Enhancing post-earthquake disaster resilience

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a multi-year assistance plan aimed at promoting a disaster resilient and foreign-aid-independent community in rural Peru in the wake of the August 2007 Peru earthquake. Design/methodology/approach – A collaborative effort among students and professionals from several fields including engineering, public health, business, planning, economics, and marketing is proposed to provide a holistic approach to mitigating effects of future disasters on a rural developing community. Findings – This paper assesses community vulnerabilities exposed by the August 2007 Peru earthquake and provides conceptual solutions to mitigating effects of future disasters. Research limitations/implications – Because this is a student-driven, volunteer-based initiative, implementation of the discussed plan is sporadic in nature. As student leadership changes, solutions and implementation time frames discussed in this paper may be altered significantly. Practical implications – The student-professional collaborative plan for enhancing disaster-resilience discussed in this paper may be beneficial to educators who seek to extend the educational experience beyond the classroom. The holistic model of enhancing disaster-resilience discussed in this paper may help relief organizations to better understand the issues facing small post-disaster communities and subsequently help to develop more efficient recovery plans. Social implications – This project will have a great impact on improving the social and family life of the inhabitants of La Garita; the improvements in water supply will reduce health problems throughout the community. Originality/value – This paper discusses a unique student-professional collaborative approach to incorporating disaster-resilience in the built environment. An educational component is incorporated into the framework of assistance in the interest of developing knowledgeable students and community members to provide a catalyst for future development projects in neighboring communities.