Coastal Community Resilience to Tsunami: A Study on Planning Capacity and Social Capacity, Dichato, Chile.

Abstract

Coastal communities in Chile are at risk to tsunami like other coastal communities around the world. As resilience is understood as the opposite of vulnerability, it is important to increase community resilience to reduce vulnerability. The Dichato community is one of the most affected communities by the 27 February 2010 earthquake and following tsunami in central Chile and the recovery process is slower there than expected. This paper aims to examine planning capacity and social capacity to evaluate community resilience to tsunami. Qualitative data are collected through interview. Community leaders, high officials (e.g: regional chief of planning ministry, regional urban manager) at local and regional level and also nongovernmental organizations (Hogar de cristo, Red Cross) are interviewed. The collected data is evaluated under a framework which combines eight important resilience elements. These elements are governance, society and economy, resource management, land use and structural design, risk knowledge, warning and evacuation, emergency response and disaster recovery. Tsunami hazard risks are not well addressed and considered in plans and programs for coastal community like Dichato. Land use and structural design are carefully considered after the tsunami in last year. Pre-established mechanisms for disaster recovery are not appropriate. Community engagement in planning and implementation procedure of these plans and programs are limited. There are very limited training program for livelihood diversification. Training and mock-drill programs for tsunami response are very limited in the community level. Risk knowledge is not shared properly with the community to reduce the risks. Findings of this paper will open a new horizon that can help to find the strength and weakness of disaster preparedness in community level. Resilience of coastal community to tsunami can be achieved through enhancing planning and social capacity.