Environmental Studies Faculty and Staff Publications

Document Type

Book

Publication Date

8-2-2014

Keywords

Food security, Regional resilience, Whole community preparedness

Abstract

This study draws upon the whole community approach to building local community resilience. A whole community approach ensures essential community services, such a food distribution, relies upon diverse funding, resources and/or information networks. A whole community approach also enables citizens and communities to take an active role in preparedness while living their life within social norms. Such a commitment to preparedness provides an intrinsic framework for communities to be prepared for an unexpected interruption in food supply. Identifying existing communities and systems, such as urban farming, gleaning operations, and organizations that deliver food to vulnerable populations -- all of which already provide key capital or service during, or immediately following a disaster -- leverages a potential solution in a crisis. Such organizations strengthen social infrastructure, networks, and assets thereby validating and further enabling local action. By doing so, the whole community approach offers ways to build more effective social paths to societal “preparedness” in terms of safety and resilience.

Required Publisher's Statement

Prepared for FEMA Region 10

Resilience Institute Working Paper 2014_1

www.wwu.edu/huxley/resilience

Sponsorship/Conference/Institution

Huxley College of the Environment. Resilience Institute

Location

Huxley College of the Environment, Western Washington University

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Food security--Washington (State)--Grays Harbor County; Food security--Washington (State)--Skagit County; Food security--Washington (State)--Snohomish County; Food supply--Washington (State)--Grays Harbor County; Food supply--Washington (State)--Skagit County; Food supply--Washington (State)--Snohomish County

Geographic Coverage

Grays Harbor County (Wash.); Skagit County (Wash.); Snohomish County (Wash.)

Genre/Form

books

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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