Community responses to disasters: A foundation for recovery

Disaster recovery programs and policies are becoming even more important with the increase in numbers and frequencies of disasters and their widespread damage. This special issue examines approaches and recovery methods that have succeeded and identifies common elements. The authors in this volume note several key ingredients including collaboration among agencies providing services to disaster victims, educating residents about potential hazards and how to adequately prepare for them, and developing a coordinated set of public policies that can be communicated. Likewise, engaging in sound community development practices involving interactions among those affected is vital to successful outcomes. Recognizing the key roles that special groups such as the elderly can play in recovery efforts is also important as is building on customs and traditions in developing countries. The research in this volume adds to the literature on disaster recovery approaches and can help policymakers to build local capacity and remediate the impacts of disasters in the future.