Resiliency

Gulf Coast Disaster Readiness defines resiliency as the ability of an individual, family, or community to recover economically, emotionally, and physically after a disaster. We see three nonexclusive paths to improving resilience:

• Recover Quicker – If normal activity or growth can resume sooner, the individual, family, organization, or community will reduce the net long-term damage from the disaster.

• Recover Better – If we can reduce or close the gap between the new normal and the original, we can minimize the net long-term damage from the disaster.

• Prevent Damage – If we can prevent damage by anticipating the next disaster and taking steps now to reduce the amount of damage incurred when a disaster occurs, this will reduce the net long-term damage from the disaster.

Combining all three—preventing damage, recovering better, and recovering quicker—gives us the best opportunity to reduce the net long-term damage to the individual, family, organization, or community.

When we think about resilience, whether it’s in terms of economic strength or emotional well-being, there are three key strategies that can really boost our ability to bounce back. It’s all about how individuals, families, and communities can recover effectively. So, what steps can we take to recover quicker, recover better, or even prevent the damage tough times cause from hitting us in the first place?.