A review of the 921 post-earthquake community rehabilitation of the urban disaster area in taiwan

Abstract

Earthquakes can be devastating to economic life, as well as individuals, families and social networks at every level. The total number of people killed by earthquakes in Taiwan in the twentieth century had been ranked 19 among the world’s earthquake-prone countries (Coburn and Spence (2002)). Thus, the experience of community rehabilitation in vulnerable urban areas highly affected by the 921 earthquake in Taiwan might be a good example to be shared with other countries. This paper is motivated by the lessons learned and implications gathered from efforts to relieve, restore and recover from the catastrophe in the aftermath of the 921 earthquake. For the purpose discussing community rehabilitation in vulnerable urban space, this paper aims to review the efforts of community-based rehabilitation in the 921 post-quake urban disaster areas. Specific emphasis is placed on the lessons and implications in planning and executing the 921 earthquake community recovery programs.