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Constructing a holistic approach to disaster risk reduction: the significance of focusing on vulnerability reduction
Author(s) -
Palliyaguru Roshani,
Amaratunga Dilanthi,
Baldry David
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
disasters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1467-7717
pISSN - 0361-3666
DOI - 10.1111/disa.12031
Subject(s) - disaster risk reduction , vulnerability (computing) , sri lanka , reduction (mathematics) , process (computing) , risk analysis (engineering) , natural disaster , set (abstract data type) , emergency management , environmental planning , vulnerability assessment , process management , business , computer security , computer science , political science , geography , medicine , psychological intervention , nursing , geometry , mathematics , meteorology , tanzania , programming language , operating system , law
As a result of the increase in natural disaster losses, policy‐makers, practitioners, and members of the research community around the world are seeking effective and efficient means of overcoming or minimising them. Although various theoretical constructs are beneficial to understanding the disaster phenomenon and the means of minimising losses, the disaster risk management process becomes less effective if theory and practice are set apart from one another. Consequently, this paper seeks to establish a relationship between two theoretical constructs, ‘disaster risk reduction (DRR)’ and ‘vulnerability reduction’, and to develop a holistic approach to DRR with particular reference to improving its applicability in practical settings. It is based on a literature review and on an overall understanding gained through two case studies of post‐disaster infrastructure reconstruction projects in Sri Lanka and three expert interviews in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.