6th International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016 Integrative Risk Management - Towards Resilient Cities. 28 August - 01 September 2016 in Davos, Switzerland

1. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
“Save Yourself”: Predicting Whether
Communities Will Be Able To Prepare
Themselves From Disaster.
Dr Frank Watt
Prof Pat Tissington
Birkbeck, University of London
United Kingdom

2. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
“Court disaster long enough, and it will
accept your proposal”

3. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Increased frequency and severity of
disasters
Large incidents fall beyond the ability of
emergency services to respond
completely
Communities encouraged to help
themselves
Background

4. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
• Some people more resilient than others
• The same is true of communities
• Literature shows the individual
characteristics of Self Efficacy can be
measured at a group and community
level
• ….but not in a community preparedness
context
Communities

5. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
• Explore the concept of Perceived
Community Efficacy (PCE)
• Develop a model that represents the
constituent elements of PCE
• Develop a measurement scale and test
in a sample population
Objectives of the Study

6. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
• Qualitative Findings
• Engagement with communities should be informal
• Communities sought leadership from within local groups
• Sample group believed the community would undertake
preparedness activities, however small minority would
not engage whether emergency or non emergency.
• Quantitative Findings
• The model and scale were supported by the data
• PCE is a predictor of whether or not a community will
engage in preparedness activities.
Main Findings

7. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Contribution to Senai Framework
Priority 1: Understanding disaster risk.
This research provides further understanding between a community’s belief and
risk reduction through collective preparedness
Priority 2: Strengthening disaster risk governance to manage disaster risk.
Communities who demonstrate high levels of PCE will participate in
strengthening risk governance at local levels.
Priority 3: Investing in disaster risk reduction for resilience.
PCE may assist professionals in deciding project suitability when investing in local
risk reduction initiatives.
Priority 4: Enhancing disaster preparedness for effective response and to “Build
Back Better” in recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
High levels of PCE would indicate significant community effort in the
preparedness and recovery phases of a natural hazard event.

8. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Conclusions
This study found that:
• PCE to be an effective way of measuring a community’s likelihood
of engaging in preparedness activities.
• the sample population believed that they and other residents in
the community would engage in preparedness actions.
• informal methods are preferred over more formal engagement
• engagement strategies that support residents’ collective beliefs
and focused of household preparedness would significantly add
to the level of resilience at a community level.

9. 6th
International Disaster and Risk Conference IDRC 2016
‘Integrative Risk Management – Towards Resilient Cities‘ • 28 Aug – 1 Sept 2016 • Davos • Switzerland
www.grforum.org
Thank You
f.watt@bbk.ac.uk
p.tissington@bbk.ac.uk