Presentation Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the disaster vulnerability of coastal communities on the Salish Sea. In addition to natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods (both riverine and coastal), coastal communities in this region are at risk from human-induced and technological disasters such as oil spills and terrorism threats. Vulnerability – or the propensity to suffer loss when a hazard event occurs – is affected by many factors related to geographic setting, the built environment, economic conditions, socio-demographics characteristics, and institutional context. In a case study of Metro Vancouver, this paper identifies and compares key vulnerability factors in the context of three major hazards: earthquakes, coastal flooding, and oil spills. The paper then provides a qualitative discussion of the potential for green infrastructure approaches to reduce these key vulnerability factors. Worldwide, some coastal communities struck by disasters have been undertaking ecosystem restoration and green infrastructure initiatives to reduce their future vulnerability (e.g., following Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami). The benefits of green infrastructure for reducing disaster vulnerability are, however, both context-dependent and as yet poorly understood. In the case of Metro Vancouver, this paper suggests that some vulnerability conditions, including development in low-lying delta areas, may be ameliorated by green infrastructure approaches such as tidal wetlands restoration. Other vulnerability conditions, such as the high reliance of most coastal and island communities on maritime transportation systems that could be severely disrupted in a disaster, are less amenable to green infrastructure approaches.
Session Title
Session S-10G: Green Infrastructure to Achieve Ecosystem Recovery Goals and Natural Hazard Mitigation
Conference Track
Shorelines
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2014 : Seattle, Wash.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2-5-2014 1:30 PM
End Date
2-5-2014 3:00 PM
Location
Room 6E
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Emergency management--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Reducing Disaster Vulnerability of Coastal Communities on the Salish Sea
Room 6E
This paper provides an overview of the disaster vulnerability of coastal communities on the Salish Sea. In addition to natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods (both riverine and coastal), coastal communities in this region are at risk from human-induced and technological disasters such as oil spills and terrorism threats. Vulnerability – or the propensity to suffer loss when a hazard event occurs – is affected by many factors related to geographic setting, the built environment, economic conditions, socio-demographics characteristics, and institutional context. In a case study of Metro Vancouver, this paper identifies and compares key vulnerability factors in the context of three major hazards: earthquakes, coastal flooding, and oil spills. The paper then provides a qualitative discussion of the potential for green infrastructure approaches to reduce these key vulnerability factors. Worldwide, some coastal communities struck by disasters have been undertaking ecosystem restoration and green infrastructure initiatives to reduce their future vulnerability (e.g., following Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and the 2011 Tohoku earthquake/tsunami). The benefits of green infrastructure for reducing disaster vulnerability are, however, both context-dependent and as yet poorly understood. In the case of Metro Vancouver, this paper suggests that some vulnerability conditions, including development in low-lying delta areas, may be ameliorated by green infrastructure approaches such as tidal wetlands restoration. Other vulnerability conditions, such as the high reliance of most coastal and island communities on maritime transportation systems that could be severely disrupted in a disaster, are less amenable to green infrastructure approaches.
