Embedding resilience in emergency resource management to cope with natural hazards

Abstract

Emergency resource management, as a critical way of decreasing loss from natural hazards, has encountered some deficiencies in practice. The purpose of this paper is to develop strategies to improve emergency resource management by referring the resilience perspective, so that the severity of the consequences of natural hazards can be reduced. This paper firstly makes commentary on emergency resource management and resilience thinking. Next, it gives a concise retrospect of four disasters caused by natural hazards to illustrate the typical practical gaps. Then, it uses the literature and facts to present potential approaches for embedding resilience in emergency resource management to cope with natural hazards. The paper identifies the approaches and determinants for building resilience strategies for emergency resource management, and it provides an essential element for ensuring the successful practices of emergency response. It harmonizes the two fields of emergency management and resilience thinking, and provides new insights into best practice for proactive preparation and response to natural hazards.