pay for disaster information (WTP), and (3) settlement preferences (preferences for post-disaster recovery goals). The participants engaged with one of two different types of 45-min learning programmes—one created as a narrative-based disaster learning programme (N = 218) and the other presented as a collective information disaster learning programme (N = 201). Consequently, both disaster preparedness scores and WTP increased statistically after both styles of disaster preparedness programmes. Furthermore, the increase generated by the narrative programme was greater (2.2 times higher for WTP value and 1.72 times higher in WTP value-increased probability). In their preprogramme answer, people who selected safety and nature conservation for post-disaster recovery goals improved their awareness scores. Despite both programmes having the same theme and length, only the narrative learning programme had a beneficial—improvement odds ratio for all three perspectives. Thus, the narrative-based disaster learning (vicarious) experience simultaneously improved people’s disaster awareness scores, willingness to pay for disaster information, and settlement preferences for disaster prevention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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23 pages, 622 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Build Back Better and Long-Term Housing Recovery: Assessing Community Housing Resilience and the Role of Insurance Post Disaster

by Sahar Zavareh Hofmann

Sustainability 2022, 14(9), 5623; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14095623 - 6 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2614

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to better understand community housing resilience and the role of insurance using a Build Back Better Long-term Recovery Housing framework to analyze approaches and effects on long-term housing rebuilding and recovery. A comparative case study approach is taken to assess insurance policies and outcomes following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and the Canterbury earthquake sequence in Christchurch, New Zealand, both affluent urban communities with strong insurance markets. Framed within the context of “Build Back Better”, the community housing and insurance resilience assessment is based on five key indicators; governance, community resources, risk reduction, housing rebuilding funding (funding and speed of funding), and time compression (built environment and periods of recovery time). Public and private insurance schemes for both case studies are identified and are considered together with analysis of insurance claims and other sources of financial support. The findings and results show that recovery is the result of highly interdependent Build Back Better processes. The data suggests that insurance and governance systems greatly influences the onset and overall speed of recovery (time compression), thereby performing a major role in long-term recovery. This research provides an original contribution to disaster recovery knowledge by analyzing insurance claims from two well-documented natural disasters. Additionally, the paper proposes for the singular definition of community housing resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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Review

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18 pages, 6423 KiB

Open AccessReview

Sustainability Trends in Humanitarian Architecture Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

by Anwar Kwaylih, Lara Alshawawreh and Francesco Pomponi

Sustainability 2023, 15(14), 11430; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411430 - 23 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1480

Abstract

Despite the increasing need for Post-Disaster and Post-Conflict (PDPC) sheltering, and the rising number of humanitarian architects, there is a vague understanding of how “sustainable” shelters in PDPC situations are being addressed in the literature. Therefore, this paper aims at mapping and analyzing the current status and development trends in research that associates sustainability and shelters in PDPC situations during the past four decades (1982–2022) using a bibliometric analysis. This was fulfilled using VOSviewer to identify and visualize literature development trends, active journals, productive authors, contributing countries, influential institutions, and keyword networks. The findings identified four phases of the development process: no recognition (1982–2002), initiation (2003–2012), rapid growth (2013–2017), and accelerated growth (2018–2022). In terms of publications, the “International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction” and “Sustainability” are the key journals publishing in the field, whereas Gibson and Habert are the most publishing authors. The United States of America was found to be the leading country in the research field, albeit Université de Montréal in Canada was the most active in terms of institutions. The study suggests the promotion of social and economic standards in addition to the environmental while developing sustainable shelter solutions. It also advises shelter professionals from both public and private sectors to improve their collaborations with all related stakeholders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Post-disaster Recovery from a Sustainability Perspective)

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