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Policy Recommendations for Reducing Vulnerability to Disasters in Canada: Perspectives From Practitioners in Waterloo Region, Ontario
Author(s) -
Joakim Erin,
Doberstein Brent
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
risk, hazards and crisis in public policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.634
H-Index - 8
ISSN - 1944-4079
DOI - 10.1002/rhc3.12041
Subject(s) - vulnerability (computing) , preparedness , context (archaeology) , social vulnerability , variety (cybernetics) , disaster risk reduction , work (physics) , political science , public relations , emergency management , politics , vulnerability assessment , disaster research , environmental planning , sociology , geography , psychology , computer security , social psychology , psychological resilience , engineering , computer science , archaeology , mechanical engineering , artificial intelligence , meteorology , law
As the costs associated with hazardous events continues to rise, many researchers and practitioners argue that the social, economic, and human losses attributed to these events can be significantly reduced through a variety of risk reduction and preparedness programs, as well as through a greater understanding of the social, economic, and political processes that work to create vulnerability. This paper explores various approaches to understanding vulnerability and the underlying processes affecting vulnerability levels. Empirical research was conducted in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada with key informants (n = 25) working in emergency preparedness/response or with community organizations. The research revealed at least four themes that would be useful for policies and programs designed to reduce vulnerability to disasters. Although the research was carried out in a Canadian context, the paper examines how these themes might relate more generally to underlying processes of vulnerability discussed in the literature .