Community Impacts • • •
29 people died in Strathewen valley 80 out of 100 houses were destroyed All community infrastructure destroyed • • • •
• • • • • •
Community owned hall Primary School Fire station Cricket shed
Roads blocked, bridges damaged No power for 2 weeks, land line and mobile services disabled Natural environment devastated (initially) Range of losses – pets and stock, history, relationships, security, sense of place, …… Community dispersed Significant change in community dynamics
Some personal learnings • a fortunate life • adrenalin – fair and foul • never underestimate the value of a clean pair of undies •learning to be helped •perspectives on material aid
• overwhelming and life changing experience • recovery is very long term
Immediate needs in the built environment • • • • • • • • •
Hazards and make-safe Food and water Safety and security Emergency accommodation Access to properties Communication - mobile phone and internet Community infrastructure – e.g meeting spaces Power, gas Recovery management infrastructure
Short to medium term needs in the built environment • • • • • • • • •
Transport and access Food and material distribution infrastructure Drainage/sewage Temporary accommodation Reinstate or workaround? Continue ‘make-safe’ Retail/commercial facilities Supply chains Accessing resources
Long term needs in the built environment • Don’t just rebuild what was there before • Identify opportunities to ‘build back better’ • Upgrade infrastructure • New facilities/services • Sustainable and resilient
• Community infrastructure • Government administration infrastructure • Long term recovery infrastructure
Working with Emergency Impacted Communities Normal people in abnormal circumstances not disabled probably disoriented almost certainly overwhelmed
Working with emergency affected communities • Emergency impacted people do not become panicked, aimless or stupid. Indeed they become more focused and more innovative • Emergency managers who work with affected people, rather than around them, will have far greater success (and an easier life) • Community knowledge and expertise is priceless and is readily available to those who take the time to ask
Allow/facilitate communities to reestablish • Enable access and egress – no lock downs • Get people back home as soon as possible • Clear information on what to do next • A bit of help with essential needs (but no junk!) • Assistance negotiating relief/recovery systems
Recognise, develop and support community based systems • Identify existing community structures • Facilitate legitimate and effective community representation - Avoid the ‘loud, angry people’ - Community leaders will emerge
• Utilise local systems for relief and support • Initiate/support community based communication systems • Supporting rather than controlling • Recognise that consultation is a ‘long conversation’ • Ensure inclusive approaches • Realistic, community based time lines
Managing/controlling bureaucracy and politics • Make long term commitments rather than short term promises (“we will rebuild what you had”) • Recognise the range of loss • Collect information once • Establish effective coordination • Establish genuine partnerships • Accept that recovery is long term
The ‘take home’ messages • Recovery is about people • Think of what humans need, not what is easiest, most practical, or looks best on paper • Engage with communities (get help if you need) • Community recovery is very long term - allow for this
Remember that you are part of community - there is no ‘them’