Resilience of Communities in Puerto Rico Following Hurricane Maria: Community-Based Preparedness and Communication Strategies.
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
; 17: e53, 2021 11 02.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34725021
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
This study aimed to examine factors that may have contributed to community disaster resilience following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.METHODS:
In April 2018, qualitative interviews (n = 22) were conducted with stakeholders in 7 Puerto Rican municipalities (9% of total). Transcripts were deductively and inductively coded and analyzed to identify salient topics and themes, then examined according to strategic themes from the Federal Emergency Management Association's (FEMA) Whole Community Approach.RESULTS:
Municipal preparedness efforts were coordinated, community-based, leveraged community assets, and prioritized vulnerable populations. Strategies included (1) multi-sectoral coordination and strategic personnel allocation; (2) neighborhood leader designation as support contacts; (3) leveraging of community leader expertise and social networks to protect vulnerable residents; (4) Censuses of at-risk groups, health professionals, and first responders; and (5) outreach for risk communication and locally tailored protective measures. In the context of collapsed telecommunications, communities implemented post-disaster strategies to facilitate communication with the Puerto Rican Government, between local first responders, and to keep residents informed, including the use of (1) police radios; (2) vehicles with loudspeakers; (3) direct interpersonal communication; and (4) solar-powered Internet radio stations.CONCLUSIONS:
Adaptive capacities and actions of Puerto Rican communities exemplify the importance of local solutions in disasters. Expanded research is recommended to better understand contributors to disaster resilience.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Telecomunicaciones
/
Desastres
/
Tormentas Ciclónicas
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Caribe
/
Puerto rico
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Disaster Med Public Health Prep
Asunto de la revista:
SAUDE PUBLICA
Año:
2021
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos