Assessing human vulnerability to hurricanes: A case study of Bluefields,Nicaragua.

详细信息   

• 作者：Zappa ; Monica Karen.
• 学历：Master
• 年：2009
• 导师：Blue, Sarah A.,eadvisorAshley, Walker S.,eadvisorBentley, Maceecommittee member
• 毕业院校：Northern Illinois University
• Department：Geography
• ISBN：9781109185164
• CBH：1465338
• Country：USA
• 语种：English
• FileSize：1534619
• Pages：153

文摘

Devastating outcomes of natural disasters in Latin America and the Caribbean are increasing, largely as a result of changing social conditions including rapidly increasing populations, widespread poverty, lack of accessible land, deforestation, and urbanization. This case study uses a holistic approach to vulnerability research to examine specific factors that contribute to the vulnerability of the secluded, coastal city of Bluefields, Nicaragua. Mixed methods research seeks to inform the causalities of vulnerability to hurricanes through the examination of socio-economic, cultural, political and environmental factors. Three dominant contributions are observed in this study: (1) past hurricane experience contributes to hurricane awareness, (2) rural-to-urban and Mestizo migration contributes to substandard living locations and conditions, (3) government regimes and citizens' trust in the government contributes to pre-storm mitigation and poststorm recovery. Findings from this study indicate that historical disasters and policies are influential toward altering the vulnerability of Bluefields to future hurricanes risks.