EVS 589 Special Topics Community Resilience

Many sources have documented a steady increase in the occurrence of natural disasters, as well as an even larger increase in associated economic losses and people impacted. What have we learned from disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy? Why do some communities bounce back quicker from disasters than others? What can be done to increase resilience to natural hazards? This course will explore the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of resilience, as well as some popular metrics and indicators to measure community resilience. We will also review and learn from case studies of disasters and disaster recovery. Students will also hear from a variety of guest speakers, representing different perspectives and disciplinary approaches to understanding resilience.