Resilient Cities: Coping With Natural Hazards - Theme Cities: Solutions for Urban Problems - page 342

shend et al. 2014 ) have confirmed the importance of this feature in building local
community resilience. Their multivariate analysis of questionnaire data in affected
communities have also shown it is intimately linked to the degree to which a local
community feels empowered , in the sense that the local people affected believe they
can help solve problems. These studies have also shown that resilience is increased
in situations where a community has high levels of engagement , as measured by
such features as local pride, similar values, engage in community events, are willing
to help others through volunteerism, and, as well being open to new ideas, many of
which contribute to a sense of belonging to the community. By contrast, variables
that measure what might be called negative local geographical feelings about the
local environment, and feelings of isolation from the larger political entities, proved
to be a separate dimensional attribute in their Index of Perceived Community Resil-
ience. Such negative attitudes need to be countered if the degree of resilience in local
communities is to be improved.

9﻽7﻽4﻽3 Connectivity

These social capital and organizational issues for urban places need to be comple-
mented by more effective connections at various levels, both horizontally within a
community and vertically to higher levels of government and private organizations.
This involves creating multi-sectoral mitigation structures , so that the emergency
organizations are linked into all relevant agencies, rather than being isolated as a sin-
gle sector. This means emergency organizations should also have effective contacts
to key politicians and bureaucracies at higher levels of government, so that support
from outside the urban area can be given in crisis conditions, as well as to civil soci-
ety organizations. It is also important to acknowledge the help that can be provided
at times of emergency by existing social organizations at a local level, especially
church and women's groups, as well as informal social networks. They provide an
invaluable source of information and community support. Links to relatives and
friends in other locations are also important, for they often offer shelter to people
displaced by disasters, reducing the need for public assistance. These integrated risk
management structures need to be designed with clear command structures in emer-
gency situations. Unfortunately, many of these organizations have been designed by
higher level of governments as top-down structures. Studies of disasters have found
that these are often too remote and lack local knowledge. Hence studies of disasters
have stressed that it is usually necessary to have an effective local base to direct re-
sponses, in which a horizontal structure is developed. During emergency situations
it is also important to plan for at least twice daily meetings with key personnel so
that the often rapidly changing situation is understood by all parties. These should be
carried out at a local level so that the knowledge becomes part of the process of di-
saster relief. These organizations should also be based on a multi-stakeholder struc-
ture, This means involving local governments, existing security and health services,
as well as representatives of local organizations and voluntary groups to create an
integrated approach, for it is recognized that local governments alone cannot bear
all the responsibility for providing risk reduction plans and relief during a natural