Adaptive Capacity - Climate Change Adaptation and Development: Transforming Paradigms and Practices - page 62

table 4.2 Examples of coping and adaptive practices in areas prone to high winds and storms a

Hazard reduction Vulnerability reduction Preparedness for response Preparedness for recovery

Improving electrical
connections in the house to
prevent fire (as a secondary
hazard after storms)

Improving roof fixing, and
putting objects on the roof to
hold it in place during storms

Building an emergency shelter
(e.g. hurricane-resistant
community centre)

Deliberately not 'improving' the
house (e.g. changing from a wooden
construction to a brick house) as
potential damage can be more easily
repaired and/or more cheaply replaced

Environmental behaviour that
contributes to climate-change
mitigation and indirectly
to reduction of climatic
hazards (buying second-hand,
recycling or reusing waste and
construction material, using
a pressure cooker to reduce
cooking time, planting trees,
etc.)

Cutting down large branches
and trees located close to
houses to avoid damage/injury
during storms

Storage of water in cisterns,
barrels or plastic bottles for use
during emergencies
Having available filters or
chemicals for cleaning up water
if necessary (e.g. clay filter)

Drawing on natural resources to help
recover and reduce recovery cost (e.g.
water from natural springs or rivers,
food from urban agriculture, collecting
firewood instead of using gas stove)
(also ad hoc measure)

Creating social networks (family,
friends, or neighbours) from which
to seek assistance for recovery as
regards, e.g. money or materials for
reconstruction, assistance with clean-
up or childcare

Use of traditional or
indigenous knowledge on
storm routes and wind patterns
in order to build in lower-risk
areas

Interacting with people from
the neighbourhood (e.g.
buying from local shops,
offering labour when needed,
employing community
members for small jobs) to
create social ties for mutual
support

Exchange of rooms/apartments
between family members so
that less mobile members live
in the more accessible areas, for
easy evacuation