Community disaster resilience in Brazilian small urban centers

• Published in: International journal of disaster risk reduction 2024-01, Vol.100, p.104200, Article 104200
• Main Authors: Ribeiro, Daniela Ferreira, Saito, Silvia Midori, Alvalá, Regina Célia dos Santos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Small municipalities; Small towns; Social capital; Vulnerability
• ISSN: 2212-4209; 2212-4209
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.104200

Brazilian small urban centers are facing several disasters impacts due to their singular environmental, economic, and social characteristics. A comprehensive approach encompassing multiple dimensions of resilience and adaptation is essential to minimize material and human losses. This article analyzes the community disaster resilience of 213 small urban centers in the Brazilian Southeast region, affected by recurrent events, such as floods, flash floods, and landslides. The study adopts a mixed-methods approach. First, a quantitative analysis was conducted at the municipal level using statistical techniques to develop a community disaster resilience index, incorporating social, economic, infrastructure, institutional, and community dimensions. Simultaneously, a qualitative assessment evaluated the levels of social capital at the intra-municipal scale among populations affected by disasters through an online questionnaire. The results demonstrated a direct correlation between community disaster resilience levels and the economic and urban development of the assessed municipalities. Lower levels of community disaster resilience were associated with higher vulnerability of the population, characterized by limited socioeconomic development, inadequate housing conditions, insufficient urban infrastructure for transportation, healthcare, leisure, and social support services, and ineffective implementation of public development policies. Moreover, the absence and limited diversity of leisure spaces that foster social connections contributed to reduced community engagement and participation, resulting in lower levels of social capital. This study underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to enhance community resilience in small urban centers facing recurrent disasters. The findings provide insights for policymakers and practitioners to prioritize interventions and investments in economic development, infrastructure improvement, and social capital enhancement as crucial elements of disaster risk reduction and resilience-building efforts.